I recently spent several hours with Jim Middlebrook, the President and owner of Vortech, Mike Reagan the engineering manager and Bob Endress, the marine sales manager. I can tell you they're all good guys. Jim spent many years with Paxton, then B&M, before he started Vortech in 1990. Bob worked at B&M before joining Vortech. Last year Vortech bought out Paxton.

I've had the factory tour and from what I've seen and heard I would say that Vortech won't build something unless they can do it right. Doing it right means making a big investment in tooling, casting, machining equipment etc.

Vortech talks about providing OEM quality kits. If you compare them to Procharger, the most obvious difference is the use of cast aluminum pipes and intercooler housings with removable cores, instead of rubber hose and welded intercoolers. I suspect that the Vortech compressors are more efficient than Procharger because Vortech provides compressor efficiency maps and Procharger doesn't. These two companies were in a legal battle over this very point and I don't know the details.

The Extreme kit from Livorsi uses a Vortech compressor with welded intercoolers and hose, so it falls between Vortech and Procharger in my mind. I believe the guy doing the ECM at Livorsi is an ex-Mercury engineer who had his own company a while back called Energized Fuel Injection. He used to sell a kit for the 454/502 MPI using a Vortech compressor and a PFM superchiller tube between the compressor and the throttle body.

One final bit of supercharging corporate history. Years ago, a little guy had an ad in the back of the car mags adverstising a supercharged fuel injected kit for BBC. He mounted a Vortech compressor in the middle above the water pump and blew directly into the intake with two sharp 90 degree elbows. With direct port fuel injection it was the most compact, most advanced supercharger available. He didn't make it, but his design surfaced a few years later as the basis of the Moroso marine engine.

It's a small world...

26sonic & Tomcat,

I can verify that what Tomcat stated about the ECM at Livorsi is in line with what I have heard as well. The "Extreme" from Livorsi I believe puts out more HP than the Vortech kit, but this is strictly my knowledge of the situation. The "Extreme" system runs at between 5-6 lbs depending upon atmospheric conditions.

The performance of my supercharged engine has been flawless in 160 hours. The engine is completely stock other than the charger kit.

Tim Fitzgerald

26ZX Donzi:

I think you're right about the HP. Vortech's base kit for the 502 is rated at 570 HP @ 5 psi. All things being equal 6 psi should be good for 625 HP as shown in the dyno sheets on Livorsi's website. Although I've haven't met him, the guy doing the ECMs obviously has a good resume.

Out of curiosity, what are the dimensions of your intercooler core, that is the "box", not including the water tanks or air inlet/outlet? I suspect that it is bigger than Vortech's core. The lower air temp would allow more boost without problems. Also, what compressor do you have? (V-1, V-2, V-7?, S trim, T-trim, YS trim?) You should see this on the tag on the compressor.

Two of them are o.k. but the third one is the one that used to knock us out on repairs at B&M ,,,and it was never the blowers fault it was the consumers ,hope thats not the way the vortec people are .
At least when I lived in Calf. the shipping wasn't so bad to B&M

Just the facts

I have a vortech unit and love it. I like the servicable intercooler as well as the aluminum tubing. Vortech uses a larger compressor than the livorsi unit. On a stock motor (502mpi) the smaller compressor on the livorsi unit is a little more efficient(HP) but once you make modifications to the engine like most of us do with time the vortech unit will be more efficient. Use procharger as an example on higher hp packages they offer there larger compressor compared to there stock offerings. Vortech sells you a package that you can build on with there larger compressor standard equipment and SERVICE IS LIKE NO OTHER, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU GET BOBS CELL NUMBER IF HE'S NOT IN. I called him one weekend with a installation question expecting to get his voice mail, not only did he answer the phone but he was more than happy to give me all the info i needed(no call me on monday). THATS SERVICE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. I did pick up 14mph, 27 warlock.

guys sounds like the vortec or livorsi units are very nice and reliable. my question is in the area i boat we can only get 89 octane fuel! can these units run on this ? also did any of you do the install your selfs ? and how difficult was it? also do you have to tap into the oil pan to get lubrication for the unit ?

Did they install the kit at Livorsi? Did they remap the ECM while in the boat or on a dyno?

I'm having major ECM problems and could use this guys help. I would definately make it worth his time...do you have his number?

My problem has been the following:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=47022

Thanks -

Kirk
Antioch, IL Too!!!

Hey Pantera how did your motors turn out ??if your having ecu problems send them or call Jim at AZ SPEED he does great work

I had Livorsi install a Vortech in my 1999 Fountain 27' with a 502 EFI. Could not fit the Extreme in due to lack of room in engine compartment for the large airbox. They did a nice job and stood behind their work. I also had them put in a sea strainer, drive shower and Teague drive upgrade so I can hopefully avoid problems. Boat runs near 80 with 25 Bravo 1 at 5000 rpm.
Had motor torn down this winter and bored out to 509 and added CMI headers and tips. Should be on the Dyno this week. Anxious to get out. 85 degrees here Tuesday and 30 degrees right now with sleet. What ever happened to gradual warming.

509 SC I live in Pewaukee and run on Okauchee, Pewaukee, Winnebago and some Lake MI. We should hook up sometime.

Boy BSAG your lucky or have something on him !
Have a good day
Vortec does build a great unit though and they really do if TomCat likes it