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Just thought I would post some pics from my work on the car this weekend. At 183K miles, it still had the OEM crank pulley on it, and it was starting to leak some coolant from that blockoff plate behind the supercharger….so it was a good time to pull that off and check it out also. That, and it needed a new belt and an oil change while I was at it.
I ended up draining about 1oz of oil out of the front SC reservoir, and not much more than ½ an ounce out of the rear. It was low on oil, but still had enough in there to keep the gears lubricated apparently. The oil actually didn’t look all that bad….dark brown, but not black. The gears all look brand new!
Got the new crank pulley on, new belt, replaced the o-ring on that coolant plate, serviced the SC, and got it all back together………
CRAP!!....now it’s leaking coolant like crazy from the front of the car! I’m pretty sure it’s coming from where the waterpump plugs into the block. I probably should have replaced that oring that goes on the water pump snout……time to pull the front of the car off again tonight. At least that should be a pretty easy fix….
On a side note…….since I’m going to have the SC off again to replace that waterpump oring, would it be a good idea to just replace it? How long do they usually last before they fail?
An S/C is pretty bulletproof because there's just not that many moving parts. If you haven't noticed a difference in boost I'd leave it alone. Did you notice any decrease in vibration from the crank pulley change?
An S/C is pretty bulletproof because there's just not that many moving parts. If you haven't noticed a difference in boost I'd leave it alone. Did you notice any decrease in vibration from the crank pulley change?
I agree.....but with 183K miles on it, and I was going to have it off anyways, I think it was a good idea to check it and fill it back up with oil. If I didn't have to get to the coolant plate behind the SC, I would have never touched it.
Unfortunately, I think I must have pinched the oring where the water pump snout goes into the block...it's leaking coolant now!
I'm assuming I can pull the pump off and replace that o-ring without having to pull the SC off again....right?
Well, I was able to pull the water pump off pretty easily. It really helped to remove the two bolts that hold that flange onto the block, and then pull the pump and flange out as once piece. I did the same thing to get it all back in....just leave the flange bolts lose until you tighten up the pump bolts so that everything stays aligned.
Hopefully the new orings end the coolant leak I was getting.
That's remarkable that your 183k mile supercharger has oil, let alone somewhat clean oil in it. Are you certain it's never been serviced?
I just pulled my 157k mile supercharger on Saturday because of the death rattle. My PTO was dry and had a pile of gear dust/gunk in it. I would say about a teaspoon or 2. The gears themselves were worn sharp. I didn't look at the front gears though.
I'm just amazed at how good your supercharger looks at that mileage!
Last edited by ghostwrench; Dec 23, 2020 at 06:44 PM.
That must have made one hell of a noise when running?
Yes. I cannot imagine anyone NOT noticing their car making that noise. It wasn't so noticeable while driving but at idle it was horrid. I've read other members refer to it as "a box of rocks" sound. I would say that's a very good description.
Prior to disassembly I removed my serpentine belt and started the engine to verify that the sound was something on the serpentine belt drive and not the timing chain or tensioner. The engine idled nice and quiet.
Yes. I cannot imagine anyone NOT noticing their car making that noise. It wasn't so noticeable while driving but at idle it was horrid. I've read other members refer to it as "a box of rocks" sound. I would say that's a very good description. Prior to disassembly I removed my serpentine belt and started the engine to verify that the sound was something on the serpentine belt drive and not the timing chain or tensioner. The engine idled nice and quiet.
On my 04 with 186,000 miles but which had a bunch of replacements by the PO in 2016-2017
"New Clutch, Pressure Plate and Flywheel, New Struts, springs, shocks and ball joints, New Radiator Support
All new engine gaskets, New Battery, New belts and hoses, New Belt Tensioner, New plugs and wires New Supercharger and Water Pump, New Motor Mounts, New Starter, New front axles, New Windshield
New Clutch slave cylinder, New Hood Struts, New Brake Calipers
And a short list of Modifications! Alta 17% Undersized Supercharger Pulley, ATI 2% Oversized Super Damper, Alta Intercooler gaskets M7 Speed Cold Air Intake, Adjustable Short Shifter, Konig Wheels,"
I had noticed an increased noise from the right side and shortly thereafter the belt tensioner broke into pieces, the belt was shredded, and the damper was trashed by the tensioner. Now with a new belt, new tensioner, rebuilt ATI damper, and other components seemingly OK and turning smoothly by hand, (super charger turns with some "stiction" moving in 1-2 degree increments with modest torque applied), I still had an increased noise that was highest at the pivot end of the tensioner (using a mechanics stethoscope) and about 10 dB less idling with the belt off (using a dBmeter) but still with some buzz in the stethoscope at the tencioner pivot end and a bit less at the SC body below it.
I decided to carry an extra belt and drive it locally to see how it did and took a 40 mile test drive on which all seemed normal again, but the next morning when I started it there was a loud kind of random knock from the engine at idle. I took a video to capture the sound. The 2nd video was with the belt off before the test drive and the subsequent Knock.
Is this like the "box of rocks" sound you heard? Before the "knock", the increased sound was just a harsh mechanical vibe but not a knock. Guess I'll have to pull the belt again to see if the knock is in the engine. Any other suggestions?
