Supercharger Plus and minus

[joedee]

Hi,
Considering adding a supercharger to my 03 Marauder with 18K miles on it. I do have a few concern that I hope someone can answer.

Will it void my Ford extended warranty?
Do most folks install it themselves?
Do you need to do a tune after words or will the stock tune work?
Do you need to change the factory exhaust?
When it is time to sell will this be a + or -?

And no, I am not going to race the car. Just thought it would be nice to have a little extra power.

Joe

[vkirkend]

Hi,
Considering adding a supercharger to my 03 Marauder with 18K miles on it. I do have a few concern that I hope someone can answer.

Will it void my Ford extended warranty? yes
Do most folks install it themselves? don't know
Do you need to do a tune after words or will the stock tune work? you will need a new tune, a base tune i think comes with the kit.
Do you need to change the factory exhaust? no
When it is time to sell will this be a + or -? depends on the buyer.

And no, I am not going to race the car. Just thought it would be nice to have a little extra power.

Joe

Will it void my Ford extended warranty? yes
Do most folks install it themselves? don't know
Do you need to do a tune after words or will the stock tune work? you will need a new tune, a base tune i think comes with the kit.
Do you need to change the factory exhaust? no
When it is time to sell will this be a + or -? depends on the buyer.

[Blackmobile]

Hi,
Considering adding a supercharger to my 03 Marauder with 18K miles on it. I do have a few concern that I hope someone can answer.

1-Will it void my Ford extended warranty?
2-Do most folks install it themselves?
3-Do you need to do a tune after words or will the stock tune work?
4-Do you need to change the factory exhaust?
5-When it is time to sell will this be a + or -?

6-And no, I am not going to race the car. Just thought it would be nice to have a little extra power.

Joe

1- Most definitely
2- The ones who are mechanically inclined Yes
3- Yep to utilize the extra power that was just added
4- No, but it would help, but again not needed
5- All depends on who you sell it to. Dealer trade in - NO, Power hungry individual - Yes
6- For a min. of 4K, are you sure about this?

Ed

[FordNut]

Hi,
Considering adding a supercharger to my 03 Marauder with 18K miles on it. I do have a few concern that I hope someone can answer.

Will it void my Ford extended warranty?
Do most folks install it themselves?
Do you need to do a tune after words or will the stock tune work?
Do you need to change the factory exhaust?
When it is time to sell will this be a + or -?

And no, I am not going to race the car. Just thought it would be nice to have a little extra power.

Joe


1- Most definitely
2- The ones who are mechanically inclined Yes
3- Yep to utilize the extra power that was just added
4- No, but it would help, but again not needed
5- All depends on who you sell it to. Dealer trade in - NO, Power hungry individual - Yes
6- For a min. of 4K, are you sure about this?

Ed

Correction:
3- yes, the stock tune has too much timing advance and will blow up the motor. The base tune that comes with the SC kit will be ok for performance & engine safety, but you leave some power on the table unless you get a dyno tune for your specific car.

[joedee]

Thanks for the feed back. The answer that it will void my warranty is enough for me to at least wait until the warranty expires. The cost will not be an issue since I work for the company that makes the superchargers. Sorry can't mention the name or get free samples for everyone.

[knine]

............The cost will not be an issue since I work for the company that makes the superchargers. Sorry can't mention the name or get free samples for everyone.
Hmmmmmmmm, you live in Wisconsin, so i'm guessing it's XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX < censored.

[Haggis]

Will it void my Ford extended warranty?

Maybe, depends on your service manager.

[Vortech347]

I think a Trilogy would be easier to resell due to its OEM like setup and reliability. Don't hear my wrong now troops you're talking to a Vortech guy. I just know alot of people like the Trilogy just not the price for a good street blower. I'm one of em. :)

[Blackmobile]

I think a Trilogy would be easier to resell due to its OEM like setup and reliability. Don't hear my wrong now troops you're talking to a Vortech guy. I just know alot of people like the Trilogy just not the price for a good street blower. I'm one of em. :)

Now if you're talking Trilogy TS, then I'm right there with ya.

[Aren Jay]

1. Warranty for the engine yes, warranty for your seats or trunk latch no problem.

2. Some do installs themselves most have a pro, if they are not, install it for them.

3. A Stock SC tune is provided with most kits. But if a Pro does the install, if done at their place, they can often do a proper dyno tune as well.

4. Need no, will you want to? Yes.

5. Sale values are such that a SC will not ever make you money. It will sell for more than stock but less than what you put into it. If you look around you will see a base $15K Marauder with SC sell for $18K. At a dealership it is better to remove the SC and accessories and sell them here seperately.

