With the exception of an initial over rich starting condition, strokers are pretty much a plug and play deal. They just work. The PCM has enough flexibility to learn that it needs to drive more fuel to keep the AFR where it needs to be. I built a 4.7L for my 97.
But, a Forced Induction engine is going to require intervention. Lots of it. You need to pull the ignition timing back when under boost. How much you pull it back depends on the grade fuel you use and the amount of boost you have on tap. You need to kick more fuel under boost as well.
I am not here to bad mouth anyone. I am attempting to document my experience with the Sprintex kit so others can make informed decisions. As to Mr. Rimmer, I did have to part ways due to many factors. None of which are anyone's business. Mind your beeswax. But he does have a poor track record with keeping a busness alive. Fact, not opinion...
The Sprintex Supercharger, mechanically, is a bolt on kit. With the exception of the throttle cable bracket, everything is well thought out and assembles very easily. If you can replace the manifold gasket, you can do the mechanical portion of the installation. The cable bracket needs a slight tweak at install. Otherwise, the CC cable holds the throttle open a tad giving a uncontrollable idle. From an engine management standpoint, I do know that Sprintex was working with Perfect Power to develop a new`controller to replace the SMT8-L. The replacement is said to address the timing issues that I uncovered. I just could not wait on it so replaced the lot with an AEM F/IC8. The F/IC6 works as well, just does not have a frequency table. I needed the table in order to correct the speedo. To install either the Perfect POwer or the AEM is going to require you to cut into the harness. I found the AEM ECU harness for Sprintex then AEM discontinued the product due to connector availablity issues. I made exactly two harness assemblies for Sprintex/Boostec prior to the part being discontinued.
If you are not handy with wiring, avoid any form of forced induction. Or pay someone, who is qualified, to do the installation.
You will notice that I have referred to the SC kit as a "Sprintex" kit. That is because that is what it is. Designed and manufactured in Australia. Mr. Rimmer is the North American Distributor for Sprintex.
I constantly get asked it the kit is worth the money. That is a hard question to answer. It depends. It depends on the condition of your engine. You absolutely can not add forced induction to a marginal engine as it will destroy that engine. Not news. Those of us that have been around forced induction for a while (Me? Since the 60s. my Dad was an original Hot Rodder in NorCal) know only too well what happens to an engine with high miles. It will turn into a grenade. The increased cylinder pressures will take out the rod bearings if they are less than good. The mains do not fair much better either...
So, if you are in a rebuild situation, my suggestion is go displacement, with a stroker build. The stroker will run just as long as a stock engine (it should, it still has all stock components...) with no major tuning issues. If you are doing the remove and replace yourself and just using a machine shop, a stroker should be a relatively inexpensive solution and should cost less than forced induction. I got 300hp (it was dyno'd) out of my 4.7. BUT, it was an expensive build as I used the aluminium big valve head and the most aggressive cam I could.
Cams. We should discuss cams. It matters not how the forced induction is produced, the camshaft should be changed to reduce the amount of overlap. With both valves open (overlap), you are dumping boost right out the exhaust. I have started inquiries with all of the Cam Manufacturers to see which one, if any, would be willing to grind a FI cam. so far, no responses. If I get any answers, I will start an additional thread.
If you are adventurous and can do your own tuning and have an engine in good condition then, perhaps, forced induction is the way for you to go. Choices, right now, are limited. Currently there are two systems available. The Sprintex and the Avenger. Now you are going to ask which one is better and I am not going to answer that. Do your due diligence. Any project needs to be thoroughly researched prior to the start. Your decision.
What boost level the Avenger kit delivers I do not know. I do know that I can get an occasional 6 pounds here at 6,500' on a day with high barometric pressure. Otherwise, it delivers 5 pounds all day, every day. Truth is, you can't compress what is not there. Here, at altitude, the air is less dense so it is more difficult to compress. Does not matter if we are talking about the SC or just the cylinder under normally aspirated conditions. As there is an average 2 pound ambient difference in absolute air pressure 14.73 verses 12.5) between my house and sea level, I would expect the SC to deliver 7 to possibly 8 pounds of boost at sea level. Depening on the barometric pressure. And on an engine with 8.8:1 compression, that is a safe place to be. I have ran as much as 12 pounds on an engine with 9:1 compression but it was difficult to control detonation. This is in the pre-PCM days of vacuum/mechanical advance distributors. Talk about a PITA...
The AEM F/IC works off of Absolute Manifold Pressure (amoung other variables) and takes a snapshot at zero rpm to determine what working altitude it is at based upon the Absolute Pressure at that point. Just like the stock PCM does. It then has a starting point on the map for fuel and ignition. After the start, the process becomes dynamic with respect to the manifold pressure.
I have attempted to be fair, accurate and unbiased in this thread. Forced Induction as an aftermarket refit is not for everyone. If Chrysler had had a forced induction setup during the XJ production years, it would be an easy add on as the factory PCM would be directly usable. As that is not the case, you will be adding a piggyback of one sort or another and, you will need to tune it. I am still refining my tune. And, I expect to continue refining it for the foreseeable future.
This thread started witht he assumption that the kit would be plug and play. This is what Sprintex intended. But, owing to the differences between the PCMs this turned out not to be the case. Are the issues resolvable? Absolutely, I have done it. I have heard a runour that Boostec is fiddling about with AEM F/ICs based upon my success with it. Be advised, if the kits now ship with an AEM F/IC in lieu of the Perfect Power and I do not know that to be the case, it will have a generic tune and you will need to tweak it in. I know the tuner and his capabilities. I can also tell you that as of today, 23 March 2012, the Installation Instructions posted on the website is incorrect. It shows a plug and play wiring harness that does not exist. These instructions, as far as I am aware, are all there is available.