pro charger

[99 zt 280]

i have a zt 280 with a 502 that runs great i want more speed do u guys think a procharger would be a good thing? does it cost much and can i install it myself

 

[99 zt 280]

i have a zt 280 with a 502 that runs great i want more speed do u guys think a procharger would be a good thing? does it cost much and can i install it myself

 

[vinny p.]

While I have never played around with a Pro-Charger myself, I heard that their customer service and tech support sucks. I would think about using a Whipple instead.

 

[mkhammer]

I have a stage III M3 8 psi procharger on my HP 500. I Installed it myself working on it on the weekends and at night took about a month. If your mechanicaly inclined and know about engines and have some Idea what a blower engine is about you could install it your self. I did heads,cam, and other mods, had the engine out of my boat. The results are great almost 800 hp I had my convincor almost 93 mph on gps. I have had no problems with mine and the procharger is garanteed for 3-years. and about half the cost of a whipple. Procharger makes a 5 psi kit that requiers no mods straight bolt on in a weekend that will give you about 200 more hp and 10 to 15 mph gain. I would install headers also. Jason Kunkel said that one of his customers has 500 hour on a 5psi kit on a 454 mag with no problems. Overboard had problems with his and after 2- years ATI gave him a new procharger. whipple no way would do that or last that long without rebuild. I would recommend buying a procharger I like mine. When you call the tech line they kinda act like there asleep when your talking to them. You just have to ask the right questons becuase they don't volunteer any info. or consult a marine shop that installs prochargers thats what I did. The instructions that come with the kit are pretty good. For a recreational boater I think you can't go wrong with a procharger.

 

[over board]

Yes I did have trouble with mine leaking but as mk said pro-charger gave a new one and extended my warranty an extra year! What more could you ask for?
Mine is on a 454 mag efi and I went from 65 mph to 80+. These spds. were gps. I considered a whipple but the cost was way more than a pro-charger and the whipple didn;t make the top end hp of a pro-charger, also a pro-charger is easier on your out drive (the power builds with rpms).
There are some things you should change if you do a super charger.
1. change the head gaskets ! fel-pro marine or equivilant
2. if running efi have the computer reprogramed (arizona speed & marine can do it
3. sence you have the heads off have the exhaust valves replaced with iconel.

You could get by without doing these things (depending how hard you run your boat) but in the interest of dependability I would after the 1st season.

 

[John B]

I have a 28' Maxxum with a new 454 mag EFI with CMI headers. I installed a M-3SC Pro-Charger running 5lbs boost. I took me two days to complete the project with the motor in the boat. I have had no problems with the unit, and I have called their tech support on several occasions with great results. VERY satisfied. Boat speed went from 63 mph to 80+ mph.
P.S. The boat IS for Sale...

 

[Dave's ZT260]

I've had 3 whipples and no complaints. My buddy has had 2 prochargers and never stopped complaining. Now he has a whipple and is finally happy. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Cheaper is not better, no matter how you slice it.

 

[Victorious1]

Why not turbocharge? Aren't they a lot more economical to purchase and can't you get more horsepower for the dollar with them?

Vic

 

[Chris E]

Turbocharging doesn't work real well in boats because it doesn't give the low end torque needed to get the boat on plane. That's why supercharging is more common.

Having said that, we had a diesel in our work boat that was both turbo and supercharged. The supercharger worked till about 2000 rpm at which point the turbo kicked in to 3800 rpm. This was a volvo KAMD44 (270 hp) in line 6 - what an amazing motor- fly by wire controls and all electronic.

 

[mkhammer]

Prochargers may be less expensive than a whipple but they are quality units Procharger hold the 2002 APBA championship OUTLAW PERFORMANCE 1 with M3 units the same unit I have on my engine. They didn't achive that by breaking drives and valve springs. and the engines failing. Anybody will have trouble with any blower if it isn't set up right. The facts are procharger produces the coolest charge air temp., largest power gains and greatest reliability psi to psi easier on your drive and a 3-year warranty. A Whipplecharged fountain running 17 lbs of boost holds the 2004 kilo record but one of thier engines and drives cost more than one of our boats. whipplechargers make massive amounts of torque at low rpms and will snap things alot faster than a procharger that builds boost with rpm.I don't have anything agaist whipple chargers. but for a recerational boater that can't afford to repair thier drives every seson a procharger is the way to go the testimonys on our web site speak for thier self. I have a friend that has a whipple charged force cat that blewup 2- XR drives and 1- b-max drive last summer and now is running a IMCO sc with no problems so far. I couldn't afford that myself. I enjoy driving my boat a little more than working on it. and I'm still going fast. Remember the old saying (how fast do you want to spend) prochargers work good too.

