Supercharging the WBX?

[Trundler]

Has anyone out there explored supercharging the wasserboxer? I know the current fashion is to do an engine swap but, I’m looking into all the options available now that my 2.1DJ is getting seriously tired.

The wasserboxer has a lot going for it, despite its ‘design issues’, and it can be a perfectly reliable engine if built well and looked after properly. Just swapping the current engine for a rebuilt one is the simplest option. The van runs on LPG and (as discussed in the alternative engines forum) Subaru engines seem to have some potential issues of their own when run on gas.

So, I began to think about other ways of boosting the van’s performance a little. I’m not looking for a rip-snorting fire-breathing engine (I don’t think the WBX is a suitable engine for that), just a nice little boost – say 20%. Figures of 130-ish bhp and 150-ish lb/ft would be quite adequate and not far off a Subaru EJ22’s figures. Torque is more important to me than power and forced induction engines seem to do well on that score.

The flat-4 layout seems quite well suited to supercharging with a convenient flat area on top of the engine where a blower could be mounted and driven off the crankshaft. I quite like the idea of a G60 WBX but I believe that the G-lader is not the longest lasting of devices so a blower from a Merc SLK or a BMW Mini would probably be a better bet.

Has anyone any experience or opinions on the viability of this? I suspect there are quite a few things I haven’t thought of!

[RobH]

Think Silverbullet over on the Yard has a supercharged WBX.

[ghost123uk]

Think Silverbullet over on the Yard has a supercharged WBX.

He is a regular contributor on here too - I know he has a S.A. 5 Pot, don't know about a blown one (though iirc, it was being talked about). https://club8090.co.uk/forum/memberlist. ... le&u=11127" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wychall]

Ian (Silverbullet) has both a supercharger and a WBX but it evidently isn't mating season yet as they have yet to couple.

[Ian Hulley]

IF and I do mean IF I was in the same situation I would be looking at either an Elite DJ to slot back in or a TDi conversion. £1,000 for the Elite lump £3,000+ for the TDi ... bet you'd be up in that territory anyway for the supercharged replacement DJ.

Ian

[kevtherev]

Personally I'd be fitting some DRLA Delorto carbs
Old school power and fun fun fun

[faggie]

i would speak to marco mancini hes built a couple of 450bhp waterboxer engines

[1664]

and he wrote the theme music to The Pink Panther

[ghost123uk]

Whilst trying to find out about marco mancini I came across this post on Volkzone by a guy who knows about T25's and breaks them for spares =

bulli porker wrote = "you can tell what bhp it is of the engine code, or what type of back exhaust box is fitted "


Anyway, sorry, back to superchargers

[Ian Hulley]

and he wrote the theme music to The Pink Panther

And managed Manfester City Lawn Faireys I believe

[kevtherev]

Lawn fairies...

[T3luestar]

i would speak to marco mancini hes built a couple of 450bhp waterboxer engines

He might know a bit about engines, but personally I'd go to Marco Mansi

http://www.marcomansiperformance.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ghost123uk]

i would speak to marco mancini hes built a couple of 450bhp waterboxer engines

He might know a bit about engines, but personally I'd go to Marco Mansi

http://www.marcomansiperformance.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting, so a "proper" re-con WBX from him is ~£1,800 - There will be folk out there that would be prepared to pay that I reckonhttp://www.marcomansiperformance.com/products.html

[faggie]

my mistake its just a few friends call him that so i forgot when posting probably old age catching up with me

[jamesandtheopenroad]

They do look like quality recons - photo evidence on request too. If money was no option, a 2.1 with a Dellorto would probably make my van happy.