6. SC's are not just the Super Charger but rather a full kit. You need other parts upgraded to allow you to take advantage of the extra power, these as well as a tune are supplied in the kit. The Offical Kits for MM.net are either Wes Chain supplied Trilogy Kit or Dennis Reinhart supplies his own kit. See the vendor section. There are other kits for Marauders and some members are selling other kits too. Speak to everyone about everything that you want to do with your Marauder before you decide.

7. Advanced NA Marauders are not as Fast as a SC Marauders but are very fast and depending on how much money you want to spend and the total end result your looking for it might be a route you may want to consider first.

[SID210SA]

If you want just a little more hp than stock and that it wont void your warranty get a CAI/RAI from one of the vendors here....you could also get a tune that will add a little more hp also available from a vendor here of your choosing....both of these are easily removable for when you want warranty work done.

[LVMarauder]

Doesnt a SC only void the engine, tranny and read end waranty? If your suspension was untouched id shouldn't it still be valid?

[joedee]

If you want just a little more hp than stock and that it wont void your warranty get a CAI/RAI from one of the vendors here....you could also get a tune that will add a little more hp also available from a vendor here of your choosing....both of these are easily removable for when you want warranty work done.


Hi,
Sorry to be so dumb but what is a CAI/RAI ? (cold air induction?) I understand the tune but not the other. I am going to wait on the SC because I don't want to throw my extended warranty away on the engine and drive train. Does the tune have any effect on gas mileage?

[Pops]

The air cleaner set up.

[MMMAN]

The S/C will only void the warranty pertaining to items directly effected by the added power such as: Engine, transmission, rear end, and tune related issues. All other componets will not be voided unless the dealership is unreasonable.

The risk is worth the reward!

[Lowndex]

I recall reading something like half of all supercharger owners would not do it all over again. Meaning, after the fun wears off, they miss the balanced ride of their ole non-supercharged Marauder. The other half claim the fun never wore off.

50 % is not good enough math for me to spend $8,000.00:
* $6K for the Trilogy supercharger
* $1.5K for installation
* $500.00 for a custom tune

[Pat]

Joedee;

modifing your MM is a subjective process that begins, rightly so, by asking other MM owners what their experiences are.

Your last sentence " ..not going to race the car.....just want a little extra power".
is where your at.

If you had said, "I want to race every week end for King of the track and blow the doors off those #^#@^# Z06's, Mustang GT's and anything with a Hemi in it" then get a Supercharger.

May I say that the Marauder is not short on power, it's short on putting power to use at the launch and low end of the driving spectrum.

To remedy that situation marauder owners have usually done the following with great effect: 1. A CAI (small gain but sounds good), 2. a hand held flasher with a Marauders specific tune from vendors here, 3. a set of 4"10 gears and high speed stall converter, 4. exhaust upgrade (not just a muffler change). Doing this will give you a very lively performing machine. Chassis mods to hold all this new found performance should still leave you with money in the bank vis a vie the supercharger route. Traction should still be manageable.

I say all that to say this...I went the above discribed route and was very pleased with my car's street performance but I wanted more. So after a couple of more years I saved up and got a Non-intercooled Paxton Centrifical Supercharger kit from Reinhart Automotive in Florida where they did the install and dyno tune. I also utilize a 50 shot NOS kit for a grand total of 429 RWHP.

Now I'm faced with having to save for widened wheels and larger tires to keep all this power channeled to the cement.

Regards,

[hyvltge]

As far as ever regretting a S/C... Drive one stock, drive one blown.

End of test.:lol:

[Vortech347]

Once you go forced induction you open pandoras box. It sounds like a kick with nitrous would work well. Best part about nitrous it never gets old because you can't always use it.

[Vortech347]

btw 1500 for installation? I'm in the wrong damn business!!!!

[Bluerauder]

I recall reading something like half of all supercharger owners would not do it all over again. Meaning, after the fun wears off, they miss the balanced ride of their ole non-supercharged Marauder. The other half claim the fun never wore off.
I have never seen or heard anything here regarding ^^^^ this with respect to supercharging an MM. You must have read that on the GM or DCM site. From what I have read here over nearly 5 years, some 99.99% of MM owners would do S/C all over again and do it sooner than they did the first time. Please tell us where you read that 50% figure.

[2ndMDRebel]

Take my word for it, whatever your "budget" is for getting a s/c, go ahead and calculate everything up for your project, check it twice, check it a third time, when you are satisfied that you have the correct amount then add 50%.

Also start stashing away money for a "what was that noise" fund...

[Blackmobile]

The cost will not be an issue since I work for the company that makes the superchargers.


Take my word for it, whatever your "budget" is for getting a s/c, go ahead and calculate everything up for your project, check it twice, check it a third time, when you are satisfied that you have the correct amount then add 50%.

