PowerDime

Driving up and down the freeways of America, one is sure to see a large number of custom trucks rolling along with big wheels, body mods, and usually performance products under the hoods. One of the most popular trucks to customize is the Chevrolet S-10, because of its wide array of aftermarket parts, ease of installation, and the overall performance of the truck when properly equipped. Now, late-model S-10 owners with the powerful Vortec V-6 have a new supercharger available from Powerdyne to add even more horses under the hood and less rubber on the rear tires. Designed for '01-'02 models, the new Powerdyne Silent supercharger is designed to provide 40 to 50 percent more horsepower, run cooler and quieter than gear-driven blowers, and is 50-state smog legal. We couldn't wait to test out the new unit, because our project S-10 was in need of more horsepower, and after a call to Powerdyne, the install was arranged.

Powerdyne is known for high-horsepower production with minimal installation and low costs, and this unit is no exception. The only tricky part to the job was the installation of the headers, which are necessary to make the unit 50-state smog legal. The headers required the removal of the steering shaft, which delayed the install time. But once the headers went on, the blower bolted right onto its supplied mounting bracket.

Powerdyne includes everything needed for the install, and besides the headers, the install only took five hours. We haven't made any runs on the dyno yet, but stay posted for new dyno numbers in an upcoming issue. Read along as we take you through the installation, and how we turned our S-10 into a power-dime.

The truck was now on its way for some street testing, and wow, what a difference. Now, smoking the tires was a when and where question with no hesitation from the Vortec V-6. Thanks go to Gary, Tad, Kevin, and Nick at Powerdyne for a great install and for boosting our S-10 into a new level of performance.

Powerdyne includes everything...        read full caption Powerdyne includes everything for the installation, including the SilentDrive blower, JBA headers, an aFe air filter, a Fuel Management Unit (FMU), and all the required brackets and pulleys. The '01-'02 S-10 kit is PN K10526-101 and retails for $4,260.15.

Our project S-10 was equipped...        read full caption Our project S-10 was equipped with an MSD ignition, a B&M shifter, and an AEM Brute Force air intake. Although the truck was already faster than stock, the Powerdyne blower was a must for our speed requirements.

Gary, lead installer at Powerdyne,...        read full caption Gary, lead installer at Powerdyne, began the install by removing the radiator fan shroud. Once it was removed, he loosened the clutch fan with a large wrench.

After the clutch fan nut was...        read full caption After the clutch fan nut was loosened, Gary removed the fan and clutch assembly, and set them aside for reinstallation.

Using a standard 3/8-inch...        read full caption Using a standard 3/8-inch drive ratchet, Gary removed the factory serpentine belt. The factory belt tensioner made this step a breeze

With the belt out of the way,...        read full caption With the belt out of the way, he then removed the alternator mounting bolts and removed the alternator. Powerdyne includes a new bracket that relocates the alternator to a lower mounting location.

Due to the alternator's relocation,...        read full caption Due to the alternator's relocation, the factory alternator cradle had to be removed.

After those key accessories...        read full caption After those key accessories were removed, Gary disconnected the factory A.I.R. tube from the front of the exhaust manifold to begin the header installation. Here you can see the mounting flange on the manifold.

Gary then disconnected the...        read full caption Gary then disconnected the rear exhaust manifold lead pipe mounting flange from the exhaust pipe. The new supplied JBA headers crush-seal to the flange and do not require a gasket.

Next up, he removed the starter,...        read full caption Next up, he removed the starter, which was held on by two long bolts. The starter removal was required to gain access to the passenger-side manifold.

With all of the surrounding...        read full caption With all of the surrounding parts removed, Gary pulled off the spark plug boots, cleared the wiring harness, and removed the factory manifold mounting studs

After the bolts were removed,...        read full caption After the bolts were removed, Gary pulled the manifold from the head and gently lifted the manifold from the top of the engine bay.

JBA headers were the brand...        read full caption JBA headers were the brand of choice for Powerdyne and offer increased flow, chrome-plated coating, and are 50-state smog legal.

Compared to the factory restrictive...        read full caption Compared to the factory restrictive manifold, it is clearly evident why the new headers are superior. Adding to the new-and-improved performance of the Powerdyne blower, the JBA headers are chrome-plated to help in the "better looks" department.

