Bypassing the Super charger?

[LARRY70GS]

I think you are more familiar with thecseries 2. Mine is a series 1. Confusing at times. Series 3 the best I read? Thanks for all the input! You people are great!

Doesn't matter, series 1 or 2 used separate belts for accessories and supercharger. What year is your Park Avenue?

 

[Buickguy123]

Doesn't matter, series 1 or 2 used separate belts for accessories and supercharger. What year is your Park Avenue?

1993 and the diagram I posted shows Supercharger belt going over the SC pulley then down to the AC unit and around that.

 

[Buickguy123]

perfect, no reason to be concerned then. also, looks like we are in a vain attempt to help or explain as he decided it was time for expert help.

That hurt a bit, just quite offensive, really. We were the 5 minute run-back-to-your-ex but quickly he turned around to chase another tail.

This almost makes me as sad as when I see these
View attachment 29884

Same plug size in my PA and the 3.1 Lumina I had and the 2000 Century 3.1.

 

[Buickguy123]

Yes but neither of us know off hand what a 93, an early year SC, was called for on a park plug as that was early bulky and anemic even by m90 of 1999. I’m saying make sure I’m not saying it’s fact lol. If it’s the same, yay!

It is 93 205 HP Eaton M62 or 26 I get confused. If you floor the gas pedal the car has some pretty good get up and go. Maybe not so good as 15 years ago lots of noise coming out of that SC it seems. I have read the Regal GS SC models last made when 2004 really had lots of get up and go with 240 HP and smaller and lighter that a bigger PA. Was the Lesabre ever Supercharged? I think not..

 

[Buickguy123]

Yes, boost is like increasing compression for sure. Have a look at the plugs on Rock Auto,

1997 Riviera N/A 3800,

1997 BUICK RIVIERA 3.8L V6 Spark Plug | Shop Now at RockAuto

Ignition Parts and More for Your 1997 BUICK RIVIERA at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

1999 Riviera SC 3800,

1999 BUICK RIVIERA 3.8L V6 Supercharged Spark Plug | Shop Now at RockAuto

Ignition Parts and More for Your 1999 BUICK RIVIERA at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

Plugs are very much the same.

In any case, for the OP, if he does take the belt off the Supercharger, the car will be a slug. A spark plug change will not make that any better or worse. I am really curious to see if he does this, and what his conclusions are.

My 96 Chevy Lumina 3.1 with just 160 HP was a slug but it provided solid basic transportation. The gaskets had been changed. Car had 119000 mikes when Missy wrecked it. I suspect it would have made 200000 miles at least!

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Diagram is misleading. To look under the hood

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Also correct lesabre and century were the Buick’s that were v6 that were not supercharged j believe a skylark falls in there somewhere but I don’t think it was 3.8

 

[LARRY70GS]

1993 and the diagram I posted shows Supercharger belt going over the SC pulley then down to the AC unit and around that.

If you don't have 2 separate belts, then you have to use a shorter belt to bypass the supercharger. I'm not sure how to do that, it may require a different routing as well. I know they sell a kit in a case where your A/C compressor seizes. The kit has a dummy pulley that bolts in place of the compressor and you use the same belt and routing.

 

[-Regal-]

This being what I meant

I believe the first one pictured is a pre-Series I and the second a Series I, or maybe a "Series 1.5" as the motor in '91 and '92 had a cast upper intake manifold and I believe also a grey decorative cover. I would take the 1992 motor if I could.

 

[-Regal-]

Could it be that you hate your supercharger because it's belted incorrectly? If it were I don't know how it hasn't failed yet so it's not likely but just throwing it out there given you seem adamant that there is only one belt when that should be impossible.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

As it appears no one is reading the post and before making comments, let's get the belts clear. The OP says it a issue with the SC, AC compressor and water pump for the 1 belt, the other belt is PS and alternator. Here's the two belt routing for 1993 NA and SC 3.8L, so if it's not one of these then a photo from the OP is needed.

On the SC there doesn't appear a way to just remove the SC belt without also having a problem with the water pump and AC, which would require special belt routing that isn't available off the shelf.

Can a SC be bypass yes, how is the question and keep all items attached moving in the correct rotation.

My guess is gut the SC and have a free wheeling SC pulley, worked on Mad Max's vehicle.

This might be a option instead of a tensioner used to replace the SC pulley but not familiar with this SC setup and if OP wants to spend money.

 

[-Regal-]

Maybe damned thing already has no belt attached LOL

 

[LARRY70GS]

On my Series 2, there is a boost bypass actuator, and solenoid. Under normal driving/light loads, the engine breathes through a bypass valve. When boost is required, the BBV closes, and air runs through the supercharger. Seems to me the better plan is to disable the actuator so the bypass never closes. That means no boost.

