I looked into it - thinking that if it could be done someone would have done it.

I spoke with a Supercharger factory rep at a car show (can't recall the company) and posed the same question.

Basically MB will not sacrifice the reliability of their motors - a very important feature to their brand identity. The clutch allows the engine to gain some RPM prior to engaging, this can be eliminated or reduced by the ECU parameters but he claimed I would not be happy having the SC engage prior to 1K RPM - and to shut the SC down prior to overheating - as some forum members have called "sometimes sluggish acceleration" when the HE pump or temp sending unit go bad. With out the clutch - engine damage can occur.

Removing the clutch pulley requires disassembling the SC and removing the shaft - more expensive then an OVPS.

Again, this is what I've been told and I am not an expert on superchargers - this is my first car in over 30 years of driving- and my first supercharger so it's been a learning experience for me.

But I sure love my SRT and think $1,650 or so for 65 HP is not so bad. I can install the pulleys myself so it comes out to $25 or so per HP gain. Not to bad.

 

You are probably right about long term reliability. My mother put over 300,000 miles on a 500SE. There is no way a super charger will last that long without needing a rebuild. But personally I like a supercharger that is always spinning because it just feels like you have a larger engine with a very linear power curve. There is no sudden surge like a turbo. The advantage of a roots type S/C is that you have all the low end instant torque. My best friend test drove an SRT and is still trying to buy one. He said he punched it and there was a delay and then WHAM. I would rather have more low end torque and the power to come on instantly and smoothly from idle all the way up even if I had to have the s/c rebuilt every so many years.

 

That 'delay' is non-existent with a sprint booster. Completely different car, like dumping the clutch on a Fox body with an S-Trim now.

SQ

 

Cool, My friend you met is now looking again for an SRT. He sold one of his street rods today, a 37 Ford. He bought a 2008 Corvette a few weeks ago for himself but his wife still wants an SRT. He promised her the SRT if his '37 sold. His '55 Chevy is featured in this month's Chevy Rumble Magazine. Was there never a white SRT? if not why not?

 

I have yet to even feel a delay. Tonight I tried creeping up on the RPM's to see if I could feel or hear the SC kick in. No such luck.

I think the SRT was only offered in Aero Blue, Sapphire, Graphite and Black.

 

Correct on the colors.

Brian, How many miles were on your car when you bought it? How many now?

Mine only has 1,800 miles on it right now. This 'delay' I felt was only at initial throttle, and only when cold. It never has 'surged' when the S/C kicked in like others have mentioned.

There was a bit of throttle lag prior to the sprint booster - which could somewhat be fixed by a throttle reset. However, it is my wife's car - and she drives it much nicer than I do, so the memory learns her habits. When I get in it, It was a slug unless I reset the throttle (before the sprint booster). It's good to go now...

SQ