An original owner here - March of 2000. Now that I've been driving it for a while, autocrossing it at Nationals for a few years back in the day, I'm back to taking it out and having fun.

Thought about trading it in on an Exige until we were leaving. A salesguy comes running out of the dealership and says, "I know you were working with Marty, but he's on the phone. Did you see anything you like? Because I'd really like to buy your car, quite a few folks that want one." #salefail.

Rather than pony up for a new car, I'm going to upgrade the old one. Since I don't care about stock class anymore, I'm planning on an SC, Coilovers, and other misc parts. I've got the famous custom JRZ shocks on the car now, but again, I don't care about stock class any longer. If anything, I'll be tracking the car over the next three-four years and using autox to train the kids how to drive.

Narrowed down the SC choices to SOS and Comptech/CTG. I am not looking for a massive power boost, maybe a bit more low end grunt with a surprise under the hood for the Corvettes. I am looking for a reliable solution, one that will allow the engine to last another 10 years at 40k miles or so a decade with a minimum of fuss. A shop to install it as opposed to me messing around with it. I'm a driver, not a mechanic, but I understand basics enough to not want to do them if I don't want to. I also want to keep the changes to a minimum - no desire to swap out clutch (none) or diff (yet), or screw around with an EMS that I need to tune. Even after years of pro solo and autox, diff is holding just fine.

Comptech:
Well tested, many cars with lots of miles and no problems with mostly stock parts
Allows for restore to factory specs
CARB legal
OBDII intact for IL emissions
Partnerships with local dealers for install - confidence in correct installation and execution
[Downside] boost kicks in from VTECH to redline

SOS Base:
Seems well designed, shop capable enough to offer upgrades to Comptech kits as well as their own expansions
Boost levels low enough for lots of stock leftovers
Allows for restore to factory specs
Base leaves OBDII intact for IL emissions
Active participation on the boards for support
Dynos with my year, bone stock save for SC as reference.
Changes VTEC engagement point for more low end grunt - well thought out and a big plus
[Downside] have to find a local shop to do the install and vett them as well
[Downside] Don't know any high mileage, long term s2000s with SOS SC

I'm leaning towards the SOS. Finding a local shop won't be a HUGE problem, but does take some time. The BIG issue is the long term one. Couple that with SOS's one year warranty versus CTE's 2 year warranty and track record, and I'm having trouble reconciling that with laying out 6k or so to pull the trigger.

Thoughts? Any long term SOS owners want to weigh in? Any SOS / Comptech owners actually converted their SC s2ks back to stock want to compare notes?

 

It's VTEC btw. Vtech is a phone

 

50/50 isn't bad for a hungover saturday morning. Vtech is also short for Variable Technology, Virtualization Technology, Virginia Tech, and a host of others.

 

One of your pluses for Comptech is that some local dealers could competently do the install.

Sorry, I disagree. There's no way I'd let a dealer install one. I don't even trust them enough to do the oil.


On the 2 kits, they are both excellent. I think CT also uses the Novi 1220 now, as well. You really can't go wrong with either of them. Neither kit is going to give you more low end grunt, aside from 10-20% that you won't even notice.

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago, and went SOS. The Group Buy was the final straw, but would have picked SOS anyway.

IMO, the pros/cons of SOS vs Comptech:

Pros:
Lower price
Same blower (now I think)
More supported upgrades
No metal cutting/banging (except maybe the exhaust cover...and only slightly if even needed, and one tap will do it)
More comprehensive electronics (other than just clamping the MAP)
Company does the S2000 and NSX Exclusively, and their knowledge is more thorough
Easy install, for yourself or a shop
Literally EVERYTHING YOU NEED (but tools) is in the box, no core exchanges
Better aftercooler design (IMO)

Cons:
Dealers probably won't install it (whether that's a con is debatable)
Not CARB exempt yet, though I think it will be at some point in the near future

Overall, the kits are very similar. I can personally vouch that the SOS install was really not that hard, just time-consuming. If the Comptech can pass IL emissions, the SOS should be able to, as well, as there's no really that much that's different.

 

No brainer on this one. SOS with 1200 blower. Non sl setup. Depending on year of ur car I'd strongly recommend aem ems or flashpro. Do urself a favor and have clutch done too. Stock one will give up.

U will love the car. Only issue is SOS and ct won't give I low end grunt unless u run 20 psi . But they will scream in vtec!!!!!!!

