Small-Block Chevy Supercharger - 1960 Chevy Biscayne

For anyone who has attended a recent Super Chevy Show, the ProCharger name will most likely be a familiar one. After all, the crew at ProCharger sponsors the Bracket One Brawl at every event in which the winner receives a cash prize of $3,000. Most Super Chevy attendees may also be familiar with the drawing in which a ProCharger system is given away at season's end. For those who can't wait and feel that Lady Luck might not be on your side at winning the raffle, let us take a look at one of the latest from ProCharger: the Small-Block Serpentine Accessory Drive, part number 1CA110-D1SC.

We've all seen what a Roots supercharger looks like. Take a look at the diagram of a centrifugal blower provided by ProCharger. For years ProCharger has offered a carbureted V-belt kit. This serpentine kit is the newest child in the family. Included in this kit is everything you see (minus the AC compressor and alternator).

We've all seen what a Roots supercharger looks like. Take a look at the diagram of a centr

This new serpentine kit allows the purchaser to keep and reuse their air conditioning system, power steering, and alternator. We know the term "bolt in" tends to get used and abused by many a magazine editor and aftermarket manufacturer, however, in this case ProCharger's serpentine accessory drive truly bolted in with absolutely no modification to the vehicle.

Way back in the August 2005 issue of Super Chevy, we featured a white 1960 Biscayne on the cover. It is this very same automobile that we used as a donor car to test out ProCharger's new serpentine system. The weird part about it is that it fit like it was specifically designed for this very vehicle. This is a testament to the engineering team that ProCharger keeps employed.

Before a bolt was turned on this Biscayne, we pulled it into the Primedia Tech Center to flog it on the Mustang chassis dyno. The stock GM Performance Parts ZZ4 small-block crate engine (backed by a GM 700R transmission) was putting out 220 horses to the rear wheels of the party barge. Keep in mind that the dyno runs a bit on the conservative side and there is an amount of parasitic loss in horsepower from the flywheel through the drivetrain and large 18-inch wheels.

Procharger Supercharger Kit Installation

As we mentioned earlier in the article, before any bolts were turned we rolled the Biscayne onto the chassis dyno where it dyno'd in at 220 hp.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, before any bolts were turned we rolled the Biscayn

Just about eight hours after we had started, the install was complete and the non-intercooled ProCharger system on the Biscayne was ready to run like a hobo chasing a ham sandwich. After a second chassis pull, the small-block was throwing down an additional 90 hp to the wheels (310 total), a 41 percent increase with only 8 pounds of boost. But we ran into a problem: the fuel system. As it turned out, the supercharger was capable of producing even more horsepower, but the fuel system on the Biscayne was maxxed out.

As the centrifugal supercharger spooled up and boost increased, the mostly stock fuel system was unable to keep up with the demands. In order to solve this problem, the solution was to increase the fuel lines from 1/2 to a 3/4 line and then get rid of the restrictive stock fuel-sending unit. These changes would allow any vehicle's fuel system to parallel the boost levels of the supercharger.

Unfortunately, the owner of the Biscayne, Chris Basset, blew up his stock 10-bolt rearend shortly after the ProCharger install and we couldn't retest it. While that may seem a sad tale, we can't help but smile at the same time, at least he was out having fun stuffing fuel and air into the engine as it happened. After a trip to Currie for his new rearend and an altering of the fuel system, we will post some more dyno results in a future issue, just to see what this ProCharger can really do. Stay tuned: We aren't done yet.

Let's take a look at what comes out of the box (other than packing peanuts):
- All brackets and pulleys (CNC-machined)
- Serpentine belt
- Supercharger, belt drive, auto tensioner
- Supercharger oil
- Carburetor bonnet
- Tubing
- Surge valve
- K&N air filters
- Fully illustrated instructions
Let's take a look at what comes out of the box (other than packing peanuts): - All bracket
ProCharger technicians Sergio Shifman and Dorian Comeau jumped under the hood of the Biscayne even before it had a chance to fully cool down after the initial dyno pulls.
ProCharger technicians Sergio Shifman and Dorian Comeau jumped under the hood of the Bisca
The first order of business was to remove the brackets, hoses, carburetor, water pump, AC compressor, alternator, fuel pump and power steering pump. Just the week before, Chris Basset (the vehicle owner) swapped out his Edelbrock Air Gap dual-plane intake manifold for a single plane Edelbrock Victor Jr. ProCharger technicians suggested he do this swap prior to the install of the supercharger. The advantage of a single-plane blowthrough manifold is increased atomization of the fuel compared with the dual-plane intake (which came stock on the ZZ4 crate motor.
The first order of business was to remove the brackets, hoses, carburetor, water pump, AC

After everything is removed, the bare bones engine is now ready for the go-fast parts. Chris had the Victor Jr. intake polished just a few days earlier and it looks great.
After everything is removed, the bare bones engine is now ready for the go-fast parts. Chr
One of the key elements in making great horsepower numbers is the fuel system. And using the right fuel pump for the job is top priority. The pump pictured here for our carbureted engine is a marine-type pump sold separately by ProCharger. A Holley 712-327-11 or Mr. Gasket 7731 should also be up to the task.
One of the key elements in making great horsepower numbers is the fuel system. And using t
Starting from the bottom up, we swapped out the old damper for an ATI Super Damper.

