Blown On A BudgetBob Beckers, Wisconsin: I have a '67 Camaro RS convertible with a four-speed and a '95 GM ZZ3 aluminum-head crate engine (9.8:1). It has an Edelbrock carb, 151/48-inch headers, 211/42-inch mandrel-bent exhaust, a 4.10:1-geared 12-bolt, an HEI, and a cowl hood (with plenty of clearance). My problem is the Joneses, or trying to keep up with them. Most of my buddies run bigger-cube engines, and I've found myself on the losing end of the spectrum. I researched the Pro Charger in a desperate attempt to redeem myself but can't chew on the $5,000-plus it takes to go that route. I have a $3,000 budget and want to get the most bang for my buck. I read and respect the things you've done, and I'm begging for your input. The car is street-driven on 93-octane pump-gas, approximately 500-1,000 miles per year.
Terry McGean: We suspected your quest could be fulfilled for less than the $5,000 you cited, and probably within your $3,000 budget, so we first consulted with ATI ProCharger to see if it could offer an alternative to your findings. Given your specs and budget criteria, the techs at ATI recommended a system using the self-contained P-1SC ProCharger unit. This model is rated to deliver a 30 to 70 percent increase in horsepower on pump gas, and according to the guys at ATI, a complete non-intercooled system can be put together for about $2,700. Although the lack of an intercooler might seem like a compromise, the techs pointed out that since this is a carbureted system, the fuel actually has a cooling effect on the incoming charge air. It will require a Holley carb with mechanical secondaries and nitrile-filled floats, and you'll likely need a fuel pump upgrade also. Intercooling can be added to this system if desired for maximum potential; a universal two-core unit with the tubing kit has an MSRP around $860, while a three-core is approximately $1,100. ATI says the upgrade is fairly simple and can easily be added later on.
We also checked in with Vortech after seeing that it offered a carbureted blow-through system. According to the tech guys at Vortech, the 4GP218-010S kit is considered universal to a certain extent, though it is made for carbureted small-block Chevys mounted in '67-'69 Camaros (with cowl hood), '64-'72 Chevelles, '55-'57 Chevys, and '62-'72 Novas. The kit is based on a tried-and-true V-1 S-Trim blower, capable of providing enough boost to make 750 hp. Also included are the mounting brackets, oil feed and return lines, a carburetor enclosure, a feed tube between the blower and carb enclosure, a crank pulley, and the mounting hardware. You'll have to consult with Vortech to select and purchase the right blower pulley for your combination and you'll also have to fashion an air inlet and filter arrangement for the blower. Summit carries this kit for $2,404.95.
If you want to cut the budget further, you could go with one of the Roots-type mini-blowers offered by Weiand, marketed under the Pro-Street Supercharger line. These are sold in kit form, including the intake manifold, pulley system, gaskets, belt, and hardware. Weiand offers superchargers of several different displacements in this line, though it claims that in general, these kits are typically good for a 25 to 40 percent increase in power. Prices for small-block Chevy 142ci kits start at $1,569 on summitracing.com and increase from there for options like a polished case, Teflon-lined rotors, and larger displacement units. We've actually used these blowers with some success; in fact, some years back we strapped one to a late-model 350 that was similar to a ZZ crate engine and saw right around a 100hp gain. You can also put nitrous on top of them.