Pontiac Supercharger Kit Installation - Double Down

The old adage, "There is no replacement for displacement!" has held on with a stranglehold-like grip in the traditional Pontiac world, but the truth is it's simply no longer the case. While it is indeed possible to build traditional Pontiac V-8s with displacements reaching 600 ci, there are other high-quality alternatives for engine builders.

Actually, these alternatives have been out there for a very long time, though the Pontiac world has been very resistant to the idea of supercharging or even nitrous-oxide injection. For many years, some prominent racers and engine builders have openly stated anything other than an "all-engine" combination was taking the easy way out. Hardliners have even called it cheating.

While there certainly isn't anything wrong with a well-designed normally aspirated engine combination, the building of a 21st century traditional Pontiac V-8 needn't adhere to those restrictions if the builder is looking for something different.

Luhn Performance is a company founded on the idea of providing Pontiac fans with new and innovative choices, and its new centrifugal supercharger kit for traditional Pontiac V-8s is meeting with a lot of positive response. Its energies are being concentrated on a fully-integrated street system that allows for power steering, an alternator, and even air conditioning.

Jill Luhn, president of Luhn Performance said, "The idea here was to design and engineer a kit that gives the customer all the power and performance that a centrifugal supercharger is capable of, without having to give up the conveniences that most cars offer." She added that, "It's a lot easier to market a package without any compromises."

The kit is designed to mount Vortech V-series superchargers and is constructed from 6061 T-6 aluminum plate, using both 3 /8 and 5/16-inch thicknesses. The mounting system is considered a three-plane design, which eliminates all flex and twist. Luhn engineers CAD designed and virtual prototyped the entire system before the first plates were cut.

The company also worked with Ford Senior Boost Engineer Tom Vaught, who is on the engineering team responsible for the recent Eco-Boost engine program. Tom is also a Pontiac hobbyist and has worked with Marty Palbykin on his 6-second, twin-turbo 400 Pontiac. Vaught was instrumental in evaluating the prototyping process and advised Luhn on changes that were needed. He also acted as a liaison between Luhn and Vortech, supplying tech information when required.

In addition to the three-plane mounting system, Luhn also developed the unique 10-rib drive system for the supercharger. It was decided that a ribbed belt would be more appealing for a street/strip application than a race-inspired cog-belt system, both from cost and packaging standpoints.

Luhn's belt drive system uses a specific crank hub that actually enveloped the harmonic balancer. The idea was to shorten the distance that the drive system would hang off the crank, reducing interference in the engine bay and, more importantly, reducing the stress on the crankshaft and its tendency to flex. This system uses an off-the-shelf Gates Micro V-AT belt and a belt tensioner from a Ford 5.4-liter Super Duty pickup, which also employs a 10-rib belt system. "The idea here was to use existing technology wherever possible," Jill explained. "This way, if something breaks, it's as easy as going to the local auto-parts store for replacements."

In order to fit the alternator and power-steering systems along with the centrifugal supercharger, Luhn's engineering staff devised new mounting points integral with the supercharger bracket. It also mounts the custom power-steering pump, which is included in the kit. It is much smaller than the OE units used in production Pontiacs, but is readily adaptable to those cars and performs as well or better than the stockers.