Years back BR Performance was developing a positive displacement supercharger, to be available under $5000, and I saved my pennies. Well it delayed, and moved, and delayed, and moved and I ended up buying an engagement ring, house, etc etc and grew up instead of going fast.

I'm finally in a position to look at boosting the S again, and I'm just trying to wrap my head around all the options out there. I think the right decision is only made by looking at one's goals & expectations, so here's what I'm after:

1) Reliability - I routinely take this car on road trips, and I also don't have a lot of time to fuss around with keeping the car running. I have a lot of other things going on in my life that are more important on a daily basis.

2) Reliability - I cannot overstate this

3) Cost - I had originally wanted to stay within $5,000 as that's what I feel is reasonable to put in this car. Can stretch past this a bit if necessary (looks necessary... )

4) Usage - I do not daily drive, it barely sees 2,000 miles in a year. I track the car occasionally. I drive the Dragon once a year minimum, and this is the playground I am focused on. I do not drag race, and have zero intention of it in the future (except maybe once to qualify the car's performance).

5) Performance - As I said I do not drag race, and am not looking for a crazy high HP number. But the car could certainly do with more power. I'm just as interested in filling out the mid-range power band as I am the peak HP.

6) Reversibility - Not crucial, but I like the idea of being able to remove everything and go back to stock. i.e. not having to add oil lines, relocate things, etc

Currently the car has a Spec Stage 2+ clutch & CT flywheel in it (got this shortly before expecting to buy the BRP s/c), and is otherwise a bone stock '04. I have a K-Pro in my RSX-S that will probably be donated to this project. I know it will make higher HP achievable, and probably be more reliable than piggy backs, FPR's, etc. But, I'm looking at almost $900 for K-Pro conversion, RSX conversion parts, and a replacement ECU for the donor RSX. Maybe I should just sell the K-Pro and go AEM? I don't know what is best here.

I still prefer the original BRP (now SOT, SXM, ???) setup, but it's not clear if that is available any more. I'm not really a fan of centrifugal blowers but that's really all that's left from what I see. The Rotrex units are interesting, but are typically higher price & it seems like those kits have reliability concerns?

Still a few months out on a purchase, trying to get the lay of the land at this point. Your honest opinions & experiences are very welcome!

 

I made this spreadsheet to try to start wrapping my head around things. If anyone has feedback/updates for it, that would be great. Specifically, any other parts that I'd need to buy to make the kit work.

 

I probably shouldn't even be commenting as i am a total nub to FI but the past few days have been doing research on the CT SC. I am not sure if it will help but i can summerize the facts of at least that SCer kit..

I planned on buying used and doing the work myself to cut costs..

Used CT SC = 2800-3000 (+1000? for installation)
Used AEM S2 EMS = 800-1000 (Some say this is only necassary to buy if your car is not stock. So idt you need to purchase)
Clutch = 1500 or so installed (I was told i would need to up the OEM eventually, looks like you are ahead of the game)

The base kit running at 5.5-6 PSI gives you around 300RWHP and 200ft lbs VERY RELIABLY from what ive heard. It is also one of if not the easiest to install. From the dyno charts i have reviewed and opinions of others the power is from 5k-8k as far as feeling the difference.

So if you did decide to go with a CT-SC you would be under budget if you were to find an okay deal and install yourself.


I am pretty sure all this information is correct haha if not feel free to hit me with a stick.

 

Hey, If you decide on Vortech, superchargers4less.com has a great price on both the tuner kit and the full kit. They are approx $500 less than anyone else I could find...

GL

 

Well, in the way of the superchargers, its widely voted that the SOS kit is the most reliable and versatile kit out there atm. also has the highest sc horsepower in an s2k i believe. the option of the 1220 or 1200 is a good thing too. just dont get a selflube kit as they are a little unreliable.

 

I have heard the exact opposite...

 

ive been researching the SOS kit for about a year now... adding to my car in prep for boosting... and if you skim the idk 45 pages or what ev the SOS thread is now, there are several instances of the SL system failing. im not a fan of it, and its simpler to use the vtec tap plate anyway. more reliable.

 

dont forget the 1500 option

 

how should i put this?...

Buy the Comptech kit, enjoy your pressurized f2Xc, and never have another worry again.

i have used, installed, and recommended their products for the last 6 years and have never once been let down.

outstanding reliability and unsurpassed craftsmanship.

to me, for reliability, ease of installation, and power gains attributed. there is none better.

 

on the SoS or CT-E kits (they both use the 1220 blower now, right?) what kind of power should I expect? or, with upgraded 1200 or 1500 blower? Are there tradeoffs to using the larger blowers?

assuming appropriate fuel pump & injectors (I already have some RC 550's or 650's, need to check), 93 octane only, using k-pro, staying with bone stock engine (maybe eventually test pipe, berk header, some exhaust).