PumpinIron

Thanks for your input Marty, I always value your thoughts and advice.

Question for you since you own a Sprintex. Are these units easy to rebuild? I've owned several Vortech blowers in the past and those things are so easy to get parts for and rebuild. One of the things I look for when purchasing something aftermarket like this is the ability to rebuild it myself and obtain rebuild parts fairly easily.

CobraMarty

Rebuild, interesting question as we are getting close to wanting to look into it. We have changed the oil with Redline. I am not so sure about the seals and bearings but I think that ? JBond superchargers can rebuild them. IDK how much but probably around $600. I don't think that there is a big deal to do it but sourcing the parts might be the challange.

PumpinIron

Yes, I knew that JBond rebuilds them, however, I would think that if he can get the parts to rebuild them that people like you and I should be able to as well. Perhaps it's something I'd have to contact Sprintex and ask them about. Maybe they sell the parts / rebuild kits separately.

I only ask because easy and availability of parts for rebuilds is important. I owned a Rotrex blower yet which are fantastic in regards to their design. However, Rotrex themselves says that their superchargers can not be rebuilt and they do NOT sell parts to rebuild them either. So, once they go bad you're essential screwed. Some people have attempted to rebuild them with guess work (in terms of guessing what parts you need, torque specs, etc.) but that's been a real hit or miss.

Now an Eaton on the other hand, I know that those things are probably easy as hell to get parts / rebuild kits for I would assume.

CobraMarty

The Eaton rebuild parts are all over Ebay.
As for the Sprintex, I have never asked them if the rebuild parts are available. Maybe even JBond would sell the necessary rebuild pieces.

PumpinIron

I sent an email to Sprintex USA and asked them if they sell rebuild parts. I'll report back when the respond! Ease and availability of rebuild parts is a huge selling point for me.

PumpinIron

Spoke to Sprintex USA today and they told me that they prefer to rebuild their chargers themselves due to the super tight tolerances (makes sense with a twin screw setup). That's fine with me, as long as I know they are actually willing to rebuild them unlike certain companies such as Rotrex who will sell you a supercharger and then tell you even they themselves will not rebuild them.

CobraMarty

Did they give a price?

PumpinIron

They told me $600 is the typical cost. That is of course assuming that you don't have some serious issue with the unit which makes sense. I didn't ask but I assume that covers new bearings, seals, etc.

CobraMarty

For that price, I would rather send it to JBond. I wouldn't be surprised if that is what they do. lol.

PumpinIron

Yep, who knows, you very well might be right. Although, I don't know who JBond is or what his reputation is... Makes me kind of weary sending an expensive supercharger to just some guy.

CobraMarty

www.jonbondperformance.com

s346k

I'm all about making power, but I'm sorry guys...putting that kind of money in a 242" motor to make maybe 250whp seems silly. I look at strokers the same way. you could damn near do an atlas swap for the same cost, but get 300+hp, virtually unlimited tuning ability, and almost twice the fuel mileage.


kudos for keeping the 4.0 aftermarket alive. out of curiosity, I'd like to see a turbo 4.0 with the best head money can buy. I have no idea what the factory internals can handle in terms of power. assuming the rings/ringlands are solid, I'd guess quite a bit given the inherent design.

CobraMarty

An Atlas or LS1 swap- that's too easy, where's the fun.

PumpinIron

Comparing and Atlas swap to a supercharger is like apples and oranges. I understand your point is that there is better things to spend the money on, however, money well spent is completely relative to the person spending it.

I like the idea of retaining the stock motor (it is pretty much bullet proof after all) and being able to get a little more power out of it. The stock motor in these cars in my opinion is just a bit underpowered. I just wanted a bit more passing power on the highway and some more torque which is something a supercharger and provide without breaking the bank.

Not to mention that in all honesty $2700 for a supercharger kit is very reasonable. Try purchasing a supercharger kit for a BMW (or something along those lines) and the markup is so insane it will make your jaw drop. Back when I had my E46 M3 you'd have to drop at least 7k for a good supercharger kit. Yes, I know that's all markup because people who own BMWs will typically be willing to pay more, but still, it just proves that $2700 for a Jeep kit is much better of a deal.

s346k

the kits are (and should be) cheap because they don't make any power. there is little to no way of managing the setups outside of something like megasquirt. IMHO doing all of this work completely takes away from these engines. they're awesome bc of simplicity and reliability. you've compromised both of those aspects immensely for a little more passing power on the highway? just say you're doing it because you want to, not because any of it makes sense. because it makes none.

edit: I had a 6 lb non inter cooled power dyne setup on a m6 lt1 fbody. it picked up over 100 whp with headers and a pretty ****ty tune. it cost less than $2700 over 10 years ago.