How much heat can you expect from a bite of this hot chili pepper? Running a streetable 5.5 pounds of boost and 91-octane fuel, you can figure on spiking the output of a 5.7L to 432 hp, about 102 horses more than stock. And the 6.1 Hemi, force-fed with a max of 6.5 pounds, jumps to 560 hp, a gain of 135 horses. Torque output goes from 420 to 510 lb/ft.
Those numbers look great on paper, but what's it feel like in your mouth, er, behind the wheel? This type of blower, essentially a belt-driven turbo, requires getting up a head of steam first, but unlike a positive-displacement Roots or twin-screw system, there's no limit to how fast it can spin. That means the power delivery is very linear--in most cases. It really all comes down to how hard you hit the loud pedal.
If you stomp on it, spiking the revs and popping the clutch, you can fry the hides like a hot rod with a Jimmy blower sticking through the hood. Problem is, when you don't hook up the tires, the acceleration time might be only a tick or so quicker than that of a stock Hemi.
But if you drive smarter, not harder, and roll on the throttle, you can let the Vortech build up the boost in a steady fashion. Using this approach, the Charger feels like a fighter jet on takeoff, hurled off a carrier deck by a steam catapult. The horizon zooms up so quick, you might find yourself saying, "We have liftoff!" And that's way hotter excitement than anything you'll ever see on the Food Network.
Here's the V-3 Si-Trim centrifugal...
Here's the V-3 Si-Trim centrifugal supercharger going into place. It features an advanced impeller design for ultra-high efficiency. Vortech engineers used data from the dyno and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) computer analysis to refine the design of the blades and volute (shroud contour). Even small, incremental changes in efficiency can make a difference because they not only draw less power from the engine, but also produce less heat, doubling the impact. In simple terms, the air has to make fewer turns and there's less turbulence, so it's more uniformly compressed and more uniformly speeds up.
After removing the power steering...
After removing the power steering pump-pulley and replacing it with a new hub, the Vortech aluminum bracket for the compressor pulley fits right into the accessory system and bolts right up to the factory bosses. Note that the power steering pump relocation bracket doubles as a support for the supercharger system.
Cogged pulleys for use with...
Cogged pulleys for use with a ribbed belt prevent slippage at high rpm, which would otherwise reduce boost and rob power. (Note that on 300C and 2008 Magnum vehicles, slightly different steps are required at this phase for installation of the air filter and breather hose. The instructions will help with this.)
With the belt fitted in place,...
With the belt fitted in place, tighten the idler pulley. This idler assembly also tensions the engine's serpentine belt.
A peek inside the Power Cooler...
A peek inside the Power Cooler shows the fins of the heat exchanger. This air-to-water system requires routing a water line from the Charge Air cooler/radiator, located underneath the front bumper (note that the mounting and water lines are slightly different on a Dodge Challenger than on other Mopar vehicles). A separate 12-volt pump regulates the water flow from a small water reservoir (separate from the engine radiator), which is mounted inside the driver's front fender (not shown). The surge tank is secured to the strut tower.
A longer accessory belt needs...
A longer accessory belt needs to be used because the compressor is offset and runs off a jackshaft with a separate ribbed-belt. The guys at Vortech include the new belt in the kit.
Installing the Power Cooler...
Installing the Power Cooler is basic plumbing.
It's easier to attach the...
It's easier to attach the tubing before fitting the Power Cooler on the engine.
With the Power Cooler in place,...
With the Power Cooler in place, fit the remaining tubes and flex hoses to the compressor and intake manifold. Make sure the hose clamps are on good and tight. Note that the discharge assembly install is slightly different on the 5.7L versus the 6.1L Hemi. Once everything is buttoned up, the only remaining steps are to refill any drained fluids, check all connections, and use the Diablo reflash tool to program the engine computer.
If you want to reinstall the...
If you want to reinstall the engine cover, some modification is required. The side of the cover will need to have a substantial amount of material removed to make room for the Power Cooler.