S2000 Supercharger — Small Car Packing a Punch
Superchargers are nothing new in the car world, but they are still the safest and simplest way to transform your vehicle and make it even more powerful. Today, we’ll take a look at the legendary Honda S2000 and the S2000 supercharger.
If you own one of these beauties, you will find all the necessary info you need about superchargers, their installation, and everything else you need to take care of when upgrading. Let’s get into it!
Superchargers for Honda S2000
Getting a supercharger system for your Honda S2000 is the simplest way to increase the performance of the vehicle. It will allow you to boost horsepower and torque, and it is the most effective upgrade of all. While there are other ways to upgrade the car, none of them is as efficient as installing a Honda S2000 supercharger kit.
Of course, there are a couple of things you need to know about blowers before you go on and buy one for your Honda. The last thing you need is to find a supercharger that you can’t use, which is why we have a couple of tricks that will help you along the way.
[read more]Each supercharger you find will offer something different. Based on your taste and personal preferences, you’ll be able to find a perfect model.
History of Honda S2000
To fully understand the differences in blowers and possible upgrades, we need to take a look at the history of the Honda S2000. As you already know, this is not a new vehicle. It is not even available for purchase today.
Honda S2000 was first introduced in 1999, although the concept art had been shown four years prior. While some might think that the name comes from the model year, it actually comes from the engine displacement of two liters.
Honda S2000 was available from 1999 to 2009, and in its ten years of existence, it gained quite the popularity and became one of the most sought after models by this Japanese car manufacturer.
Versions of S2000
There are officially two versions of the Honda S2000:
- AP1 (from 1999 to 2003)
- AP2 (from 2004 to 2009)
While both of the versions look rather similar, there are a couple of differences between them. Firstly, there are significant changes to the suspensions, and it offers a different drivetrain.
Over the years, the first generation of Honda barely changed. In 2001, the company added a digital clock. The following year, they replaced the plastic window on the back with a glass one, and Honda also revised suspensions.
Other than a few additions to color choices, AP1 remained mainly the same. In 2000, Honda introduced the Honda S2000 Type V, which was designed for the Japanese market. Type V was available between 2000 and 2007.
The second series, or AP2, introduced many changes. Firstly, the wheels were different, and Honda made a lot of improvements to the stability of the S2000. In 2008, Honda introduced the Club Racer version of the car, which is the first non-stock model available on the market.
The Club Racer was only available in the U.S., similarly to how Japan had Type V and Type S after that. Both Type S and CR were available in 2008 and 2009. There were also the Ultimate Edition and GT Edition, but both series were limited and only available in Europe.
Engines
Now, the main thing when looking for a supercharger is to know which type of engine is in your car. Superchargers are designed for specific engines, and you can’t use one blower on two different models. A good example is the Civic supercharger, as there are 11 generations of the Honda Civic alone.
Honda S2000 went through several changes with engines, but not nearly as many as we can notice on other vehicles.
The first generation of Honda S2000 used an F20C engine, a 2-liter engine specifically designed for this car model. The F20C offered 237 horsepower on the European and North American markets and 247 in Japan. Furthermore, it had 153 lb-ft of torque in the EU and U.S., and 161 lb-ft in Japan.
| F20C | F20C1 |
|---|---|
| Japan from 1999 to 2005 | Japan from 2006 to 2009 |
| North America from 2000 to 2003 | North America from 2004 to 2009 |
| United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe from 1999 to 2009 |
The F20C was in all S2000s from 1999 to 2003 (AP1) and in AP1 models from 2004 to 2009. The second type of engine was an improved version named F22C1, and it was a 2.2-liter designed for the U.S. market, but it later found its place in other S2000s across the world.
The F22C1 had 237 horsepower for the U.S. and 239 horsepower for the Japanese market. Moreover, the difference in torque was almost insignificant since the engine had 162 lb-ft of torque in the U.S. and 163 lb-ft in Japan.
| F20C | 2.0-liter (122 cu in) | 237 horsepower (247 hp for Japan) | 153 lb-ft of torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| F22C1 | 2.2-liter (131.6 cu in) | 237 horsepower (239 hp for Japan) | 162 lb-ft of torque |
Both F22C1 and F20C are naturally aspirated inline-4 engines. We can notice four different categories for S2000 based on engines and changes on the vehicles:
- AP1 with F20C from 1999 to 2003
- AP1 with F20C from 2004 to 2009
- AP2 with F22C1 from 2004 to 2009
- AP2 CR with F22C1 from 2008 to 2009
The difference between the first two is in tires and wheels. The distance was changed after 2003.
Kraftwerks Supercharger S2000
One of the most popular options for S2000 drivers is going for a supercharger designed by Kraftwerks. This is a U.S.-based company, and they offer different versions of superchargers for Honda S2000. That means that you can find any possible version regardless of whether you have an AP1 or AP2 model, including all the different years.
This completely simplifies the entire process since you don’t need to worry about anything. All you need to do is find the model suitable for your series of Honda. It is also possible to find a kit that arrives with all the necessary parts for the installation, which will eliminate the need to seek other parts elsewhere.
Installation Process
Once you find a model of supercharger suitable for your vehicle, you can proceed to the installation. The process usually takes around 10 hours, and it mostly depends on your previous experience.
