Possible VR4 source

Here is a copy of an email conversation I had with Solanki performance http://www.solankiperformance.com/ .
I dropped them an email to see if they had any VR4 kits for sale.
“Mike, sorry for the late reply. I have everything except for the impellers. I have the internals and scroll covers ready, but the impellers are not ready. It has been over a year waiting on the impellers. “

“Mike, I will keep you posted. The factory VR-4 impeller is cast aluminum and it has some limitations. I am trying to make them out of 6061 billet aluminum. This way they are stronger because of density and more accurate. The scroll covers are cast as original and came out beautiful. I will let you know.”
Would you like me to pass the word along to others?
“Mike, that is fine. You can pass it along. At this time, I have 4 scroll covers in my hand and 10 more behind them. I have the HD billet aluminum race retainers and the HD bellevue washers. I just don't have the impellers. If push comes to shove, I will just get some cast ones made up. I do have 2 complete VR-4's on 2 of my cars that i could remove the impeller from for a sample.”
Any idea on pricing for an up-grade kit?
“Pricing should be around $675 for all the parts including the impeller.”

This information was from Nash of Solanki Performance as of 10/11/2010. nimeshsolanki@hotmail.com

"Mike, here are the 3 scroll covers I have in stock. I just polished them. They turned our great. The other 10 will be in my hands by next week. If my CNC guy cannot furnish the impellers in the next 2 weeks, I will be forced to pull off my VR4 impeller off my car and just get them casted. I may also cast them in magnesium since it will be 1/3rd the weight.

Nash"

Well I know what I am getting myself for christmas.

I would be interested in a magnesium VR4 impeller.

I just broke(an hour ago) a heavy cast VR4 style impeller I got out of an VR70 indusrial blower. I was using it in my SN converted VR57 factory supercharger on my '57 Ford sedan. It made way more power than my High Effeciency SN impeller. I had the VR70 impeller cut down and balanced to match an original VR4 impeller I had, but it still weighed more than the regular VR4 impeller.

The heavier VR4 style impeller just exploded! It destroyed the blower case, shrapnel went through the hood, wiped out the fuel and oil lines, the bonnet to blower hose, and a bunch of other stuff. I pulled the carb off on the side of the road and cleaned the impeller particles out. then left the bonnet and blower belts off and drove it a couple miles back to the house. The high dollar stroker Y-block I just built seems unhurt, but it is going to take some work to get another rare VR57 back on it.

I am interested in building another VR4 impellered VR57 blower, but I will have to wait for a billet or magnesium impeller. The car runs good with the regular impeller but really pulled with the VR4 style. I was about to dyno it and see if I was at the 500 hp mark yet.

Anyone with a VR70 rear cover for sale let me know, as I need another one now.

i am definatly interested in a magnesium impeller set up. with less rotating mass and upgraded pitch of the blades sounds like a winning combination

Suede57ford,

Ouch, on the impeller explosion. Bummer. Very Creative though.

Hopefully Nash will come through with the impellers. I'm inclined to wait for the billet version, but magnesium would be fine too.

Suede57ford,
I always wanted to know if the VR70 industrial impeller would fit in the SN case and from the looks of it it is a copy of the VR4, I guess it can not take the high speed.

If he can come through with production I would definitely be ordering. I would also prefer the billet impeller but would take a cast unit if that's what it takes to get my hands on a kit.

I talked to Craig at PW about my impeller explosion last week. He metioned at the higher boost levels it may be necessary to add a Blow Off Valve. When I let of the gas to shift gears, and the boost is up it really puts a ton of load on the impeller blades when they are fighting the blocked air. He felt that if I don't go to a BOV I may continue to have problems and keep breaking stuff

I'm not crazy about a Blow Off Valve , as I have went to great lengths to make the engins look totally original like it would have cone off the assembly line in '57. I will have to be creative to make the BOV look old school or try to hide it. The 7 lb blower does not seem to need it, though.

