Miata Mailing List: January 1994, Message #164
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   From: Bill.Allen@metrokc.gov
Subject: Eaton Supercharger
   Date: Thu, 20 Jan 1994 14:12:15 -0500

Eric Fancher asks about Eaton Supercharger experience to date. I and =
two others
in Seattle have installed units.  We just did mine this weekend and I=
 am still
doing a little "fine-tuning".  I'm quite pleased with the fit and fin=
ish, in
general, although there are still a few rough spots.  Norman Garrett =
has plans
to upgrade the finish on several pieces and intends to make them avai=
lable to
past buyers.  So far the components he intends to change are a cast a=
luminum
piece for one of the formed rubber elbows, and powder-coating for the=
 aluminum
discharge manifold and cross-over pipe.  The highlights of the kit ar=
e the
finish and appearance of the blower, discharge manifold, cross-over p=
ipe, and
dummy throttle-body.  The air-filter, meter, and 180 degree-turn plum=
bing run
is quite busy and cramped. I was surprized and pleased at the appeara=
nce of the
bottom-side of the airflow meter.  It is an aluminum waffle surface a=
nd matches
the similar piece that covers the end of the "Indy" air filter.  The =
kit has a
tie-wrap to attach the fuel-pressure regulator, which looks flimsy.  =
Les
Horton, who installed my unit, drilled holes in the regulator bracket=
 and vapor
cannister bracket for mounting and it looks much cleaner and substant=
ial.=20
There is a problem with the bracket for the power-steering hose.  It =
has to be
bent so much it isn't useable anymore.  We feel it was over-kill anyw=
ay, so we
aren't concerned.  You can't see it after the unit's installed.  My c=
ross-over
pipe got scratched up, but I want the powder-coated upgrade or a chro=
me-plating
job, anyway.  A lot depends on how skillful you are in "trimming-out"=
 the
installation.  ie neat tube and wire routing and tie-wrapping.  Mine =
looks
pretty clean.  I want to replace the larger SS clamps with black Euro=
pean-style
ones, if I can find a source.  Norm didn't use them due to cost-consi=
derations.
 The biggest "eye-sore" is a 3/4 inch rubber tube carrying idle-air f=
low from
the dummy throttle-body to the inlet piping run.  Mine looks much bet=
ter
running behind the thermostat and under the blower, but it still need=
s to be
better.  I've suggested to Norm that he try to use a metal pipe arran=
gement of
some sort.  My fine-tuning is centered on getting the idle-droop righ=
t and
fixing a belt-run.  There are 2 out of 100 units, so far, where the p=
oly-groove
SC belt wants to run to the forward edge of the idler-pulley.  This c=
reates a
lot of "dusting," which is aggravating to us neat-niks. =20
The time for installation is much longer than advertized, 7, 8, and 1=
7 hours
for the three of us.  The better times were by very experienced mecha=
nics.
I would take any comments by turbocharger-sellers with a grain of sal=
t as the
Eaton unit is a serious threat to them, due to relative costs of the =
kits!
I found a very attractive source for a boost gage and mounting.  Turb=
o
Technology in Tacoma sells a very pretty black "cup" for the gage whi=
ch mounts
low on the left windshield column.  It's sleek, matches the Miata's f=
inish, is
not in an obtrusive spot, and is still very well-sited for visability=
 while
driving.  It's $19.  Their vac/boost gage is made by ISSPRO and is on=
ly $30.=20
(It does say "Turbo" on its face, however.)  Turbo Tech is at (206) 4=
75-8319.
Not many driving impressions, yet.  Other than the city streets are a=
wfully
short and the speed limits much too low!

I've got to write more for the MIATA SOUNDER, the copy for which is d=
ue right
now, according to our friendly Editor, Frank Murphy!
Bill Allen - Seattle