Going way beyond straight Hemi HP

Techno roars out a new breed of blowers.

Custom Bay twin-screw supercharger Techco superchargers adding horsepower adding torque There's an old truism in the automotive business that horsepower is what sells, but torque is what moves the car. Well, offering a supercharger actually gives you a dramatic power-adder that can raise the performance of both a customer's vehicle and your shop revenues.

Supercharging for automobiles has been around for more than a century, dating back to an engine designed by Gottlieb Daimler in 1900. Later on, veterans returning from World War II employed this proven aviation technology to hop up their hot rods. Today, this type of forced induction has come a long way, and is now a staple of the performance aftermarket, because there's no quicker way to produce big power numbers than bolting on a blower.

Gains of 30 percent to 50 percent are not unusual, typically about 20 hp per pound of boost, depending on the fuel delivery and intercooling systems. And as already noted, superchargers are also a quick way to boost the bottom line.

The principle behind supercharging is fairly simple: use a belt-driven pump to push more air into the cylinders so the engine can burn more fuel and generate more power. But not all blowers are created equal, as they come in a variety of sizes and configurations. And depending on the design, they also require modifications to the intake, fuel and cooling systems.

The basic types of blowers are roots, twin-screw and centrifugal. All of them work well, but as market competition has increased, companies have come up with various innovations and refinements on these proven approaches. We'll focus on one in particular, Techco's Reverse Revolution twin-screw supercharger. This company has reassembled the former team that designed, developed, tested and certified the Saleen S7, Saleen S281 Mustangs, Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang and Saleen S331 Sport Trucks. The product line has been expanded from Ford engines to include HEMI-powered (5.7L or 6.1L) 2008-2009 Chrysler vehicles and GM's later-model LS engines for the Corvette and redesigned Camaro.

As implied by the Reverse Revolution product name, Techco has taken an opposite approach to the twin-screw design. Usually the air flows into the blower case from behind and above the engine, where it's compressed between a pair of intermeshing rotors and then directed into the intercooler and/or intake manifold. On the Techco, however, the air flows through the front of the engine, and the rotors pump the air upward through a new type of intercooler with an A-frame configuration, and then directly into the intake runners.

One advantage of this configuration is a lower profile, so the stock hood can be retained (saving money for your customer). This setup also provides a more direct airflow with fewer bends in order to minimize the buildup of heat, along with a larger volume of airflow at less boost. Typically the blower runs about six pounds of boost, and produces a gain of 90 hp to 120 hp on a HEMI (higher outputs are available as well).

Also included with the system are an open-element, high-flow cold-air intake, CNC venturi, extruded aluminum fuel rails with larger injectors and an eight-rib accessory drive. A Diablo flash programmer changes the vehicle's fuel maps to compensate for the higher airflow supplied by the supercharger.

We drove a Corvette and a Challenger, each outfitted with Techco's Reverse Revolution superchargers. The experience was exhilarating. In stop-and-go traffic, the car idles and motors smoothly around town, with no overheating or throttle-surging.

Your customers won't believe how much performance you've wrung out of the engine. And you just might be surprised as well by how much more revenue these systems can bring into your shop.

Steve Temple is a freelance technical writer and photographer with more than 25 years' experience. He has served as director of sales and marketing for Shelby American and as online editor for major magazines like Hot Rod, Car Craft and Rod &Custom.

Powerful and Street Legal

THE PART

Twin-Screw Supercharger

THE DISTRIBUTOR

Techco 3125 East Coronado St.Anaheim, CA 92806 Phone: (714) 408-9550 www.techcointl.com

THE CHALLENGE:

Raise engine output substantially without detracting from the drivability of your customer's vehicle.

TIME TO COMPLETE

Typically about a day and a half for a stock level of boost. Allow extra tuning time for higher boost levels.

COST TO YOU

Standard shop tools are needed to remove the stock air filter box and intake manifold and to install the blower case. An injector fuel-rail remover is recommended, and for high-horsepower applications, a chassis dyno allows for custom tuning. Retail pricing for Techco's supercharger systems start at $7,500 and doesn't require a custom hood for extra clearance. A new dealer program is being developed for the HEMI and Ford as of this writing, and jobber discounts or incentives will be available as well. For the GM side, jobbers can get $1,000 off retail.

PROFIT POTENTIAL

Because Techco has only recently released new supercharger systems for the HEMI and LS engines and the economy is still in "limp mode," it's difficult to identify any particular make or model that would be more popular than another. That said, Techco already has a strong foothold in the Mustang market from its roots with Saleen. On the Corvette side, there's an option for a low-noise version, unique to the supercharger marketplace. Interest in the new Camaro is high, but several other supercharger companies are rushing to market as well, so expect some serious competition in that arena. One big advantage of the Techco supercharger systems is the fact that they pass (or are in the process of being approved) for current emissions standards.