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I would say, at the very least, get a leakdown and compression check done on all of the cylinders. That will tell you the most about the car. Do you know if it is intercooled or not? I would be fairly hesitant if it is not and the leakdown/compression tests come back abnormal.
I am still paying for that mistake. On the bright side, I got a stroker motor. LOL
Why would you just walk away when you know nothing about the car? Maggies are great setups and very reliable. Just because they do not make the MOST hp doesn't mean they are crap. To the OP, I would check it out, see who did the installation and take it for a spin. If everything checks out and you like it then why not. It will be a better ride than the fbody (not a slam because I have had 4 4th gens).
I have a 2002 z28, and I was driving around town and I came across a c5 corvette (a4) with a maggie at a dealership ...
I was wondering if you guys can give your opinions on buying an already supercharged car (pros/cons)
AND
what do I have to look for when purchasing one, especially if the dealship has no record of the actual mods done to it.....
thanks for your help!
Another thing you could do is talk tothe sales person and see who turned in the Vette.
Ask the sales person to contact the previous owner and give him your information and have him contact you.
Tell the sale person it is the only way you would consider buying the Vette by being able to speak to the previous owner.
MORE than likely the owner will be more than happy to give you reciepts and info on the Vette and what he has done and who di the work (Which shop di the install and Dyno tune etc.) The you can also speak with the shop and see their thoughts on the Vette in question.
You certainly will enjoy a Maggie Vette, they are great. You will also want as stated above to have the dealer do a leak down check to check compression, plus it would be nice to talk to the shop that did the install and see about the heads that are on the Vette because if they are stock you'd want to find out if they replaced or upgraded the valve springs
Why would you just walk away when you know nothing about the car? Maggies are great setups and very reliable. Just because they do not make the MOST hp doesn't mean they are crap. To the OP, I would check it out, see who did the installation and take it for a spin. If everything checks out and you like it then why not. It will be a better ride than the fbody (not a slam because I have had 4 4th gens).
Reasons why I would walk away...
#1. Im not a fan of magnachargers at all, I dont like there design.
#2. I would never buy someone elses project. You never know what is where, what is jerry rigged and whats not. Knowing where evertyhing is, is very helpfull if somthing goes wrong. Relays, Fuses, you never know where someone might stick that ****.
Especially with a built engine... Is it fully forged or is it just a rods/pistons engine? Mabey just a pistons engine? Unless you have reciepts from the builder you will never know. Also, was the machine work done right? Were the mains align honed? Were the bearing clearences set? OR, did someone just ball hone the bitch and slap it back together with some forged slugs? OR was anything ever really done at all and the shortblock is factory stock?????
Last edited by breecher_7; Feb 12, 2009 at 06:43 AM.
You can get a C5 pretty reasonable these days and then have it supercharged by a pro. That way you know what you are getting.
Personal fan of centrifical and the only shop I go to is ECS. I have had two national record holding C5s (fastest supercharged and fastest supercharged stock bottom) from them and they know their supercharging.
Another thing you could do is talk tothe sales person and see who turned in the Vette.
Ask the sales person to contact the previous owner and give him your information and have him contact you.
Tell the sale person it is the only way you would consider buying the Vette by being able to speak to the previous owner.
MORE than likely the owner will be more than happy to give you reciepts and info on the Vette and what he has done and who di the work (Which shop di the install and Dyno tune etc.) The you can also speak with the shop and see their thoughts on the Vette in question.
Good advice...: BTW, I have 40,000 + miles trouble free miles on my Vette since the Maggie was installed.
Maggie does work by direct drive, it just uses a jack shaft on the side for ease of fitment. The maggie for the Corvette was originally developed by John Lingenfelter so you know it's a quality set-up.
I use to have one on my car before I got mod fever. It was a lot fund and in hindsight I probably should have just kept it that way.
The jack shaft is what I do not like about it. Technically its not direct drive as it uses a jack shaft. Direct drive would be the belt driving the screws off the front... Anyways, thats my issue with them.
The jack shaft is what I do not like about it. Technically its not direct drive as it uses a jack shaft. Direct drive would be the belt driving the screws off the front... Anyways, thats my issue with them.
Doesnt mean I have to like it.... Its all about personal preference. I dont like the jackshaft and I dont like the second belt...
Also, I spend ALOT of time around a dyno, matter of fact im 10' from it right now and I have never seen a magnacharger put down over a true 630rwhp. Ive seen kenne bells and whipples put down hundreds more.
Just my oppinion I guess, I dont like them. Ill stick with Procharger, kenne bell, or turbonetics for my forced induction needs.
Doesnt mean I have to like it.... Its all about personal preference. I dont like the jackshaft and I dont like the second belt...
Also, I spend ALOT of time around a dyno, matter of fact im 10' from it right now and I have never seen a magnacharger put down over a true 630rwhp. Ive seen kenne bells and whipples put down hundreds more.
Just my oppinion I guess, I dont like them. Ill stick with Procharger, kenne bell, or turbonetics for my forced induction needs.
That's Kool, but not everybody wants the big numbers. They want a nice reliable ride, + the maggie comes with factory warranty that the others don't.
My only dislike was the hood. I like the lower profile hoods vs the big bulge. The Caravaggio Blower hood is my favorite as it's not too tall.
Doesnt mean I have to like it.... Its all about personal preference. I dont like the jackshaft and I dont like the second belt...
Also, I spend ALOT of time around a dyno, matter of fact im 10' from it right now and I have never seen a magnacharger put down over a true 630rwhp. Ive seen kenne bells and whipples put down hundreds more.
Just my oppinion I guess, I dont like them. Ill stick with Procharger, kenne bell, or turbonetics for my forced induction needs.
I'm sure you are only comparing the little 112 maggie. The 122, the TVS 2300 and even the 19 is plenty of volume and only needs the right engine to build way more than 630rwhp, of course, how do you keep the tires from frying?
I also know that the low end torque of the maggie can out 60' most centri's, hp for hp. Having a faster mph in the lights is cool, but if you don't get the win light who cares?
I'm sure you are only comparing the little 112 maggie. The 122, the TVS 2300 and even the 19 is plenty of volume and only needs the right engine to build way more than 630rwhp, of course, how do you keep the tires from frying?
I also know that the low end torque of the maggie can out 60' most centri's, hp for hp. Having a faster mph in the lights is cool, but if you don't get the win light who cares?
Mabey your misunderstanding me... I like twins screws, the vette in my avatar is equipt with a 2.8 kenne bell.... The low end grunt and the fantastic power throughout the powerband makes them a joy to drive. Nothing beats a twin screw for the street IMO.
As far as keeping the tires from frying goes, yeah, thats not possible. With over 700rwhp on tap last season with low boost and pushing the engine as far as it will go for this upcoming season the 315 NT01's were about useless and will continue to be useless......
That's Kool, but not everybody wants the big numbers. They want a nice reliable ride, + the maggie comes with factory warranty that the others don't.
My only dislike was the hood. I like the lower profile hoods vs the big bulge. The Caravaggio Blower hood is my favorite as it's not too tall.
BTW, 630RWHP is plenty for the street.
The Hood was the final decision maker for me between KB and Maggie. That and at the time some guys were dealing with some high IAT problems with the KB.
And yes for a street car 500+ rwhp with 3.42's is severely traction limited