Next we installed an Edelbrock high-flow water pump, available separately from ProCharger, or anyplace that sells Edelbrock parts.
Next we installed an Edelbrock high-flow water pump, available separately from ProCharger,
The main pulley, which comes in the kit...
...is battened down onto the new damper.

There was already a GM type II power steering pump installed on this Biscayne, so all we had to do was pull the old pulley and put the new one on.
There was already a GM type II power steering pump installed on this Biscayne, so all we h
You can see in the photo how everything lines up.
After the bottom pulleys are installed, the water pump pulley is next. Once all the pulleys are installed, the fun stuff is next.
After the bottom pulleys are installed, the water pump pulley is next. Once all the pulley

The supercharger bracket and automatic tensioner (which are all one unit) are next up.
These brackets are beautiful CNC-machined pieces of art.
The star of the show: The D-1SC supercharger itself. According to ProCharger, this supercharger has the largest step-up in the industry, meaning that for every turn of the pulley the impellers turn 4.1 times. That's a lot of fuel and air getting mixed. It can be pulleyed for up to 32 lbs of boost max and capable of 920 hp.
The star of the show: The D-1SC supercharger itself. According to ProCharger, this superch

Prior to installing the supercharger, study the explicit instructions, follow them carefully, and add the specified amount of provided oil to the head unit.
Prior to installing the supercharger, study the explicit instructions, follow them careful
Take a look at how well the bracket and supercharger fit. There are a couple of inches between the inner fenderwell and the edge of the bracket. Is it a true bolt-in application? Yup.
Take a look at how well the bracket and supercharger fit. There are a couple of inches bet
Next on the list is the AC/alternator bracket.

Just like the supercharger bracket, this also fits like it's just made for this car.
After the AC compressor, the alternator is up next.
All the bracketry and pulleys are in place, the serpentine belt is next.

When adjusting the tensioners, refer to the detailed instruction manual for the correct way to do it.
When adjusting the tensioners, refer to the detailed instruction manual for the correct wa
Phew! A few hours later we're nearly done. In the meantime, it's time for a lunch break.
The fuel system, the fuel system, the fuel system! We have mentioned this several times, but nothing is more important than that. We ditched the old carburetor in favor of a 750-cfm blow-through Sportsman carb from The Carb Shop.
The fuel system, the fuel system, the fuel system! We have mentioned this several times, b

Each unit that comes from the Carb Shop is dyno tested on their mule engine running 17 pounds of boost and 1,000 hp! Since we are running only 8 pounds of boost on the Biscayne, we're certain that this carburetor will handle all our needs.
Each unit that comes from the Carb Shop is dyno tested on their mule engine running 17 pou
With the carb in place the bonnet goes on next.
After a few minutes of measuring, the tubing is cut down and a bypass valve is put into place.
After a few minutes of measuring, the tubing is cut down and a bypass valve is put into pl

After filling up the radiator and checking all installations twice, this install is done like dinner.
After filling up the radiator and checking all installations twice, this install is done l
All the work was done in about eight hours, with no specialty tools. (Other than a pulley remover and pulley installer for the power steering pump.)
All the work was done in about eight hours, with no specialty tools. (Other than a pulley
Vavoom! She fired right up and the supercharger was giving us that ever-familiar low blower whine. What a pretty sound. Our ProCharger technicians spent the next few moments tuning and checking the system.
Vavoom! She fired right up and the supercharger was giving us that ever-familiar low blowe

The moment of truth! We test this ZZ4 crate engine and see what she can do. After a pull or two on the Mustang dyno, we measured a 41 percent increase from its original baseline. Baseline peak horsepower was 220 and the new numbers after the install came in at 310 hp. Not bad for a non-intercooled system running 8 pounds of boost. Is there more potential in this engine? You bet. Stay tuned, we plan to change the fuel lines and sending unit in order to free up more horsepower potential.

SOURCES
The Carb Shop 1461 E. Philadelphia Ontario CA 91761 909-947-3575 www.customcarbs.com	ProCharger Dept. MMFF 14801 W. 114th Ter. Lenexa KS 66215
ATI Baltimore MD 800-284-3433 www.atiracing.com	Edelbrock Dept. 5.0 2700 California St. Torrance CA 90503 310-781-2222 www.edelbrock.com