Why does the blower for a 2.2L cost $300 or so more than the actual motor? I see on the GM website where a 2.2L crate motor runs about $2300 and the blower kit sells for around $2600.
What sort of arcane metallurgical marvels go into the construction of these things? I understand the principles of the supercharger, but I just can't see why they charge so much for them. Do they polish the internals with hunnert dollar bills? Do they have platinum bearing races? What could it be?

My cynical side hints at another reason for this but I won't go into that here.


Bob

 

Dear Bob:

The reason the kit costs so much more that the engine itself is simple. The 2.2 was not designed with a S/C in mind. So GM has to offset the cost of R/D somehow, by pricing the Blower 300 over the price of the engine.
That's just my guess.

 

One would think the engine is much more complex. Numerous moving parts in very close tolerance to each other. The supercharger, discounting the bearings, has two. When one assembles an internal combustion engine, tolerances must be checked in many places where metal contacts metal. On a Roots type blower, the rotors have a gear on one end each. Rotors in a supercharger my be installed using nothing more than your eyes. Well, if you want to, you can mic the bearings.
http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/tech/0107scc_garage/

I don't have the info in front of me but I'd bet that the cost of a REPLACEMENT blower for an SS costs as much as one for the 2.2L minus the ancillary bits.

Anyway, I figure my car will be out of warranty by the time I've saved up enough money to buy one. =)

Bob

 

who in there right mind would even buy one of those blowers...you would have to be insane...the power increase sucks and its massively overpriced...can anyone provide one reason as to why a supercharger is better then a turbo?

 

There are numerous threads on this topic.

 

Two words: Turbo Lag.

One day, there WILL be a blower on my Cobalt. It's going to be a while and it won't be a GM model but there will be one in it one day.

Bob

PS: I forgot to mention that there are V8 GM crate motors that are a lot cheaper than a 2.2l. I'd dearly love to hear GM explain that one, too.

 

There are pro's and con's to both, but in general a SC will add Low end makin it more of the American muscle off the line feel and a turbo will add top end giving you that import tuner feel

 

you forgot to add that for just a few hundred more you could get the 2.0 SS crate.

 

I don't see why it would be worth it anyway since I know the gains aren't going to outdue the Redline. Also you guys who are commenting about turbo lag seem to forget that once max boost is hit it is held all the way til redline unlike a supercharger which has to build boost throughout the rpm range.

I would rather hit max boost at 2500rpm and hold it until redline then hit max boost at 6500 through a supercharger. Also it takes power to make power and you don't really have much coming from a 4 cyl engine anyway, atleast not these ones so naturally you'd see more gains turbocharged.

Either one is better than NA though but I just don't know if the GM kit would be worth it.

 

a guy on jbo has the blower on his 2.2 and it makes 218hp and 202 ft/lbs of torque. everything else is STOCK. so if u put the blower on a 2.2 it will be competitve with rl/ss's. but also realize that his is intecooled and the kit from gm will not be. my adviceisdo what i did finda wrecked ss or rl and pick up theengine got mine for less than $700 so it is quite cost effective in my case. i have most of the pieces i need just missing a few lil bolts here and there and ill have it on my 2.2. with my mods and a lil tuning im hoping for a solid 250hp. we shall see

 

so does this look to be a direct bolt in for your Cavi or what are you having to change to install the block...what about your tranny?

 

all im installing is the blower def. a direct bolt on. the block and tranny will remain untouched...for now at least.

 

I think one of the biggest pros is being a GMPP both the kit AND your existing warranty are upheld just in case worst case scenario something goes wrong. I think you'd have more luck with GM covering any repairs to the engine as a result of their S/C kit than you would if you drive into the garage with a third-party turbo under the hood.

 

I'd take a 3rd party turbo over a GM blower anyday for a 4 banger. However I'd much rather find a way to stuff a 3800 S/C under the hood and call it a day

 

They probably make alot more 2.2 engines than Superchargers as well.

 

awesome so you're running your own custom setup and then the Redline blower, sounds good

 

basically, im actually mocking the s/c system up to a spare 2.2 head in my garage now. look out for my post in a coule days with pics and more info.