SAAC Forum

SAAC HQ => Concours Talk => Topic started by: 1968GT500CS on April 26, 2025, 02:18:27 PM

Title: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: 1968GT500CS on April 26, 2025, 02:18:27 PM
Hello, can anyone tell me what this is?

Came in trunk of 1968 Mustang convertible I bought recently with a SN-92 Paxton head and had an older c5 or c6 numbered 4 barrel carburetor.  I don't have any other parts, I Dont think.  Car is a C code in the VIN.



ANY ASSISTANCE?  Thank you in advance.

Parts will be for sale, funding the convertible project needs, as I go.

Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on April 26, 2025, 02:56:04 PM
Cobra air box - orig or repop???
Craig Conley can tell you about the supercharger - https://paradisewheels.biz/super-chargers
There isn't much to start with. Needs brackets, pulleys, carb, etc etc. I'd consider the supercharger as a core since condition is unknown.
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: shelbydoug on April 26, 2025, 03:41:22 PM
I agree about considering the blower as just a core.

My experience with the originals is that it was very easy to blow them out if the engine was turned above 6,000 rpm. Part of the issue may have been that they ran on automatic transmission fluid and that was inadequate for the higher rpms? I don't know about the "updated" or current reproductions.

Just the fact that someone needs to pay for the labor to "go through it", even though there may be no internal issues, puts it into the "core catagory".


The air box is nice.
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: Don Johnston on April 26, 2025, 05:57:31 PM
Quote from: shelbydoug on April 26, 2025, 03:41:22 PMI agree about considering the blower as just a core.

My experience with the originals is that it was very easy to blow them out if the engine was turne above 6,000 rpm. Part of the issue may have been that they ran on automatic transmission fluid and that was inadequate for the higher rpms? I don't know about the "updated" or current reproductions.

Just the fact that someone needs to pay for the labor to "go through it", even though there may be no internal issues, puts it into the "core catagory".


The air box is nice.

Very true.
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: TA Coupe on April 26, 2025, 06:07:32 PM
Ranby Gillis used to rebuild them and put synthetic fluid in to gain more rpm, and more boost. I think it may have been B&M quick shift fluid that he used to use back in the day or something like that. I'm sure there's better stuff to use Nowadays though.

     Roy
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: shelbydoug on April 26, 2025, 08:50:57 PM
It is so easy to over rev them. It is just coming alive when it runs out of rpm safety. It drove me crazy and drove me to Webers.

I discussed it with Randy and he was talking about synthetic but never specified exactly which. The B&M stuff is a good guess but I think it was also about the viscosity and the auto trans fluid is too thin.

I don't know the formula but maybe the bearings get changed out also for improved ones?
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: Don Johnston on April 26, 2025, 10:03:36 PM
When I had mine inspected by Vince Granetelli at the Santa Monica shop, he told me the most commons failures were due to the wrong fluid.  They used Ford auto trans fluid. Also, the wrong pulley could exceed the rpm limit of the impeller blades causing them to fracture. Craig at Paradise Wheels is the go to guy for getting the correct information.
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: shelbydoug on April 27, 2025, 08:21:46 AM
Quote from: Don Johnston on April 26, 2025, 10:03:36 PMWhen I had mine inspected by Vince Granetelli at the Santa Monica shop, he told me the most commons failures were due to the wrong fluid.  They used Ford auto trans fluid. Also, the wrong pulley could exceed the rpm limit of the impeller blades causing them to fracture. Craig at Paradise Wheels is the go to guy for getting the correct information.

Yep, and the correct or best update.
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on April 27, 2025, 11:31:57 AM
Quote from: Don Johnston on April 26, 2025, 10:03:36 PMCraig at Paradise Wheels is the go to guy for getting the correct information.
Or this guy - but he's busy running Vortech & his new Paxton. In the 80s I loaned him some brackets they wanted to repop. He spun (spinned?) the old ball drive stuff off to Craig.

Previously an Engineer for Paxton Superchargers, Jim Middlebrook designed a revolutionary new internally gear-driven compressor and went off on his own to start Vortech Engineering.  Focusing on the popular Ford engines of the day, Vortech quickly made a name for themselves with turn-key supercharging systems for both the Ford 5.0L, 5.8L and 7.5L engines. Fast becoming the go-to modification for all serious performance enthusiasts, Vortech expanded into many other car and truck applications, as well as creating additional arms of the company such as Vortech Marine and Vortron Industrial to meet the growing needs of centrifugal compressor technology in those fields. Almost exactly 10 years after Vortech was founded, Middlebrook purchased his former employer Paxton Superchargers, further expanding the product line and reach of Vortech Engineering to the masses.
Title: Re: Paxton Supercharger question
Post by: TA Coupe on April 27, 2025, 07:04:28 PM
Vortech makes some good products. I've got one on my S. V. T focus and it makes 250 horsepower and 188 foot-pounds of torque at just under 10 pounds of boost. Here's a link to the dyno video for anyone that's interested:

https://youtu.be/2fTC9_VaA54?si=K6pOqTjm0wHATvgz

     Roy