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I have a chance to pick up a used whipple supercharger for the 96-98 vortec's. I have a 1997 5.7L vortec. I've been asking as many questions as I can and getting pictures from the seller. My biggest fear would be getting this used, and something going wrong and since there discontinued and not being able to fix the issue. So far it sounds to good to be true. My questions is should I? My original plan was to give my engine and overhaul, LT4 cam along with lifters, rods, rockers and re-gasket/seal all the nessessary stuff. I was also replacing my shorty headers with long tubes. But now that this whipple came up, i've thought about ditching my overhaul idea and bolting up it.

So I'm just looking for advice, any and all! The overhaul idea seems so much more ideal. Yet I read on here all the time of people saying if you find a used whipple, get it asap. Yet I hear horror stories of poeple getting them and there missing a ton of pieces.

I also would just like to bolt it up, get my westers tune re-done and go. I won't be fooling around with pulley size or anything try to get more boost. I've read about certain injections to keep it cool, would that really be nessassary for my application if I get it at "stock" settings?

Here is what I asked,
My friend got back to me again and said you were only looking for $750. I am very interested but have a few concerns.

First being, if it had any issues why it was removed. He explained to me that you bought it off your friend who had it on his truck. But you sold the truck you were going to put it on.

Approx how many km's would have been on it? Were the chargers oil changes done according to the directions?

Are there any chances any pieces are missing. He said throttle body gasket, but thats easy to get. But any chance any nuts, bolts,instructions, brackets, or the belt are missing?

Sorry for all the questions, I realize this may be hard since you never actually used it but being this supercharger is discountinues and hard to find parts for, buying something like this is kind of risky. The fact that you were going to install it yourself makes me feel comfortable that it was in good condition.

Reply...
As far as I know all the peices are there. The kit had around 30000KM (18641 miles) on it with no problems. The previous owner was a licensed mechanic. All the parts are there including a new belt. It is a nice kit. It has an externaly mounted fuel pump that plugs into the factory connection. It was removed because he switched to a 383 carb. engine. The kit was serviced regularly and I did have a chance to listen and drive the vehicle before it was removed.

 

For 750 bucks I would be alittle concerned but then part of me says what have you got to loose? However I have very little background with this so....

 

Yah...thats what makes it so difficult to make a decision...its cheap because the guy has no use for it and wants it gone...he was asking 2000 or something but has slowly decreased his price since it wasn't selling and my buddy is buying a cowl hood off him and we asked if he would give us a deal if we bought both off him at the same time.

 

get it then send it to whipple to get checkd out.and if its messed up put it up on ebay.....

 

If it comes with the extra pump it must be the early FMU version of the kit. There are a few people that still have the axiliary injection computer sitting arround their shops that could probably hook you up. I know I've got one. I've also got a bunch of extra parts since I took my kit (that I originally bought new) and hacked it up to the way I wanted it. I'll help you if you get stuck. I know that kit very well.

 

Is all the extra wiring stuff nessassary if I get westers to re-do my tune for the supercharger, leave it at "stock" boost and just bolt it on?

 

The FMU-based system adds fuel by increasing pressure. The stock PCM is not boost-aware, it just see additional airflow through the MAF. The FMU increases pressure to the injectors and the extra pump is there so the stock pump doesn't get overloaded from the added backpressure. This works fine for most tame boost applications with standard injectors but the L31 uses a proprietary "poppet" injector assembly that doesn't work very well with added pressure. Whipple redesigned their kits to use extra injectors controlled by a seperate computer to add the extra fuel. There is a more clever (and expensive) alternative that involves installing a marine intake manifold (100% compatible with the Whipple kit) and a 411 PCM, and then using EFI Live to install a custom 2-bar OS onto that PCM.

 

I find out tonight if the kit is complete and in good condition. But just wondering. If everything is there, can I install it all and test it. I don't drive the truck in the winter up here in canada, it sits in the garage. But i'd like to get it on and confirm everything is in running order before I dive in over my head buying stuff. I have been reading about the marine intake for awhile now and that would most likely be a an addition I will add on.

 

Well I went ahead and picked up the kit. Had a friend with some supercharger experience take a look at it for me since I'm 3 hours from the seller. Everything checked out good. I was able to get some instructions off a guy on fullsizechevy.com. Been studying them. Was able to give my friend a list of parts to look for in the kit. Only thing that seems to be missing is 1 belt pulley. There is suppost to be 2 on the whipple front mount bracket. Anyone know if these are standard belt pulleys? They look similair to the one already on my truck. My friend is bringing it out next weekend, so I guess i'll go from there. The seller still had the bill from when he bought it and he paid $1600. Bought it and its sat in his garage since then. I got it for $675

 

good deal hope it works out for you i gave 1900 for mine used