Also start stashing away money for a "what was that noise" fund...

It looks like everyone is missing a little tid bit of information. He's got it better than most of us here. A foot in the door of Boost. :eek: Some people have all the luck.

[SID210SA]

Hi,
Sorry to be so dumb but what is a CAI/RAI ? (cold air induction?) I understand the tune but not the other. I am going to wait on the SC because I don't want to throw my extended warranty away on the engine and drive train. Does the tune have any effect on gas mileage?

This is the one I got from Mr. Tucker of JLT....there are a couple of vendors on here that offer different set ups with different looks....this is the one that I and many other people are happy with....best bang for the buck on this item IMHO....

Click the pic....

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/9/4/3/DSC06156_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=1665&c=3&userid=3943)

[joedee]

Thank you for all the input. Sure sounds like for what I am wanting (to add a little more power) that the SC is not the way to go. I remember the issues with just adding headers to the old muscle cars. (Extra heat, hitting or being too close to the steering, leaks, finding the correct exhaust system, and on and on). This sounds very similar with regards to some of the additional costs and potential problems. I have had muscle cars from the 60's and 70's and they were fast but not any where as reliable and comfortable as the Marauder. In fact I am sure a few of them would have had a hard time keeping up with a stock Marauder. I wanted to get the feedback from those who have done this to see what the issues were. As of now I am not going to add the SC.

Joe

[hyvltge]

What issues? It is an investment at first yes, but after you have it installed and tuned it's done, period.

Plus if you work at the OEM couldn't you have someone there help you install it if you don't do it yourself? That coupled with an potential employee discount would put you way ahead of the curve money wise.:thinker:

[joedee]

Yes, you are correct but I still have the warranty that is good until Dec 09 that would become void for the eng and drive train. Not worth loosing that. After that I may consider it again.

[Pat]

Joedee;

Warranty is important, yes - but your car is "young" in mileage so in a year or two the car would still be a viable candidate for a super charger.

In the mean time try the flash tune (XCal2) that will, for a modest cost, wake up the beast. You can always build on that basic block.

Regards,

[Aren Jay]

btw 1500 for installation? I'm in the wrong damn business!!!!


That is just for the Trilogy, other kits cost less to install.

[MCAT]

I am in SE Wisconsin, my advise is buy & Trilogy (wana save some dough
get on the used s/c list) install it your self(if you need help, pm me
I have installed my own & helped a buddy install a twin screw version)
if you can turn some wrenches, read/follow instructions, you would be doing yourself a disservice paying some one to do the install, not to mention the fun you would have doing it yourself,
oh yea, a ride &/or drive in eather one of our cars & there will be no looking back, you will be filling out an order form:)

[justbob]

^^^^^^^^^+++++++++111111111111 1^^^^^^^^^

[Bradley G]

I'll third that!!!! ^^^I got a few installs under my belt as well.
All you need is a ride in a "T" car

[Aren Jay]

Or you could get a Reinhart SC for less money and drive over to Zack and have it installed for free.

[joedee]

Thank you for all the offers of help. Yes, I know how to turn a wrench. Restored quite a few cars over the years. I am still going to wait until the warranty runs out before I do anything that will void it. From what I see here the best thing for now would be the air intake change and tune. Now, when it comes to the tune there I would need some help. Never did that on a car before. I work with computers all day but this would be a new application from what I have done in the past. I may however wait until next spring (since the car will be put away for the winter months in late Oct or about). I put it in a bubble in the pole barn to keep it clean and keep any critters out.

Joe

[SID210SA]

Tune is very simple to install...it comes with the hanheld tuner....you just plug it into your OBDII port and follow the instruction on the tuner screen....takes less than 2 minutes.

[TAKEDOWN]

Or you could get a Reinhart SC for less money and drive over to Zack and have it installed for free.

Not free... already paid for in the deal. Not too many things in life are free.:burnout:

[lecantotaylor]

... The base tune that comes with the SC kit will be ok for performance & engine safety, but you leave some power on the table unless you get a dyno tune for your specific car.


Where did you get that idea? Not true from what I've read in other threads here... You need a dyno tune before going WOT or risk is high for blowing up the car.

[justbob]

Where did you get that idea? Not true from what I've read in other threads here... You need a dyno tune before going WOT or risk is high for blowing up the car.

Not with Trilogy:D Without dyno our only worry is wasted power.

[Aren Jay]

Not free... already paid for in the deal. Not too many things in life are free.:burnout:


Install is free, paid for by Dennis, but if Zack doesn't install it, it is the same price.

Hence it is free to you and me.

And since this guy lives next to door to Zack it would be a great idea for him.

For Tunes

See the tune thread in the Garage section.