I'm looking for pics and info on crank driven superchargers. I think Potvin produced one. Post up what you have if you don't mind. Thanks guys.
Here's one I took of the So-Cal coupe and a couple I shot of the Orange Crate and here's some I saved from the hamb.. thanks to the OP a cool Chevy one.. Two-Thing.. Moon's... a hemi.. and a Olds.. I remember Clark had a really cool one for a flathead but I didn't save any pics
what is the advantage of something like this? I love the look and the pure mechanical art to it...but why?
Thanks guys. Those aresome nice pics. I became interested in this as I saw some pics of a very nice well built 32 chevy roadster. Previously owned by Larry Erickson. Its really more streetrod than Hamb friendly car. But its powered by a Potvin charged SBC.
Advantages: 1. direct drive requires less power than belt, chain etc. - although only when run at engine speed 2. allows much lower hood line, etc. for streamlining - now known to be less important than power Disadvantages: 1. blower must be large to produce boost at 1:1 engine speed 2. ducting to the engine is less efficient 3. needs huge amount of extra space 4. alignment is critical More: http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/blower-drive4.htm
Also, throttle response was poor, since the blower is so far from the intake, and for a street car, you would need more space ahead of the motor for it..... and then there is the problem of where you put the water pump and alternator? You will notice that they were primarily used only in racing...and nobody uses them any more. Must be reasons for that? You'd be better off with a McColloch style blower.
Dean Moon did indeed buy out Potvin, without doubt the leaders in this set up. If you do some reading almost as many guys built there own as bought one. All in all inefficiency did them in.
I have a rod&custom or a carcraft circa around 1954-1956 that has a article on building your own from a potvin kit. His first kits were made out of steel and you welded them yourself. I do not have a scanner. But if you pm me I can make some copies and send you the article. Just give me a couple days to get them to you.
The look on this guy's face is priceless. Sort of a cross between total mechanical lust and pure HELL YEAH. Amen to that
Here is a thread on front mounted clutch driven blowers on the Stutz: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222832&highlight=stutz+supercharger Closer to Mercedes Benz then the Bentley in the previous post, but crank driven.
I found this set up a few years back. At the time not as many people were on the Traditional bandwagon and pics were harder to find. I reseached a lot back when I got it and found out everything that has been discused here, along with the basic downfall of them was the INABILITY to "OVERDRIVE" it.. The speed of a roots blower can be sped up or slowed down by a simple pulley change. When Potvin began producing thse for SMALL BLOCK CHEVY's around 57' or 58' the manifolds were very plain, like mine with big block letters.. POTVIN then they redesigned the Intake with the "Fins" like the Moon-Eyes dragster had, with the classic Potvin with the curved arrows above and below the name. Moon eyes still produces these and you can order one new from MOONEYES. (I think they are around $3500) When the Dragmasters "Twin Engine" car above was recently restored I was a little aggrivated to see the "Newer" intakes on it. It had the "early" plain style on it. ...the Orange Crate had the early style on it too. As for the Blower.. Mine is the 6-71 set up. (The Blow-off plate box has "POTVIN 6-71" cast into it) I looked high and low for a "round" style blower. I found two or three but couldn't buy just the blower or they were junk. So, I took the easy way out. I got a good tight "Basic" flange type that are very availible, and machined the "Skirts" off of it. (in the pics below, you can see the factory Detroit green paint where there was no machining done) When you look at the botom of a normal blower you'll see that the "Skirts" are just for mounting.. I plan to run mine on the street. Thanks guys, for the pictures above that I had not seen.
....by the way, for a Truly "Streamliner" set up and just plain coolness.. For the Chevy.. You find or "Machine" a 90 degree mag.. Which would lay the mag over forward down on the intake.. SUPER COOL... and Super LOW!! JD
That cool Josh, I have a 390 F.E. and a roots style blower for a Cat diesel. I've been looking for ways to frankenstein them together. I have a '40 ford p.u. it's going in. Anybody have any ideas?