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Area51 Vortech Supercharger for SC400's

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Old 11-04-02, 11:36 AM
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VSsc400
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Default Area51 Vortech Supercharger for SC400's

Area 51 has built a supercharger system for 92-00 model SC400's with 1UZ-FE motor. Here are the stats so far.
Company website www.area51fab.com

Facts
1. Stage1 Supercharger for 92-00 Lexus SC400 is available now. but not in a kit form yet.
2. They will produce a 2nd one-off unit for another SC after SEMA.
3. Installation time is roughly 8 hours @ are51
4. Every car is individually tuned(no cookie cutter) 3-4 days.


Parts
1. Vortech Supercharger S/SQ trim, capable of 20psi
2. Front Mount Intercooler (Air to Air cooled)
3. Upgraded injectors (smaller than 440)
4. In-tank 192lph/255lph fuel pump.
5. plumbing, pipes, lines, wired etc all included.
6. Tuned piggyback ECU by area51.
7. MAS - hotwire airflow meter replacement

Specs
1. 332.0 RWHP on pump gas (clayton dynanometer)
2. 285.9 RWTQ on pump gas (clayton dynanometer)
2. 8PSI on stock internals (clayton dynanometer)
3. Dyno sheet is available (I will post it soon, there was a link but didn't work)

Unknowns
1. Price is TBA but the 1st finished product was $7000-$8000 but no final price was given. I heard anything from $5500 to $8000.
2. Full release of a kit will be in December/january.

FAQ:
Q: Do I have to modify the hood?
A: No

Q: Do I need to do anything else before installing this kit?
A: No. Kit works with stock internals.

Q: The space is very crammed under the hood, do I have to move anything (i.e. battery, fuse box)
A: No

Q: 8Psi seems somewhat low. If I get this kit can I boost it up higher?
A: The suercharger is capable of maximum of 20psi. Doesn't mean your engine can handle it but it is possible to boost higher.

Q: LS400 and SC400's are basically the same, will this setup work for the LS400's?
A: If the hood clears it then it will. They have not installed or looked at the LS400's so it is not known.

Q: Will my car be a reilable daily driver with this kit?
A: The parameters area51 worked with is very conservative. The combination was designed to be a reliable daily driver.


Links

the S-trim suprecharger
http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/units/s-trim.html

The SQ- Trim supercharger
http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/units/sq-trim.html

Area51 Fabrication
http://www.area51fab.com


This post will continue to be updated. For consolidated update I will post all updates on the 1st post of this thread.

This thread is to keep people updated on the Superchager kit available via area51 and not to discuss the superiority of turbo vs supercharger or any other.
Only post information on suprcharger and concerns regarding the supercharger system or other related information.

Thank you.

Moderator: if you would, please sticky this one please.
Old 11-04-02, 09:15 PM
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Iron Chef
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Default Re: Area51 Vortech Supercharger for SC400's

Originally posted by VSsc400

Specs
1. 332.0 RWHP on pump gas (clayton dynanometer)
2. 285.9 RWTQ on pump gas (clayton dynanometer)
2. 8PSI on stock internals (clayton dynanometer)

I like those numbers. What year was the SC4 they tested on? Since the 98 SC400s were rated at 300hp compared to 95 SC400 which has 250hp, will there be a big difference? How will the auto tranny hold up with the 332rwhp? Any problems or need to upgrade?
Old 11-04-02, 09:59 PM
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also, will this be a limited time offer? I am very interested. Just got mine almost a month ago.

Iron Chef, I beleive this was tested on a 92SC...which means that you can probably assume that the whp on later model SC's should be higher
Old 11-05-02, 09:57 AM
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Default Re: Re: Area51 Vortech Supercharger for SC400's

Originally posted by Iron Chef


I like those numbers. What year was the SC4 they tested on? Since the 98 SC400s were rated at 300hp compared to 95 SC400 which has 250hp, will there be a big difference? How will the auto tranny hold up with the 332rwhp? Any problems or need to upgrade?
the supercharger works better without the vvti. Test vehicle was a non-vvti(not sure about the year but it was a pre 95). The computer is complicated and tends to out-tune the tuning. Auto tranny is find holding the 332rwhp. no changes needed.
Old 11-05-02, 09:59 AM
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Originally posted by legendary
also, will this be a limited time offer? I am very interested. Just got mine almost a month ago.

Iron Chef, I beleive this was tested on a 92SC...which means that you can probably assume that the whp on later model SC's should be higher
not a limited time offer. The next car that goes to get this kit installed will be another one-off. After that they will start producing the kits for the mass.

Can't assume that it will work better with vvti-engines since it was never tested on it.
Old 11-05-02, 10:41 AM
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Thanks for the info...since I am non VVT-i, I guess I am in the clear.

Is it also safe to assume once the momentum kicks in there will be Stage 2 kits researched?, or just increasing the boost and the strength of internals?
Old 11-05-02, 11:21 AM
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Originally posted by legendary
Thanks for the info...since I am non VVT-i, I guess I am in the clear.

Is it also safe to assume once the momentum kicks in there will be Stage 2 kits researched?, or just increasing the boost and the strength of internals?
lets take one step at a time. As noted above the blower is good to produce 20psi. as for internals.... unless you want to do it custom I don't know if there is much out there. Best bet is to get metal head gasket to lower the compression ratio then raising the boost.
Old 11-05-02, 10:29 PM
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How did they convert to a hotwire air sensor?
Old 11-06-02, 10:27 AM
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Originally posted by MadMaxSC400
How did they convert to a hotwire air sensor?
they did not provide technical details of how things were done.
Old 11-15-02, 02:40 PM
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just got in touch with area51 again.

Kit will be released early january

$5500-$6000 for the kit
$1000 for installation
available are 8psi 10psi and 15psi pulleys
8 and 10psi won't need to reduce compression
15psi they are figuring it out now
Old 11-16-02, 02:27 PM
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Max,the af sensor can be replaced using an AFC unit to convert the data,or SplitSecond makes controllers to do that as well.
I asked Leo about possibly incorporating that into the piggy-back unit,back when that was going on,but he said it was a no go,and would be additional,still don't know if it's possible with the piggyback unit alone.
Old 11-16-02, 03:24 PM
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you know, I have a question regarding the ECT switch...this may sound amateur, but does the switch position play any part in performance/fuel economy as it does stock,or is it rendered useless due to a new ECU configuration?

Basically, can you alternate between the power and economy modes?
Old 11-18-02, 01:15 AM
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I may be out of line here...but what does this post have anything to do with the Vortec supercharger kit from Area51?

" you know, I have a question regarding the ECT switch...this may sound amateur, but does the switch position play any part in performance/fuel economy as it does stock,or is it rendered useless due to a new ECU configuration?

Basically, can you alternate between the power and economy modes? "

Can we keep this thread to the facts about the current kit in production?
Old 11-18-02, 02:02 AM
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its a question about how the kit will affect the car. Whats wrong with that?
Old 11-18-02, 05:13 PM
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What mileage is too high to have this supercharger?


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