Again, if the aim here is to be able to use regular gas, I would do just that and be careful to keep the engine out of heavy boost. That would avoid any detonation issues, and whatever did occur would be handled by the knock sensors and resultant KR by the PCM. Problem solved.

 

[Buickguy123]

As someone who just replaced about 90% of their drive train pulleys with either new bearins, pulleys , or a AC Bypass pulley, I will give some gripes of my engine specifically a 1999 L67(keything being a 99, 2000+ removes a big one)
-That engine bracket. The big one blocking the belts in. THat has to be removed for a belt. So does it on a NA of the same year, but its just especially difficult on the SC since its 2 belts not just one.
-accessing some bolts on top of the supercharger, just a pain
-if i did a coupler, a coupler on this job would just have been more mess/dirt/etc to worry about(I did it all with snout on, my coupler is good)
--by extension, SC fluid is expensive and the old stuff STINKS. animal fats and 5w-30 🙁
-PCV baffle. annoying.
-vacuum system for the supercharger, the port under snout and the lines to the bypass solenoid. just more hoses and connections.
-Airbox noise baffling, i want to hear my boost, damnit
-plastic idler pulley(Maybe tensioner pulley, one of the two) was plastic and it was worn. metal would likely be worn too, but id rather have a smooth or ribbed metal pulley and bearing instead of a plastic anything pulley on a metal bearing. heat cycles, less hardness, etc. I replaced with metal pulley fortunately

So you can see.. my actual mechanical complaints are not that serious OR lenghty and i Have done some major service to my car in the last 2 years ive had it now. more complaints come from platform-wide issues that are on riviera, park avenue, and Oldsmobile Aurora as well or just GM decisions that are fleetwide and annoying, nothing specific because of SC

I think you have a 93 SC too? I can get both the serpentine belts off and without removing anything. Not easy for sure.

 

[Buickguy123]

perfect, no reason to be concerned then. also, looks like we are in a vain attempt to help or explain as he decided it was time for expert help.

That hurt a bit, just quite offensive, really. We were the 5 minute run-back-to-your-ex but quickly he turned around to chase another tail.

This almost makes me as sad as when I see these
View attachment 29884

Olds Toronado?

 

[Buickguy123]

As it appears no one is reading the post and before making comments, let's get the belts clear. The OP says it a issue with the SC, AC compressor and water pump for the 1 belt, the other belt is PS and alternator. Here's the two belt routing for 1993 NA and SC 3.8L, so if it's not one of these then a photo from the OP is needed.
View attachment 29953View attachment 29954
On the SC there doesn't appear a way to just remove the SC belt without also having a problem with the water pump and AC, which would require special belt routing that isn't available off the shelf.

Can a SC be bypass yes, how is the question and keep all items attached moving in the correct rotation.

My guess is gut the SC and have a free wheeling SC pulley, worked on Mad Max's vehicle.

This might be a option instead of a tensioner used to replace the SC pulley but not familiar with this SC setup and if OP wants to spend money.
View attachment 29955

At times there is a lot of loud noises coming out of the SC. Other times more quiet. Had the SC belt off today and yes that belt cannot be removed because it spins the water pump too! The SC pulley on the snout turns to the right not freely but snuggly and there is a slight click as you turn it. It does seem to be working. Just the noises at times have me wondering? Will leave it for now.

 

[Buickguy123]

I think you have a 93 SC too? I can get both the serpentine belts off and without removing anything. Not easy for sure.There was GM service bulletin saying synthetic 5W -30 can be used instead of SC oil on the Eaton 62. Interesting. Did you try it?

 

[Buickguy123]

I think you have a 93 SC too? I can get both the serpentine belts off and without removing anything. Not easy for sure.

Changing the water pump is a challenge on the 93 PA SC version. PITA.

 

[Buickguy123]

As it appears no one is reading the post and before making comments, let's get the belts clear. The OP says it a issue with the SC, AC compressor and water pump for the 1 belt, the other belt is PS and alternator. Here's the two belt routing for 1993 NA and SC 3.8L, so if it's not one of these then a photo from the OP is needed.
View attachment 29953View attachment 29954
On the SC there doesn't appear a way to just remove the SC belt without also having a problem with the water pump and AC, which would require special belt routing that isn't available off the shelf.

Can a SC be bypass yes, how is the question and keep all items attached moving in the correct rotation.

My guess is gut the SC and have a free wheeling SC pulley, worked on Mad Max's vehicle.

This might be a option instead of a tensioner used to replace the SC pulley but not familiar with this SC setup and if OP wants to spend money.
View attachment 29955

Correct my PA SC has the belt over the SC and most importantly the water pump. I will just leave it for now as it is...old car but still running

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Well 50% correct.