The beauty of a postive displacement supercharger is that it increases torque. 70 hp extra at the wheels is heaps when it is 70 hp just about everywhere. The power graph just lifts up everywhere and the car accelerates strongly. It's not like a highly strung turbo where you only get the full 70hp up top.
To put more than 6psi into the 1UZ-FE you really have to start spending - compression is high, temps are high, fuel is marginal, ECU isn't tunealbe.
Andy Richardson has been driving his Eaton 1UZ-FE for 6 months now -I drove it too and it is a delight to drive. The C's kit is also great on the 1UZ_FE as well - easy wheelspin off the line with oodles of torque - it is bags of fun. Turbos are great to drive but I love positive displacement supercharges.
Andy has had a professional pattern maker make the castings for the manifold - this is the dear bit. Maching the manifold to fit is being done and 8 weeks or so the kit starts rolling off the line. In Australia we expect the kit to cost about $7000 (Aud) plus fitting - not cheap -but fitting a 2JZ has other problems with wiring, V8 tacho versus 6 cylinder output, the whole ECU thing, cruise control, accessories to fit - could be done for sure - but it's a lot more work.
It's too bad we don't drive Mustangs - get one of those KenBell intercooler PD supercharger kits for $4000 US all up - that's a bargain! Just not enough SC's around compared to Ford and GM products. I look at all the stuff they have available and it hurts!

 

Produce a initial kit, install it, tune it, get some dyno numbers, then quote a price after you know exactly how much it will cost.

Just remember the dollar is strong in Australia. Their SC kit will cost in the 4-5K range if the exchange rate is what is was a few months ago.

I'll pay up to 5K for a powerful kit with cash ready to go, but, 6.5K for 70+ gain at the wheels. I am a little hesitant, but intrested non the less.

What psi do you plan to run.


Good luck.

 

Emerald, I think you misunderstood me on the BFI. I know it has been around for quite awhile. I just never hear of it from guys in the US market. It is an excellent mod, but, it cannot be done for $5 As one mentioned. When I fabbed mine, I was meticulous, as I am about most all things in my life, especially my Lexus.

The sheet of Heat resistant ABS was $15.00, I had to buy fiberglass supplies-$25.00, I bought a heat gun to shape the ABS, $45.00, some various other supplies $15.00. I bought a Dremel-indespensible tool! $45.00. Total cost-$145.00. Still, a cheap price for 10-15 HP gain.

As far as the market is concerned, this project is being done as a labor of love. It is for my car. If nobody else buys one, that is ok. If they want it, better yet. If costs allow me to sell it for less, I will. The goal is to offer SC400 owners something that will thrill them when they put their foot into the pedal. I have a great friend that is an absolute ACE mechanic. He is one of those rare mechanics that can still repair/rebuild instead of just replace parts. He works on Acura NSX's quite a bit. The car is priced not much more than the SC400 was new. He has installed several SuperChargers on these cars, all at an average cost of $12,000-$15,000 for the kit before installation costs. The average increase in HP is 100 HP. Everyone of those customers absolutely loves the change and stated it was worth every penny of the cost. Reliability is also excellent- no destroyed engines!!

BTW, I have a successful business that allows me to live quite comfortably without having to depend upon this venture for a living, so, I am just testing the waters to see if there is enough interest to make a business out of it to sell. So, I did not put the cart before the horse. If guys do not want it, I will be perefectly happy to keep it for myself. Just keep one thing in mind, if you or anybody on this forum are ever in Central Florida, and pull up in your SC400 next to a customized Black SC400 with the TAG DTRMND, don't run me, unless you are prepared to eat some serious tire smoke and rubber fragments. All in FUN, Heh, Heh, Heh.

Read Peter Scott's reply. This is a positive displacement SC, and with all of the increased and available torque, I have a feeling people will love it. HP alone does not necessarily mean speed. As I said, I will time 0-60, 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile before and after. I will also dyno before and after. The proof will be in the pudding.

