Poll: Would YOU buy a used supercharger?

[imported_admin]

Just curious.

Having owned one supercharger for 4 years and the second for 6 months, I can honestly say that given the abuse a supercharger goes through, I would never feel comfortable buying one used. Back in '99 when I originally designed my setup, ATI offered a 3 year warranty on their superchargers. Powerdyne and Vortech only had a 1 year warranty, and even then they had heavy restrictions. (Since then their warranties have improved but for me it was a major deciding factor.)

Buying used parts is always a bit risky. Buying used ultra-hardcore parts like a blower, an engine that's already race-built and you know has been run hard as hell, or drag tires is just out of the question in my mind.

The thought came up in another thread and I'm just curious what you guys think. Input?

[ssms5411]

I agree , I like knowing that if someone is going to abuse the supercharger it's going to be by me. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Enh, depends about the longevity of such a built part. Would you buy a used racecar? Components of that can be replaced, yet the frame remains mostly the same.
Similar, I'd assume, with a blower -- the housing is ok, yet maybe a bearing or a seal needs to be rebuilt, and if you do it yourself with quality parts, you should be OK.
As long as someone offered me a "it's not a POS / DOA" part, I'd be OK with it. Hell, I run a used turbo kit. Well, umm, yeah it smokes, but I think that's my problem right now, we'll see.

-Rob

[Shirl]

I wouldn't buy anything used for my car. I only get the best/new parts for it. I don't want someone else's garbage or ragged on parts! [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Shirl:
I wouldn't buy anything used for my car. I only get the best/new parts for it. I don't want someone else's garbage or ragged on parts! [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

I'm the same way, unless I can get an accidental purchase like "brand new for a used price because I never opened the seal on the box" :D I got my shifter like that.

Used tires? no... wheels? no... etc. Used shocks? never :D

[Wicked 3800 V6]

A few of my parts are used, but if it's something that doesn't wear out, then i'm not prissy about it and can settle easily for used. Sheeyat, I bought the car used! Pro 5.0 used (member of the board), FSB used, seats used (no longer being used by me, i'm going to re-sell them), SLP intake used (no longer in use), loudmouth used. My point is that Lots of things don't wear out, so why over pay? I've bought everything used for around half of new cost or better, what's there to lose?
-Rob

[xjarayax]

Yeah well you guys obviously aren't a tiny *** budget like meee. Junkyard turbo setup budddy.

[redbird00]

well it depends on the part, something like susp. lca's, phrod, if it ain't bent or broke it'll work just like new, maybe throw some new bushings and your good to go, as for "hardcore parts" like a blower or a turbo, if its used but rebuilt, its a possibility, depends who rebuilt it... but used and not rebuilt thats out of the question unless your willing to have it rebuilt... i bought my torque converter slightly used, i know the person who had it before me went to the track and ran it hard, but it was too good of a price to pass up, and its either gonna work or its not, and so far so good, if it breaks, i'll buy a new bigger one... and i give a big *** thumbs up to the junkyard turbo setup [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] thats just freakin awesome, anyway my $.02

merlin

[MrCoffee]

I wouldnt mind buying a used kit as long as all the pieces are in it. Worst case I have to get a new blower in a few months :/

[MustangEater8251]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Shirl:
I wouldn't buy anything used for my car. I only get the best/new parts for it. I don't want someone else's garbage or ragged on parts! [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

I disagree with that... With mechanical parts yes but something like a driveshaft, torque arm, pulleys, sway bars, I think that stuff is fine...

as for a used SC, no way in hell would I spend the money unless it was like $100. BUt most are around $1k, not planing on spedning $1k on something that could be total crap. Too much money for too much risk.

[Mighty Thor]

There's alot of truth to that. Anyway, who would buy a SC and not abuse the heck out of it.

Buying a use Powerdyne especially is a gamble. Because the early Powerdyne design had all sorts of reliability problems anyway. The newer ones are much better. I'm one of the fortunate ones who hasn't run into this problem for over 5 years now.

But if you do buy an old used Powerdyne, buy a rebuild kit for it ($130)and do it yourself.

[Ironman24]

I bought my Powerdyne used. All you need is the serial number on the blower and you can call PD to find out the build date and service history. The previous owner of the one I bought had it serviced by PD and never re-installed it. So it was like a new blower for me. My car hardly gets driven and I've put maybe 2000 miles on that blower, most of them highway miles traveling to shows and events. I've taken that blower to the track twice and it's seen no dyno time or any action at all lately due to my clutch/flywheel issues.

So yes I would buy one used and I'm selling mine soon.

[Shirl]

I guess I am skeptical about used parts because they are just that...used. I do agree with a couple people that some parts are ok if purchased used.. but to me a supercharger isn't. After all, there are always "reasons" a person would be selling a supercharger. And being a teacher, I know that most "reasons" are not the truth. It's just too big of a chance to take for that kind of money. I remember one horror story where there was a guy on here who purchased a used Powerdyne that didn't work correctly.. then he had it checked out by Powerdyne and when they opened it up, they found some kind of rusted metal barnacles inside. The whole thing had to be re-built. I'm sure that blower is floating around here someplace! :eek:

[98GREENGLOW]

I know it seems crazy... But the powerdyne in particular seems very easy to rebiuld your self. You can get the parts for around 150$ or so and rebuild it your self quite easily from what Ive read. Ive seen step by step instructions and even I think it wouldnt pose too much of a challange. But I was very scared when I bought my used powerdyne. Why was this guy gonna give it to me for 2200 when they cost close to four grand? But it worked out and the blower has passed my expectations as far as boost goes. Guess Im luckt though. If it wouldnt have worked right in the beginning I wouldnt have known how cheap and easy it is to get parts and do it your self. I would have probaly shelled out 600$ to powerdyne to have them do it. That would have sucked badly.

[Ironman24]

I understand what you are saying Shirl, there is a lot of truth in that. I was skeptical when I bought mine but you are right there is always a reason. My Powerdyne's previous owner had his car totaled before he could even install it. Good enough reason to sell it. In my case I'm about to put the Mach ATI kit on so I won't need this Powerdyne unit anymore.