318is M52 Vortech Supercharged

[slippery]

Big thanks to slippery for cutting my bracket out. I haven't had any time to install it yet but I did hold it up to the supercharger and it looks perfect, hopefully this weekend I will have some more time to mess with it.

That thing looks great! ;)

J

[10Toes]

Test fitting the bracket in the car and it clears the ABS pump just fine.



I then took the bracket and supercharger over to Accuracy Automotive, JParkr's & James Criv's shop and used his spare S50 to mock everything up on. I had to make a spacer that goes between the bracket and the lower alternator bolt.



spacer goes here


Then I made the spacer fur the longer 3/8" bolt that goes between the bracket and the supercharger.




All bolted up to the mock up S50, now I am just waiting for materials to come it to make the intake pipes and the idler pulleys so I can figure out the belt size.

[Nick_S]

Wow. Just wow. Excellent build!

[rav320uk]

Sub'd:D

[slippery]

Any updates?

[10Toes]

Update: Making charge pipe

I had to make an intake that would go from the supercharger to the throttle body. It has some tight bends in it and has to clear part of the throttle linkage. I decided to make the intake out of composites. I got some Chavant Y2-Klay automotive modeling clay to use to make the intake in the shape I needed it.

I got 3 (only used 2) sticks of clay the two in the back are how they come and then the front is the beginning of shaping it, you have to heat the clay to work with it.


Got the rough shape done, you can see the tight bends and the linkage it has to clear.









Smoothing out some more and some of the tools I used


I then got all the supplies set up


Brushed a few coats of PVA mold release on


Let that dry and started cutting some carbon fiber pieces


First layer laid down, I used some biaxial carbon sleeve and ended up having to cut it into sections because the bends were to tight.


After a few more layers and letting the epoxy cure I then had to remove all the clay from inside the part. Not fun at all.


The hole will be for the diverter valve and the idle control valve, just need to bond an aluminum bung into it, and it still needs a little more sanding.

[IronJoe]

Whoa! Super cool Jeff.


I love seeing this type of progress, can't wait to check it out in person.

[GThomas]

Wow super impressive stuff!

[ChefSkinny]

thats awesome! super impressed by that carbon fiber piece.

[Mlarsen]

Awesome stuff man! Is this going to be done before the picnic?

[dmoney(AB)]

100% custom parts make me smile!

[chrisbmx68]

Awesome work so far! I am working on a similar project and will be stealing some of your ideas. Your bracket fits a lot better than mine from the old run white325is did.

clearance after taking the plasma cutter and some files to the bracket

clearance before. Tis tight

also in the same boat with the hot side pipes haven't figured that all out yet

[Link]

You have a gift for fabrication. Keep it up.

[IronFreak]

After a few more layers and letting the epoxy cure I then had to remove all the clay from inside the part. Not fun at all.



How did you go about removing the material? Did you find a way that was fairly efficient? I'm assuming you had to be careful with the heat gun.

[10Toes]

Whoa! Super cool Jeff.

I love seeing this type of progress, can't wait to check it out in person.

Thanks, I can't wait to drive it.

Wow super impressive stuff!

Thanks

thats awesome! super impressed by that carbon fiber piece.

Thanks, It's not perfect and there are better ways that would of produced a cleaner looking part but this will work fine for what I need it for.

Awesome stuff man! Is this going to be done before the picnic?

I hope so

100% custom parts make me smile!

Thanks, I find it more fun to build and design my own parts then to just buy stuff.

You have a gift for fabrication. Keep it up.

Thanks, I really just read a bunch of different types of forums on the internet to learn how to do it all.

Awesome work so far! I am working on a similar project and will be stealing some of your ideas. Your bracket fits a lot better than mine from the old run white325is did.

also in the same boat with the hot side pipes haven't figured that all out yet

Nice, yeah I didn't really like the way that bracket positions the supercharger, the only benefit it has is that the pulley is more out of the way of the radiator. Your pipe shouldn't be as bad with your curved outlet blower, mine was straight and I welded the 90* on and it sticks a lot further out.

How did you go about removing the material? Did you find a way that was fairly efficient? I'm assuming you had to be careful with the heat gun.

Nothing really efficient as I didn't want to use any chemicals that might damage the epoxy. I just used a spoon for as far as I could with little heat and then just used my fingernails to scrape the rest out. If I used high temps epoxy I could of just left it in the oven and let the clay melt out.