One thing I do not understand. I post a poll simply for people to vote on what they would do, and I get attacks form people upset that my price is too high. This is just a poll, guys. This project is not yet complete, and when it is, I will quote you firm numbers.

Whenever anybody wants to mod a car, they need to be prepared to spend whatever amount is necessary to make it happen. My experience is that many want to make the improvements, but do not want to spend the money. Now, there are many that do spend gobs and gobs of money, to the point of ridiculousness. But, it is their money, and their dream. Each one of you has to determine what any mod is worth to you, and invest accordingly. But please, don't attack the messenger!!

One last thing, in the last year I have performed the following mods and repairs to my SC400. For me, it was worth every penny.
1)Replaced power steering pump, reservoir and switch-$1,200
2)Serviced Trans at Lexus-$150
3)Replaced leaky, yellowed low beam and high beam assemblies-$1,000
4)Replaced front and rear lower control arm bushings(Andrew Vlamos Bushings-awesome!)-$550
5)Replaced some interior trim pieces-$550
6)Repaired driver side window regulator-$450
7)Repaired tilt motor-$150
8)Bought set of 18" Enkei wheels and Kuhmo tires(crap quality-jeesh!)-$1,200
9)Got rid of the Enkei's and Kuhmos(unbelieveable vibrations!!) and replaced with brand new chrome 18" Altstadt Type 1's and Nitto NT555 Extreme ZR's (awesome set-up!!)-$5,000
10)Replaced headlight bulbs with HID-$550
11)BFI-$150
12)Replaced Timing belt, Outer Idler pulley, water pump, cam seals, crank seal, o rings, TB Idler pulley, TB Tensioner pulley, Serpentine belt-$1,015
Total so far-$11,965
Yet to do-
1)Custom paint
2)Custom fiberglass mods
3)MB Quart Stereo system with Top of the Line Premiere Deck, XM, custom install
4)Suspension upgrades
5)SuperCharger

It was worth it to me, because I love the car. When it is complete, it will be better than new.

So, for me, $6,000 for a SuperCharger and the additional fun, priceless!!

Ryan

 

Oh, Put me in my place......


A thousand apologyz...cant we all just get along??

 

A thousand apologies accepted, but not necessary. Gentlemen, please remember, this is merely my first test to get honest responses. I appreciate each one, and I am not offended. Again, just don't shoot the messenger. It is simply a poll.

Except for those that answered they would order, wait and see the proof. For those that said they would order, PM me and let's converse.

BTW, Even though the SC400 has been around since 92, and many of us own one that may be several years old. I think we have established that owning one is not for the faint of heart. Even tough you can buy a used SC400 for less than the price of most of todays' new cars, the maintenance required to get it up to snuff is generally high- no matter how well it was taken care of. And because the SC400 is an exceptional car that was approx $60,000 new, maintaining, repairing and modding a used one will be expensive, as it is with all cars of this class and grade. Go mod and maintain a used Bimmer or Mercedes and see what it will cost you.

My point and pleasure is that this car is so well built and maintained that it is a better car at 10 years old than most any new car, especially once it is brought up to new condition. Plus, it is one of the absolute best looking cars on the road period!, BAR NONE!! Aren't these some of the reasons we spend upwards of $10,000 just in maintenance and repair to enjoy the car?

I love the SC400, and always have, since it first came out!!

I will not sell mine!!

Ryan

 

LoL!! You did'nt REAAALLY think you’d get off from trying to clown me that easy did you??

 

Sounds to me like you bought a lemon

I’m not gonna get into how much I have into my car. But it would make get off of that horse of yours from my interior bill alone.

Annnnnd I'm not gonna get into suspension,Tranny,Custom ECU/Engine work, Body kits (2003 alone is 3/4 of what you spent to 'repair' your car) Custom exterior stuff ,etc... I like the car and do it for myself just like you

Even with that said; I'm not gonna get into a pissing match with you over mods....You're off to a good start....keep up the good work


Don’t get me wrong. I like what you're doing but your reply was defensive to people reading. you asked for opinion.

