Still under the 'shade tree'...

[deerejoe]

but getting restless.

As usual, I'm still contemplating what and how to start.

The superchargers: Trilogy & Vortech; they definitely have my attention...but I have a FEW questions regarding their associated
requirements beyond just the cost and installation.

If FOMOCO deems NOT to offer an auto trans. on the lighter, more powerful Mustang SVT Cobra. How is it that many of you are generating greater horsepower on the Marauder without modifying the trans.??
Pardon my ignorance if I have missed an important step here.

Both s/c vendors in their latest 'bolt ons' do not mention a need, if any, to modify the trans. or for that matter, any other mods being really necessary for adding a s/c.

It is VERY appealing to think that all I may have to do to my OEM stock Marauder is bolt on the s/c kit of my preference and hit the road. If that assumption is correct, then I would certainly be moved to invest in one.

However, having read nearly all the posts to date regarding ALL the various and sundry mods available to us, I have the feeling that one cannot (should not) just add the s/c and NOTHING else regardless how one would use the car.

Please enlighten me....can I just get by with a supercharger??
If NOT...what is the MINIMUM mods necessary??

Thank you, one and all for your input.

[joflewbyu2]

i totally agree !! i just mentioned how the mustang mach 1 w/ auto tranny is limited to 126 mph and the five speed top speed is much higher - tested at 150 mph plus in several mag issues. i believe the MM needs the B&M's 28,000 gvwr stack plate race cooler plumbed in line after the radiator cooler just before reentering the tranny. this was a much needed mod to the supercharged 97-03 grand prixs and regals. someone fabricated brackets and sold a kit with all lines and fittings. HINT HINT DENNIS !! we need this and possibly an aluminum tranny pan with a MAGNETIC drain plug. make it and we will buy it !!

[bigslim]

I know at the Trilogy Open House this summer there was a Ford engineer there that worked on the MM. He said that the car was actually over engineered for the supercharger. He assured us that the MM could handle the torque.

[vegasmarauder]

That's what I thought I heard at the Ennis banquet. There was some concern the engine wouldn't handle the higher pressures with the S/C, but they were wrong (and a little sorry) in their underestimation.

[rumble]

Deerejoe,
I had a very brief conversation with Dennis re. the installed price of the S/C. He had just said "but their are other things you should do" and we were interrupted. As he was very busy I was hesitant to bother him with something I am only toying with. My
point is yes their obviously are additional things that need to be done and if you direct your questions to either Dennis or Trilogy
they have all the answers.

[JohnE]

I followed many cars for several years on the boards before installing a supercharger. My car is a daily driver. I went for the low pressure intercooled 6psi kit. Want my car to last. I travel 75mile round trip to work during the week. Tow a 3,000 lb boat somtimes 300 miles to a lake through hill country on 95+ days. And I make family trips.

For me to go Vortech, I'd have wanted new ported heads, new ported intake, aftercooler, etc. Basically I couldn't draw a line and define the project. But this would be the most powerful numbers.

I chose an Eaton Roots M90S for many reasons. I have 2V older style heads, which don't flow air through them very well. (Unlike the 4V heads you all have.) Low end torque. My blower pushed my torque curve up 70 ft-lbs across the board. And there is a reason why the Eaton unit is chosen by so many OEMs.

I have made modifications to my transmission to go along with the blower. And I change my Mercon V every 15-20k miles. My modifications include certain larger orifaces in the valve body, the removal of one accumulator spring and tranny programming in the computer. Basically my transmission shifts fast and firm. Instead of commanding more pressure to accomplish the shifts faster, more volume makes them fast.

In the transmission you want more flowrate of fluild and not high pressures. In order to put up more pressure, power is used and less fluid flows to cool and lubricate the rotating parts.

Dennis does include tranny programming along with his blower kit. And he sells bullet-proof transmissions too. He has many years experience with 400+ rwhp Ford cars with the same transmission we all have.

(Sorry, I don't personally know what Trilogy has. I learned of them through this board. These are some great guys too.)

Kenny Brown has been supercharging Panthers for years. He has used the same supercharger as I for the 2V for many years. And he was the first to supercharge the Marauder (after production). KB also includes changes to the tranny programming. (2 of the KB cars lost OD on the way to Ennis. I too wonder what caused the failures? They may have been defective from factory or a result of the mods.)

[DetGeno]

Now remember Bigslim works for Ford too so there you have it!!!

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by bigslim
I know at the Trilogy Open House this summer there was a Ford engineer there that worked on the MM. He said that the car was actually over engineered for the supercharger. He assured us that the MM could handle the torque.

I believe the 4R70W tranny can handle the power all right, but there is a QC issue floating in the background here, production line goofs. Doing a tranny upgrade may save you some towing bucks, and provide more performance to boot. If you want to know exactly why, and how, read up on it here. It's a long read, but well worth the time in real 411.

http://www.tccoa.com/articles/tranny/transmission/page1.shtml

[jgc61sr2002]

Sarge - Very interesting and packed with good info. Thanks.

[deerejoe]

SergntMac:
Thank you for providing such a concise READ regarding the 4R70W transmission.
After reading the entire article, I can now relate more to the facts of my initial concern.

To be sure, there are reasons to be concerned with engine modifications WITHOUT upgrading the trans.
I was certain there had to be more (necessary) than just bolting on a supercharger and driving merrily away!!

My request to Dennis Reinhart to expound on the "bullet-proof" transmission was done without any idea of the complexity of the issue...sorry Dennis, my mechanical acumen lags way behind my curiosity!!

Maybe if I just look on long enough, all the answers will eventually appear.

Patience is a GREAT virtue...