Know how to install oem supercharger on non-supercharged Ford V6?

Question

I'm interested in intsalling a supercharger on my '95 Cougar with original 3.8 V6.

It is my understanding that this conversion is bolt-on and plug-in but don't know just what all parts are needed for a complete and correct installation.

Answer 1

I'm not that familiar with the cougar 3.8 V6's but i guess it's the same one in the mustangs, thunderbirds and the ford minivan.

One model of the Thunderbird in the early 90's has a supercharged 3.8, it has a M90 eaton type blower on it.
And the 3.8's block are very strong, the pistons are strong too but detonation due to bad setup will ruin them easily.
If you want to put a centrifugal supercharger that looks a bit like a turbo setup than it will definantly fit all you need is then the whole supercharger kit.

If you want the blower than you need the lower and upper manifold to fit the M90, the blowers usualy gives you more power in the low end because they don't have the lag like centrifugal superchargers or turbo's have

But be ready to have to deal with air intake meters, fuel injector, ECU because they have to deal with the higher air intake that the supercharger is going to slam in the engine. Fuel injectors gives you problems most of the time so you have to go to a higher cc injector to reduce the change of leaning out the engine and detonating and hurting internal parts

Answer 2

It is very difficult to retro fit a supercharger from another application. Most OEM superchargers are Roots type superchargers made from Eaton. These were mostly found on GM and Pontiac vehicles with 3.8L. Ford has the same type of superchargers on their older Thunderbirds and the newer Lightings and Cobras will also have them too.

Your engine will be able to handle the boost that the supercharger will provide as long as you keep it in the lower boost range of 5-8psi. That is a very conservative boost level. On top of that tuning will be the most important part once the supercharger is adapted onto your application.

Now…you will not find an application that will bolt directly onto your vehicle. The manifolds that superchargers set on will not fit on your application. On top of that you will have an alignment issue with your stock pulley setup and the supercharger drive pulley.

You will need the main supercharger compressor. The manifold that the supercharger will set on, which will then be mounted onto your engine block. You will need to design a belt setup where it will go from the crank pulley to the main supercharger drive pulley. (It is very important that the pullies align up properly or else your belt will fly off.) You then need to design an air inlet tube that will go from your air filter to your supercharger compressor. That pretty much takes care of the fabrication part.

Once the supercharger is mounted onto the car, you will then need to make sure you are properly tuned. Tuning can consist of a larger fuel pump, larger fuel injectors, a chip or a reflash of the ECU. Tuning will be the far most important part of the whole setup. Since the supercharger is forcing more air into the engine you will need more fuel in order to not detonate. Detonation will destroy your engine. Usually a larger fuel pump of 190lph-255lph will be adequate, however this depends on how much HP you are producing. Now that you have adequate fuel pressure in the line you will need to get larger fuel injectors or an FMU so you do not lean out under boost. This is important because if your car is running to lean you will blow your engine. Then the final step will be a chip or a reflash of the ECU. This will not only control the amount of fuel that your fuel injectors are providing, but it will also control the timing.

As you can see, adding a supercharger onto your application is not easy. If you do go in this direction do not skimp out on the tuning, or else you will blow your engine.

Answer 3

It will probably fit, (may have to mount it backward and build a new pulley system), but will cost much more than your firebird is worth. When you start monkeying around with the fuel system you also have to change the ECM, possibly the exhaust system, possibly the fuel injectors, probably the fuel pump, a world of pulleys, belt, tensioners, probably wiring harness -- well, you get the idea. The list just goes on and on. You will save a bundle if you simply sell your car and buy a V8 equipped Friebird.

Answer 4

you should get a supercharged block to start, yours may not have the right pistons and crank :(

Answer 5

your best bet is to give summit a ring
tech help line 1-330-630-0240 (summit racing .com)