 

I am going through the same process and got started too late to get in on the SOS group buy...that would have made my mind up. I was wondering why you eliminated the Vortech kit?

 

Can the Stage 1 use the 1200? SOS was pretty adamant that any changes from the base kit (injectors, pulley) should really be paired with a standalone ECU.

 

You don't see any posts from anyone anymore that go "I just bought the CT Engineering supercharger kit". SOS seems to be bought much more now. I think part of the reason is the history of SOS seems very stable and positive long term - they moved into a much bigger building and are ramping up development of parts for the car. Comptech went belly up and was restarted as CT Engineering. They don't seem to be developing new parts.

LOL at the SOS one year warranty - I just ordered a supercharger from them and didn't even know it came with a warranty. By the way, installing the kit will void my remaining two years of Honda warranty I have on the car. And I don't care.

 

Ha! Me too. Warranty? Didn't even know there was one on either kit.

Here's the thing. Centrifugal SC's make plenty of power at high rpm, but they don't do anything (for my AP1, anyway) at low rpm until you get >12psi boost. I'm running the SOS 1200 kit at 14.4psi and it just, finally, started to make a difference at low rpm. The car isn't dead slow between 2,500 and 3,500rpm anymore, but it still isn't as spunky as a base Civic at those engine speeds either. I was at 12psi before this, and at that boost level it was like the SC wasn't even there until I got well into the midrange. I'm going to buy a 3.2" pulley from SOS and spin the blower even higher in hopes of making it feel good down low.

I'm the original owner of my '03, and these motors are really stout even after so many years. No worries boosting them, but I personally think a base centrifugal kit is generally a waste of time. For low end, I would recommend either Kraftwerks (rotrex) or Stage One Tuning (roots). Those SC types will make more down low and you'll really enjoy driving the car. If you're set on a centrifugal, you'll have to go with higher boost levels to get results.

This is the inherent challenge with a small engine and a 9,000rpm redline. It's hard to size an SC to cover the entire rpm range, and the off-the-shelf kits (especially low boost) won't give you everything you want. SOT gives you a lot of grunt down low, but can't make enough power to surprise a Corvette. SOS at high boost is plenty fast when you wind it up but has little down low. KW splits the difference and feels good across the rpm range.

 

@Steven: Trusting a dealer with a supercharger install is a debate, true. However, the fact that these relationships EXIST means they likely have some expertise as opposed to your typical dealer. Also, if they screw up, there's likely some recourse. A SOS install flubbed by the shop is going to be messier to deal with - is it the fault of the shop or is it a "defect in workmanship."

I appreciate your detailed comments as well - it is inline with the research I've been doing.

@camuman - an AEM is NOT an option. I need OBDII to pass emissions, and with the AEM I'd be SOL. The point here is to keep the stock clutch, and as much else stock as possible. I know of s2000s with years and 60k miles on the Comptech supercharger with the stock clutch. Simple and elegant. If I was going for 20lbs of boost, obviously a new clutch would be in the cards. At 5.5-6.5 lbs, it's a different matter.

With SOS changing the VTEC engagement point, the low end IS increased. A twitch on the gas in first easily gets me into 3-4k, and the SOS VTEC point is around 4400 rpm. So my optimal powerband goes from 6k-9k to 4.4k-9k, a 50% improvement, making sure I keep in the band across all the shifting. Off the line, I'm below 3-4k for less than a second if I'm going for it anyway.

@starrman - I eliminated the Vortech kit because too much alteration to the stock environment is required for the install. Aside from that, their market approach is very attractive. One or two less holes drilled to get it installed, and I'd likely go that way.

Regarding the warranties - I'm a cautious old guy. Looking at those time periods isn't so much a measure of what's best, but an indicator of the confidence that the manufacturers have in their product. A year warranty essentially says, "it'll last one season, after that you're on your own" or "this isn't a long term upgrade." Whether or not that's the intent, that's the message. To contrast with the Vortech message that says, "Year one you work out the bugs, year two to drive it, year three to push it."

That's also why SOT isn't an option - they don't exist any more, and I'd be getting something cobbled together with leftovers. Kraftwerks' approach I'm not happy with for my 2000 s2k. They started with a solution for the 06s and worked backwards. The F20c and the F22s are quite a bit different, and I don't see a lot of time in grade with the Kraftwerks on an ap1.

I'm not worried about voiding my warranty - I don't think there's anything left at the 11 year mark LOL

Everyone - thanks much for all your comments, and keep 'em coming! Torque - how long / how many miles has your 03 been boosted?