As far as business...here’s a 'Car Tuning Biz 101' tip: Have a product to sell before selling it.

I personally find it annoying when companies use customers money for R&D or ask for a deposit 'up front' for a product they don’t even have.


If you know anything about business you'd know the price down to the penny at various production numbers. Manufacturing 101

Oh yeah, - I'd race ANY SC400 and feel VERY confident with my mods that id win...and not by an inch

I should have 2 cars down at nopi this year..thats not too far from Florida is it?


Again folks, Superchargers are cool...I got rid of my new twins because I wanted to go S/C or Single Turbo when I have the time. At this time I think that Supercharging is the way to go and will do it when the car comes back.

 

Uh,... can you say... "Daaaaauuuummmnnnn!!!! Em jus' went offfff !!! "

 

got any pics of this thing? any design concept drawings? any hard numbers at all? Asking from an interested point of view.

 

lets see..

veilside body kit 2500
extra kaminari rear 200
bomex wing 250
all new custom black paint job 2200
supra brake upgrade 700
custom exhaust 1100 (did it 3 times to get it right so tatal is 2500 or so)
sound system 1400
wheels and tires 1800
bushings, TEIN's do luck brace $2200
walbro pump 150
S-AFC 250
wideband o2 kit 400
a few little things here and there 1200
14,000+ in mods (not counting several failed exhaust attempts, 4 sets of wheels 6 sets of tires and etc)

and about 6000 worth of dealer service records (like the dealer said "everything is new except for engine and transmission now")

I know I'm not the biggest player on the board... but I think I play pretty hard....

one more thing... for me to justify a forced induction kit of $8000 installed price I want double the RWHP which I don't think its alot to ask.

 

Emerald:

Just to clarify a few things.

1)You say you don't want to get into a pissing match, yet you're words are doing just that.
2)You state that I do not seem to know anything about business, rather presumptuous of you, when you have so little facts (none) about me.
3)I did not list my costs for repair to bragg. Just to state that these are common maintenance items that frequently need to be replaced in older models.
4)You incorrectly stated that I am attempting to use customer's money to fund my research. Not!! Read the poll questions again. The deposit states clearly that this is for orders that are placed once the product is ready for delivery.
5)You seem to be the one that is defensive. Even with the racing, I said that was in fun.
6)You attacked my car and said it must be a Lemon- Low Blow. What, can I expect your next reply to be some snide comment stating that you call them as you see them? Or, If the shoe fits wear it? Or, some other waste of time comment?
7)You seem to be the one throwing around the testosterone, stating I would faint at your expense for your own interior? Just back from NOPI?

What horse are you talking about? Just because I stated I spent X dollars to repair and mod, I am bragging? Not!! I would be bragging if I stated my income, or the quality of my house, or other subjects that sre off the subject. Several people, even recently, have stated that they had expensive repairs to get their car to the level that they wanted. Were they bragging too?

I applaud what you have done too your car. Seen the pics of your interior. But, there is absolutely no reason for you to stoop to such a level by attacking me when I have done nothing to you.

This is just a preliminary poll, nothing more, nothing less.

With that said, let's just leave this to a poll. If you want to make any further negative comments, how about PMing me instead.

This should not be put out before the forum.

Ryan

 

Your comment on let's converse...danielson. That is not to sell, just to know the level of seriousness. I f I sell on this website, it will be as a ClubLexus approved vendor.

Ryan

 

Just an FYI to all who are interested- The SuperCharger is already in BETA testing, and doing absolutely well. It is not on my car yet, that is next. PICS, and all supporting documentation to follow. The money has already been spent on the research.

Ryan

 

I will detrermine what is possible. $1,500 to $2,000 for installation is a bit high. should not cost you nearly that much.

Ryan

 

awesome. looking foward to it...
but how about more details? since its already in beta testing...

what type of supercharger?
what type of intercooler(if any)?
what kind of boost?
engine management?

basic details would be awesome.