I put the 6-7lbs VR57 blower, with the SN High Efficency impeller back on my '57 Ford and I can really tell a difference. It still runs good, but I really miss the hard charge of the VR4 type impeller which moves a ton more air, which in turn made a bunch more top end power.

I did come up with a VR70 Industrial rear cover so I can begin modifying another VR57 blower for a VR4 impeller again.

When impellers become available, I should be in good shape to run some good times.

I heard from Nash about the VR4 kits, below is the email.

"Mike, I got a quote for the billet impellers with 7075 aluminum. They will cost me $586 each and I have to do a minimum of 50. That is too much money at the moment to be doing that many and then waiting for the scroll covers.

I have pulled the trigger on the cast aluminum impellers. I have a prototype in my hands now and I am getting 30 of those made up. Be on the lookout for the finished product in 3 weeks.

Nash"

"Mike, Here are the pictures of the VR4 impeller casting. I am only a few days away from getting the raw casting machined. I will keep you posted.

Nash"

Looking good so far. Keep us updated!:happy:

Things are looking up for VR4 stuff. Thats awesome.

Wow, this is cool. Wish I had kept my mint SN-93 now.

I was hoping to buy one of these for Christmas!!!
Guess they call it Self-Gifting :laugh:


Any word , Probably not going to happen this year :confused:


Maybe by my birthday in March ;)

"mike, the kits are done. I have already shipped out 23 of them. you are on the list and i should be done with the last 7 kits by the end of next week and will ship out before xmas. i do not plan to make any more of these as it has been a big pain in my *** so i will not be taking any more orders.

nash"

This is the email I got this morning.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Buck-Strickland

"mike, the kits are done. I have already shipped out 23 of them. you are on the list and i should be done with the last 7 kits by the end of next week and will ship out before xmas. i do not plan to make any more of these as it has been a big pain in my *** so i will not be taking any more orders.

nash"

This is the email I got this morning.

---

I'm surprised :confused::confused::confused:

I hope he isn't selling them to other venders (instead of us), so they can mark them up :(

geez, life is big pain in the ***. So what ! If you're wanting everything easy, then you've landed on the wrong planet.

Just mark up the price to make it worthwhile, but don't quit. (I hate quitters)

Z.

Well that's pretty weak. Someone finally starts to make them then decides to quit.:cry:

@buck-strickland: Did you get any more informations from nash? I'm #28 and 29 :eek:. Really hope that nash will do the last 7 kits.

Not yet.

I'm not sure what number I am, if your 28 & 29, I may be out of luck. I will update as soon as I hear anything new.

Mine showed up. Nice pieces. Looking forward to trying in Spring.

I'm glad someone actually was able to get a vr4 upgrade.

Some pic's. In case anybody is interested.

I will take pictures of each step when I do the swap, and shim the Ball Drive.

Congratulations on the new arrival!

And posting pics or your progress as you swap out the old SN 'guts' for the new VR4 parts would be fantastic. I'm sure a lot of people will really appreciate it.

Did the kit also cam with a heavyer bellevue washer and longer bolts ?

It did not come with the longer rear cover bolts, but I have access to that. The SN2000 already has the updated beville washer, so I did not need it.

As my native language is not english I do not understand bellevue washer. What longer bolts are meant? What is the difference between the SN2000 and the SN89 regarding those parts? I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

See attached photo. The longer bolts are referring to the VR4 cover being thicker, thus needing longer bolts, see 26 in the diagram.

The belleville washer(really it's a spring) is supposedly different between the years. I have no direct knowledge.

thanks a lot Buck-Strickland,
my kits are on the way. Nash built me I think the last ones. Had a lot of mails with him. He is a great guy. Regarding the longer bolts and case I hope that I do not get any issues with my valve cover.

The diagram is great! As I can see the function of the washer 26 is to produce a nearly constant axial force between the races and the balls in order to enable a torque transmission. Am I right?

Joo

Correct sir.
And by adding shims behind the bellevue spring you add more pressure to the balls wich you need with a VR4