Vortech=Paxton

I'm not sure how common knowledge this is but Paxton and Vortech are under the same umbrella. I didn't realize this until I got my Paxton head unit back from rebuilding and it had Vortech packing tape on the box. After talking with Paxton/Vortech I now know that a Vortech S-Trim is the same as a Paxton 1200 and a Vortech T-Trim is the same as a Paxton 1500 with respect to bolt pattern, external and internal dimensions, impeller, etc. So if you hear someone say Vortech is better than Paxton or vice versa they are misinformed.

Air Flow

Procharger:
P1 - 1200 CFM
D1 - 1400 CFM
F1A - 1650 CFM

Vortech:
S-Trim - 1000 CFM
SQ-Trim - 1000 CFM
T-Trim - 1200 CFM
Ysi - 1600 CFM

Paxton:
Novi 1200 - 1000 CFM
Novi 1500 - 1200 CFM
Novi 2000 - 1400 CFM
Novi 2200 - 1450 CFM

1000 CFM = 680 supportable HP
1200 CFM = 825 supportable HP
1400 CFM = 925 supportable HP
1600 CFM = 1200 supportable HP

There is some debate about the supportable horsepower numbers, some believe they are artificially low, but it's safe to say that more is better, to a point. So on paper the advantage would seem to go to ATI but one would need to look at the compressor maps to see which would be better for a given application, although thats impossible, see below.

Vortech/Paxton compressor maps - http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/...pressor%20Maps

Procharger compressor maps - Quote from ATI Tech Support - "Our engineers do not use compressor maps, we do all of our testing in real-world scenarios."

Gears

I'm sure everyone knows that Procharger uses straight cut gears which tend to make the "marbles in a can" sound, particularly at idle. Vortech/Paxton use helical gears which are much quieter and the helical gears prevent the gear backlash which is the source of the ATI marbly sound. I've owned a Procharger on my C5 and now have a Paxton on my C6 and much prefer the sound of the Paxton. All it has is a slight whistle.

Lubrication

ATI is strictly self contained. They do not make an oil fed version. Vortech and Paxton offer both so you can pick your poison. When comparing the self contained units its interesting is that Paxton/Vortech have a breather at the top to relieve pressure in the gear case. Procharger does not. I'm not sure which is better but it's worth noting. Something else to note about the Paxton/Vortech units is that they are meant to be laid with the transmission at a 45 degree angle. So if you were to fill the unit on the bench with the dipstick straight up it would be overfilled by 2-3 oz (4 oz being a full fill). It's meant to be filled and checked as it sits in the car. If it's overfilled oil will leak out of the breather something fierce. There are other Paxton/Vortech units meant to be laid at 50 degrees so if you pick one up at a swap meet it would be worth a call to find out which it is.

Also, for engine oil fed guys I would caution you to watch your oil pan level that it's not too high. I started out with a Novi 1200 oil fed and it started to make noise with <500 miles on it. I had it rebuilt and it came back good but then started doing the same thing in <500 miles. I talked with Vortech/Paxton support about it at length and sent them many pictures and videos and measurements. We never were able to definitively find the root cause but a theory was that the crank case oil level was at/near the same level as where the hole for the drain was tapped into the pan, blocking the drain at times causing oil to back up into the head unit and coke the bearings. I didn't see a place to tap any higher on the pan so I don't know what I would have done about it other than to keep a little less oil in the pan. It was easier to switch to the self lubricated and take the drain out of the equation.

 

Very informative write up... Thanks for taking the time...

 

But you left out my YSi!! 1600CFM, 1200hp

 

I never liked the idea of lubricating the head unit from the engine oil.

 

Very good post! Thank you for the info

 

Thanks for the info...I didn't know

 

This is good information. Gives one something to think about or should I say even more to think about.

 

Thank you.

 

been saying it for years... Vortech tends to introduce better aero designs first. Only exception was the self contained gear box that was introduced under Paxton name.

Oh its actually Paxton = Vortech, as in Vortech technology is used in newer Paxtons not the other way around.


Mike

 

The Paxton and Vortech units are exactly the same inside.
The larger Paxtons (2000) are slightly different and equate to a JT Trim Vortech in airflow.
The YSI is the big boy and outflows the Paxtons.
I think that Procharger overstates their numbers slightly.
I generally make the same power with a T Trim as with a D1SC.
The rattling noise in the Procharger head unit is actually a "slinger " gear that rides on an independent shaft that slings oil up onto the drive gears.
Once there is a little load on the unit, the gear quits rattling.
The whining that is heard with the rattling is the straight cut drive gears.

 

You also forgot that the NOVI 2200 is the same as a JT-Trim.
There is no equivalent to the YSi-Trim for the NOVI...
There is no equivalent of the NOVI 2000 on the Vortech side. It's between the T and the Ysi

 

This should be a sticky in this section. Very helpful. Thank you.

 

Thanks for all the good info. I have been reading the FI section for some time and contemplating going FI at some point. The longer I wait the more I learn.