How to Increase a Vortech Boost

Superchargers enhance your vehicle's performance by forcing burnable air into the combustion chamber. Dollar per horsepower, a supercharger is one of the most economical ways to increase the horsepower of your vehicle. Belts drive the system via a pulley, much like they do in alternators and power steering. This causes the internal, fan-like impeller to rapidly spin and blow air, which increases air pressure referred to as "boost." The supercharger's pulley size determines how fast the blower will spin in relation to the drive belt. Smaller pulleys make the blower spin faster, which results in increased boost. Vortech is one of the top producers of such superchargers.

• 1

  Loosen the belt. Look around the belt that drives the supercharger. Usually, there will be a tension pulley mounted on a spring-loaded arm. This pulley adds tension to the belt to decrease the chance of slippage but also allows for easier removal of the belt. If the belt runs over a pulley that is unattached to a major engine component, then you have probably found the tension pulley. Place a socket over the center bolt and apply pressure, via the ratchet handle, away from the belt. The entire pulley assembly should move, allowing you to easily slip the belt off.

• 2

  Remove the center bolt from the supercharger pulley with an appropriate-sized socket and ratchet. Apply pressure counterclockwise to loosen and remove the bolt.

• 3

  Heat the pulley with a propane torch for 20 to 30 seconds. Do not over-heat it and avoid applying heat to the center stud. This process will expand the pulley slightly to loosen it up.

• 4

  Attach a three-prong pulley puller onto the pulley so that the prongs hook behind the pulley and the center post is aligned on the front, center shaft of the pulley. Make sure that the center post does not overlap onto the pulley itself; doing so will stop the pulley from moving and potentially damage it. Use the socket and ratchet to crank the center bolt of the pulley puller in a clockwise direction. This pushes the center post against the center shaft, which forces the pulley off of the shaft. Be careful not to lose the "keyway key," the small piece of metal, between the shaft and pulley, that keeps the pulley aligned.

• 5

  Install the new, smaller pulley, making sure to reinsert the keyway key exactly as it was aligned previously. Carefully hammer it in place with the rubber mallet by striking the center of the pulley. Heating the pulley will help if you find the pulley does not go on with relative ease.

• 6

  Replace the center bolt on the pulley's shaft with the socket and ratchet, securing it tightly.

• 7

  Reduce pressure on the tension pulley and move the belt over the new pulley. Make sure the belt has not slipped off any other pulleys. Release pressure on the tension pulley to complete the procedure.