If you buy a supercharger kit, you won’t need any additional things except tools. Of course, you should only proceed with the installation if you are comfortable with it. However, there is no reason for you to do it alone if you don’t feel like it.
You can always take your car to the local service and leave everything to the professionals. That way, you will completely avoid the possibility of something going south, and you can be sure that everything will be completed in no time.
Maintenance
The next thing we should talk about is maintenance. Like every other part of the car, superchargers require maintenance as well. However, the process is not complex, and it isn’t something you need to do every day or week.
In general, the only thing you need to do with the supercharger is to replace the oil. The oil in the blower serves as both the lubricant and the coolant, so it is essential for the proper work. When it comes to how often you need to replace it, the safest bet is to replace it as often as the engine oil.
To be safe, check what the manufacturer has to say about it since they will almost always recommend the type and brand of oil, as well as the frequency of oil change.
What Other Superchargers Can You Find?
Kraftwerk is just one of many options you have at your disposal. There are many different brands and types you can find on the market. In general, there are several different types of superchargers as well as different subcategories:
- Positive displacement pumps
- Turbo
- Centrifugal superchargers
PD pumps also include versions like twin-screw, Roots, Whipple, and others, and you can find several of these models for Honda S2000. But, the main question is what you are looking for in a blower and which type seems most exciting to you.
There are companies designing Roots-type blowers for S2000 as well as Whipple superchargers, so you will have plenty of different options when it comes to models and types of air compressors.
S2000 Comptech Supercharger
Since we already mentioned Whipple and Roots-type blowers, let’s take a look at the Comptech supercharger kit for the S2000. This is a centrifugal supercharger that comes with all the necessary parts for the installation, and it is an excellent way to boost the performance of your car.
If you are not looking for (or have trouble finding) a Roots-type blower, this will do an excellent job. In fact, many drivers prefer centrifugal blowers, and it will add a great boost in power on higher RPM. A typical kit includes:
- An airbox
- Blower unit
- Mounting brackets
- Fuel system
- Hoses
- Belts
- Others
These are easy to install, and they work great. Once again, the only thing that matters is what you’re trying to achieve with your upgrade. A Comptech kit will provide a 100-horsepower increase which is more than enough to transform your S2000 into a beast!
There is also an Acura TL Comptech supercharger too. There are 4 generations of Acura TL and at least two different engine types.
S2000 Vortech Supercharger
Even though the S2000 has been around for a decade, it remained one of the most popular vehicles on the market. Everyone loves it, and the reason for that is more than obvious. As the company claims, S2000 is “the highest specific output of a normally aspirated production automobile engine in the world.” It’s great from the start, and adding a blower will only make it even better.
And with popularity, you will have plenty of different options and brands for superchargers. Another one you might want to consider comes from Vortech, and you can find versions for different models of S2000.
We always recommend going for the full kit regardless of the brand you choose since you will get the necessary parts for the installation, and you won’t need to worry about fitment and whether something is missing during the installation.
What Will You Get By Installing a Blower
Regardless of the type of blower you get, you will notice an increase in performance and power. Superchargers work great regardless of RPM, and you can easily find models that provide a linear increase in power without any lag.
In general, a supercharger will give you an increase of between 90 and 200 horsepower! Needless to say, the series of the S2000 you own will play an important role in the outcome. We already talked about different engines and models, and the starting point will be different whether the car has an F20C or F22C1 engine.
How to Find a Supercharger for Your Car
Since we went through all the different models of S2000, there are a couple of things you need to know. Firstly, the model of your car. Is it a Honda S2000? Or is it the Club Racer version? If we are talking about standard S2000, you will still need to know that year it was manufactured since it will tell you the engine series of the engine.
In general, that’s the only thing you need to know to find a supercharger for your car. Manufacturers will write in the description the series and years of S2000 their supercharger supports, so you won’t have any problems finding the one you need.
Naturally, the only thing left for you to do is find the type of blower you want to install in your car.
How Much Will It Cost
The majority of supercharger kits cost between $4,500 and $6,000. But this covers the kit and necessary parts only. If you plan on installing the kit by yourself, there shouldn’t be any additional costs.
However, not everyone is comfortable with the installation, which means that you’ll need to pay for the labor as well. Furthermore, installing a supercharger requires dyno tuning for durability and reliability, which puts the total cost around $7,000.
Needless to say, the best course of action would be to talk to the service or place where you plan to install the supercharger so you can get more details about costs.
Is It Worth Installing a S2000 Supercharger
If you can afford to install a supercharger in your Honda, the answer is 100% yes! Blowers can be so much fun, and they add more than enough power to an already powerful engine. And the best thing about superchargers is that there are no downsides.
The installation process doesn’t require permanent modifications. There is no welding or cutting, and nothing you do is irreversible. This means that you can remove the supercharger at any point without damage to your car.
So, there is no reason for you to skip the installation if you can afford it. It is the simplest way to increase the performance and add a hundred or more horsepower.
Why You Need One in Your Honda
Over the years, Honda S2000 became iconic, and even though it was around for ten years, it is still one of the most popular vehicles you can find. Everyone loves it. And if you own one, why not invest in it?
It is a nice way to treat yourself and your beloved S2000, and the difference will be more than noticeable. We already mentioned you could get up to an extra 200 horsepower, which will change the way you feel about your car.
So, find the blower you like, install it, and enjoy the transformation of your Honda S2000. You won’t regret it!
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