COMPLETED!! supercharger project. progress so far...

Post by **Robins** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:01 pm

I know the supercharger is from a new BMW mini, and that they have injection not carbs, i'm not completely daft. I was forgetting though, that the mini has injectors going direct to the cylinders individually, I was getting confused by visions of a single point injection systems that looks more like a carb as fitted to old minis, combined with images in my head of the vmax kit. My mistake though, some superchargers do need fuel for lubrication so thought it better to mention it just incase.

cheers, Daniel

Post by **picky** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:18 pm

Daniel,

i'm not completely daft.

Sorry I didnt mean to insult your intelligence! yes the minis do add the fuel after the supercharger.

so thought it better to mention it just incase.

Thanks for mentioning it, I have found the discussions on the mmoc very helpful in spotting potential pitfalls with my setup.

I don't think the Eatons are designed to have fuel go through them as it damages the lobe coating.

The vmax scart kit does have the carb before the supercharger, the website says that the superchargers are modified for use with the kit, so whether the standard one would be affected by the fuel I cant be sure, but is not an issue for my setup.

Picky

Post by **picky** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:02 pm

Iain,
are you sure the turbo version of the carb has a solid float? I have looked on the burlen website and the part number for the float is the same for the turbo and non turbo versions of the carb. the turbo carbs seem to go for a fair bit more than the normal ones on ebay

Picky

Post by **turbominor** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:42 am

yeah they have metal float or solid plastic float stop it compressing under boost.

remember the turbo carb is not just about the float... its the sealing and ability to stop the boost leaking or spraying petrol over your hot engine

you really need the turbo carb and boost controlled pressure regulator combined with a fuel pump that can provide more presure that the boost you are running

Post by **picky** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:15 pm

telephoned burlen fuel systems a few days ago, the turbo and non turbo floats are exactly the same part. I have had a look at the float in my non turbo carb and it is fairly solid, cant see it collapsing under boost easily.

Picky

Post by **aussiemike** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:31 am

excellent stuff!!! really like your attention to detail so that not only will it fly it will look good doing it!
look forward to more updates. cheers,michael.

Post by **picky** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:25 pm

thanks for your support mike. I am nearly there now, but Ive run out of cash! All the hard work is done now, just need a clutch and some new tyres and other bits and bobs and then its MOT time... I will add another page to my website shortly with latest photos.

Picky

Post by **aussiemike** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:46 pm

look forward ot it!

Post by **picky** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:12 pm

NEW page of photos and stuff:

http://www.pickmantechnologies.com/s/page3.htm

Beginning to feel like im nearly on the road...

Post by **heathy12** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:55 pm

Dont know if anyone on heres asked this.

But have you thought thru the actual fitment of the engine to the car!

Looks like the whole thing'll be stuck out of the bonnet by about 2 feet!

Then theres the air filter at the back of the top, that'll fit in a cut out in the windscreen?!?!!

Im guessing you'll be chopping the bonnet and the Buldge on the bulkhead Have you devised a cover for the supercharger belt??

Just interested in seeing how its all gona fit in if you catch my drift!

Think i'll stick with my Metro Turbo lump!

Nice to see another Turbo'd minor out there tho! We'll have to start a club!

Ad

Post by **heathy12** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:58 pm

Wolsley drum breaks!

Your brave!!!

Post by **badobsession** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:15 am

hi just looking at the thread on your engine /supercharger
have you not spoken to this guy, GAS has had his traveller running the mini supercharger for 2 years know and has worked out most of the bugs.

think he posts on this forum .

looks better in the traveller than the mini lol.
mark..

Post by **picky** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:20 am

thanks for all the input guys, yes I have been in contact with GAS and he has been very helpful sending photos and details of the cars setup, which is an adaptation of the vmaxscart supercharger kit for minis.

my setup will fit under the bonnet! there is about an inch or so of space between the supercharger and the bonnet when it is closed. I will have to mount the air filter off centre, biased to point downwards. I designed the supercharger mounting brackets while mounting the supercharger on the old engine that was still in the car, so I am 99% sure that it will all squeeze under the bonnet

that thing has a big power bulge already built in!

Picky

Post by **picky** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:58 pm

just got the engine running yesterday with the supercharger fitted!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0n8uQq-Sog

No radiator setup yet, and I need to fit the interior and other bits and bobs before it will be on the road, but at least I know the rather unusual setup I have opted for does actually work

Thanks to everyone for advice and comments I have received along the way.

Picky

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:55 pm

Excellent - v well done! So how do you get in to torque down the head and adjust the valve gaps ? It sounds there as if it's just a wee bit advanced - slightly kicking against the starter - or maybe just the battery is a bit low ?

Post by **picky** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:39 pm

Thanks bmc. some maintenance jobs are going to be a bit fiddly - but it only takes about 10 minutes to remove the supercharger unit - so that should give me room for tappets etc.

having some trouble with the starter motor, sometimes it doesnt turn at all and smoke comes off power terminal on the starter, I think it is short circuiting at the terminal.

Picky

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:03 pm

picky wrote:having some trouble with the starter motor, sometimes it doesnt turn at all and smoke comes off power terminal on the starter, I think it is short circuiting at the terminal.

More likely to be a bad contact. A high resistance across the terminal will cause it to get hot when current flows through it.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:11 pm

Hmm - could just be the engine is v hard to turn and it can't get it 'over the top'. Make sure the battery is fully charged up!

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:49 pm

I rather like the idea of a supercharger but even at my age (50) I worry about insurance being prohibative.
What has yours said and how much has premium increased ?
What conditions have they imposed and is an engineers report required ?

Paul Humphries

Post by **picky** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:02 pm

I am considering going for a very low mileage insurance quote, to keep the cost down (being 19 and male does not help with my premium!) my current policy with aon is about £200 ish (on modified 1098cc) but I expect that to go up a fair bit. I think it is mainly alloy wheels bucket seats and parts that make the car "look" faster that really makes the premium go up. When I went from standard 1098 to a 1098 with larger carb and exhaust, they did not change the quote! The car is currently on SORN so the next MOT should pick up anything really unsafe... not sure how I will pass the emissions test yet...

Picky