Ok guys, I think I am going with the Vortech. Money and thought are going into this project of mine. I have a 2000 Ford F150 XLT with the 5.4 Liter V8 engine. It'll have 10,000 on it when the supercharger goes on it. On to the big question. Should I have it installed or is it something a mechanic like myself can do. Any special tools required other than the normal standard whats in a big automotive tool kit? I would really like some pointers on anything from anyone whose installed any type of centrifugal superchargers. HELP!

 

i am going to put on a powerdyne supercharger in a week or so.i am doing it myself.w3ith the way we a going allmost any one can put on on.the eaton are very hard to do,to much stuff to cut and bolt.i think that my truck has good power but when going up hill with a load it does need a kick.i am one of thoes people that need to go up a hill at 80 mph with a load in the back.so i need a supercharger.

 

CyrusTheVyrus

I have the vortech on my 99 expedition. I did not install it myself but I spent a lot of time with the mechanic thru the process. First I think the manufacture of the superchargers gives un-real time estimates. First if you can do with out the truck for a weekend and some nights than think about doing the installation yourself. Next I will hi light areas that may become challenging with out skills, tools or lift. I also assuming you have a 5.4
 Harmonic balancer has to be pulled and replaced with the vortech supplied pulley. The pardine drives off the WP or alt you don’t have that issue.
 If your truck is 4 wheel drive and has the towing pkg you will have to tap a hole by the oil filter .
 Installation of the FMU looks like a nightmare.
All other items just look like it takes time. You must get a chip to get the engine to scream. I got a superchip from MIKE T and had it custom programmed. I also added a borla cat back that help on the hi end. Did you get the new silent supercharger? Good luck I’m glad to see another vortech on F150. I installed my 9000 miles ago and it is doing fine.


------------------
1999 EB X 5.9 4.1 gears, Borla catback, Vortech supercharger,superchip

 

CyrusTheVirus,
I spent all weekend installing my Powerdyne, which was only supposed to be Saturday, and as we speak it is still in pieces on Monday morning. The main problems I had were one, not having all the right tools on hand (didn't know I needed some of them to begin with), and two, having incorrect information from a Haynes manual. This is the opening statement in the installation manual for the Powerdyne:

"This kit can be installed using common mechanics tools and should take someone with average mechanical ability roughly a day to complete."

I thought that I possessed both, but I guess I was wrong. The main problem was the attempted removal of the fan/shaft from the water pump pulley. Haynes states in BOLD print that the shaft is threaded left-handed. Well, I went to a local parts store and rented the two-piece wrench set to remove the fan, and myself and a friend proceeded for an hour, with two-foot long breaker bars mind you, to tighten the SOB with probably another 100 ft-lbs of torque instead of loosen it. We even started rounding off the huge hex shaft. I called my Ford dealer this morning and he told me it was definitely right-hand threads. I will probably have to have it air-chiseled off now.

If I had everything I needed to begin with and had the right info it probably would've only taken about a day to do. I've gone as far as I can go without removing the fan and the other steps haven't been that difficult. Going off of memory, here are some of the 'common mechanics tools' you'll need, at least for a Powerdyne and I would guess most any other brand:

Clutch fan wrench kit (2 pcs)
Impact wrench (harmonic balancer bolt)
Harmonic balancer puller
Drill w/ 1/8" bit
Sharp blade to cut wire sheathing
1/2"-13 die for threading the IAT
1/2" drive breaker bar/ratchet wrench
A good assortment of metric sockets, particularly a 18mm deep-well
Fuel line unlocking thingamajigs (they'll know what you mean)
Lots of patience

I hope this helps the next person. Even with all the headaches, I still can't wait to crank 'er up and just see what this ol' "average mechanical ability" guy can do. Good luck! I'm sure it's gonna be worth it!

 

is the powerdyne that hard to put on.i am a pipefitter so i have a ton of tools,i have never came on to soming on my truck that i needed to rent a tool.now i will need to rent a clutch fan wrench kit,harmonic balancer puller.what is the threading die for,what the he!! is a IAT.and is the impact wrench needed to do it or can my arms do it.if you can help me get all my tools in line first i think it shold take the 5hrs that they say it does.HELP...HELP....HELP.......ALL RERADY CRYING FOR HELP BEFORE THE KIT IS EVEN HERE.

 

kevin 3636,
I hope I didn't discourage you that much before you even start. It wasn't "as hard" as I may have let on. Keep in mind that in 4 years of driving my '97 Lariat I've never turned a screw. It used to make me queasy just to look under the hood and imagine how I would ever be able to work on anything down there. To answer some of your questions; IAT stands for Incoming Air Temp sensor. Right now it plugs in your plastic intake tubing, but to mount it into the new aluminum intake right ahead of the throttle body, it has to be threaded. You definitely need the clutch wrench kit to remove the fan, or an air chisel, which I don't even know how to use. And remember, it has right-hand threads, not left like I first was told. You will need a harmonic balancer puller unless you look something like a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and, well, another Arnold Schwarzenegger. But the kit includes a new balancer which serves as your blower drive. The fan has to be replaced because your original is too deep front to back. It would hit your blower belt. The new one is shallower. The impact wrench is to break the bolt loose that holds the harmonic balancer.

Don't know if you have an Auto Zone nearby, but they will 'rent' the wrench kit and balancer puller to you. The deposit is the same as the sale price. If you want to keep them they keep your deposit, or if you take them back you get your money back. No rental charge. I don't plan to keep them. Hope to never need them again. Pretty cool idea.

Please don't get discouraged. If you've worked on your truck at all you shouldn't have that much trouble. Look at it this way; with a Powerdyne you don't have to tap the oil pan to lube the blower. Hopefully mine'll be running tomorrow and I'll be able to tell you how it was worth the effort. E-mail me at fordman3@iswt.com and I'll give you my number if you have any questions. My name is Eric. Just take a deep breath before you start and have the right stuff close by. Good luck and call if you need to.

 

It only took me five hours to install my Powerdyne blower. I did have all the right tools to do it with. And wow what a differance even a cheap blower makes.

------------------
97 XLT 4.6L SC 4X4 ORP Gibson Catback
JBA Headers.. Hot Coated
Ford Motorsport 9MM wires
SuperChip In Dry-dock
Supercharged
JLL Stealthbox
Rockford Fosgate punch 45 to drive stealthbox





[This message has been edited by Gorp (edited 06-13-2000).]