Gary attached the factory...        read full caption Gary attached the factory air-bypass valve to the new header and ran a bead of ultra copper gasket sealant on the gaskets to aid in proper sealing.

After carefully working the...        read full caption After carefully working the new manifold into place, the bolt holes were aligned, and the new studs were tightened to the proper torque. A U-joint socket was used to gain access to some of the more difficult bolts.

The driver side is very complicated...        read full caption The driver side is very complicated because of the limited space and the required removal of the steering shaft. Here is a glimpse at what was facing us within the tight confines of the S-10.

This is what the steering...        read full caption This is what the steering shaft looked liked after it was loosened but not removed. Gary removed the four bolts that held it together and then removed it.

With the steering shaft out...        read full caption With the steering shaft out of the way and the bolts removed, Gary was able to access and remove the manifold from the top of the engine compartment.

Here, Gary holds the driver-side...        read full caption Here, Gary holds the driver-side header with the shaft going through the large loop primary tube. It was easier to install the two pieces as one assembly due to the tight quarters on the driver side.

Right before the oxygen sensors...        read full caption Right before the oxygen sensors were reinstalled, Gary tightened the new header mounting flange bolts. The new headers are dome-mount type and do not require a gasket.

After the completion of the...        read full caption After the completion of the header install, Gary moved to complete the newly routed EGR fittings. Powerdyne supplies a T-fitting to splice into the existing hoses to reroute one of the hoses.

Gary then moved to the blower...        read full caption Gary then moved to the blower install and began by adding the new crank pulley that piggy-backs onto the existing pulley.

The alternator/blower mounting...        read full caption The alternator/blower mounting bracket was then assembled. This step is very important, and the bracket must be put together precisely how our photo demonstrates.

With the alternator mounted...        read full caption With the alternator mounted to the bracket, the bracket was test-fitted into place and then tightened with the supplied hardware. The idler and tensioner pulleys mount to this bracket.

The heart of the install is...        read full caption The heart of the install is Powerdyne's ultra-quiet belt-driven blower, capable of putting out 7 pounds of boost into the powerful Vortec V-6.

The blower was then carefully...        read full caption The blower was then carefully set into the cradle and test-fitted to confirm the bracket was in the correct location. After the fitment test, the alternator bracket was secured with the supplied hardware.

Powerdyne also includes the...        read full caption Powerdyne also includes the mounting hardware for the blower to the new bracket. With the blower on the cradle and each hole aligned, it was mounted.

Gary then mounted the idler...        read full caption Gary then mounted the idler and tensioner pulleys to the bracket and routed the new accessories serpentine belt around the required pulleys.

After the accessory belt was...        read full caption After the accessory belt was installed, he then routed the blower drivebelt around the required pulleys and tightened the tensioner.

The supplied FMU (Fuel Management...        read full caption The supplied FMU (Fuel Management Unit) was mounted behind the fuel filter by two self-tapping screws. The FMU holds the fuel in the fuel injection lines instead of returning it to the fuel pump to keep constant fuel supplied to the blower.

Here is an overall shot of...        read full caption Here is an overall shot of the FMU and the new hose.

The new intake adapter hose...        read full caption The new intake adapter hose was mounted on the intake side of the blower and secured with two high-temp connectors and clamps.

Next up, Gary secured the...        read full caption Next up, Gary secured the new blower discharge tube with the supplied clamps and installed the new intake hat, which was also supplied.

The new intake ducting was...        read full caption The new intake ducting was then run across the back of the engine to the AEM intake.

Using the supplied hose clamp,...        read full caption Using the supplied hose clamp, Gary tightened down and secured the intake ducting to the AEM Brute Force intake. Poweryne includes an aFe high-flow filter for stock airboxes.

To open the air-bypass valve...        read full caption To open the air-bypass valve included in the kit, the brake booster vacuum hose was tapped into with the use of a T-fitting, and the bypass valve was secured with the white clamps. The air-bypass valve prevents excess boost from entering into the intake after deceleration.

This tight shot of the supercharger...        read full caption This tight shot of the supercharger shows the high level of engineering and quality parts used to make sure the supercharger lasts for many miles and looks great doing it.