 

[mkhammer]

A twin turbo charged 1200 HP 21' hallet V-drive w/ a big block chevy owns the GN ski boat championship this year on the west coast. It beat all blower boats in it class.

 

[mkhammer]

I didn't mention a procharged cobra won the 2003 apba championship outlaw performance 1 class with 540 c.i. M4 at 1375 H.P they beat all other supercharged boats in thier class whipples included. This adds up to reliablity and consistancey for procharger. procharger offshore champions two years in a row. You get what you pay for or over pay for what you get.

 

[John B]

I feel mkhammer hit the nail right on the head for the weekend boater. You will spend alot more time enjoying your boat & less time being towed in and fixing broken things. We have had two trouble free seasons with our procharger and enjoyed every sunny weekend. However, we know where Dave is coming from with blower motors, because our 33' Apache has twin blower motors. They scream, and we love it, but there is alot more work involved with them. Therefore, the Apache doesn't make it to the dock as frequently as the Checkmate.

 

[Dave's ZT260]

mkhammer-

Based on your posts, you act like the marketing rep for Procharger. So here's the other side.

There are three basic rules, and any good mechanic will agree.

You can have it fast.
You can have it cheap.
You can have it reliable.

Pick any two-

Oh- and there’s one more,
You can have it look cool.

If you make big HP, and can't drive the boat sensibly you WILL break things. The more HP, the more broken parts. I've broke drives and know the limits. The B-Max broke due to a factory defect that they fixed it under warranty. The XR blew when I used it as a spare. (It could not handle the HP and I knew it) I also broke some valve springs, another factory defect. I’m still pissed at AFR for that. So I've had some bad luck. This is what happens when you build 1400HP. I think all the issues are worked out know. I'll call it time well spent.

Bottom line-
My present application doesn’t apply to most members here. They are looking to make 600-800HP. If they have an XR drive and do the work correctly or have someone do it. (No shortcuts) They will be fine. Hey I haven’t had to call Whipple for any warrantee work as of yet, and I never broke anything with the 800HP 3.3 Whipple 502 with an XR drive.

 

[mkhammer]

Dave
you act like you have a chip on your sholder. I think whipple chargers are trick and for a differant level of boating. I like my procharger and you spent a hell of alot more money and broke your boat more than I have. Most people would complain about that. I bet you arn't going that much faster what 10 mph? witch is great you have a cool boat and a trick engine. but you don't have to talk like prochargers are junk. Are you ignoring the fact that evryone thats contributed to this column that owns one is happy with thiers. And you don't own and your bashing procharger. And the fact procharger holds APBA outlaw 1 championships 2- years in a row and beat whipple charged boats as well. so whats your point bro. your intitled to your opinion but your lacking the facts. 1400 hp needs #6 drives and transmissions if you want to be reliable and run it hard. if you run you boat hard you have more chance of breaking things before I do. bad luck or over power to your drives. If you break another one. Max machine of Lake Havasu AZ. can build you one you can't break for about 20K. BY the way my boat looks impressive also. And as far as your 3 rules go prochargers don't apply!

 

[Dave's ZT260]

I’m not pushing anyone toward any blower manufacturer. I just want the members to get all the facts. Fact is blowers are expensive and less reliable than normally aspirated engines. My 800hp engine was very reliable. My 1400HP engine will never be as reliable, but that’s my choice. I don't recommend building a 1000+HP engine unless you can deal with failures. It’s just the nature of the beast. The old 800HP engine is in the garage if I need it.

To answer 99 ZT280’s original question, if you’re a good mechanic you can tackle this yourself. If not have some else do it. A mistake will cost you dearly, and I’m not just talking about the blower manufacturer. Vinny has the right idea, if you want 700HP build a 540 up and it will live a very long time.

These three rules will always apply to all mechanical devices.

You can have it fast.
You can have it cheap.
You can have it reliable.

Pick any two-

For some it just takes longer to learn.

 

[mkhammer]

I agree vinny does have the right idea that is what I wanted to do from the start. but I only had 72 hr on my hp 500 so I saved my self some money with a procharger. I wanted my engine to be reliable and I am happy with the results and to me 93 mph is fast enough. I plan on changing my lower unit to a Imco and prop up one to see what happens. but thank you I agree with your last post.