Judson Supercharger

[hcallaway]

Got this picture of a Bugeye that has been in storage for many years. Does the Supercharger have any value? I have asked him to get me an asking price on the car. I would flip the charger.

 

[HealeyRick]

It's a cool period accessory and people will pay for them. There should be a glass bottle that holds an oil supply (Marvel Mystery Oil) for lubrication. By now, they generally need a rebuild. A fellow by the name of George Folchi in CT used to specialize in rebuilding them, don't know if he's still doing it. I've never been convinced that they live up to the performance they promised.

 

[hcallaway]

Looks complete.

 

[hcallaway]

I have expanded the original picture and I cannot locate the glass bottle. I agree they really are marginal for HP production but they do look cool.

 

[Gerard]

It's not always a glass bottle; sometimes they have a metal tank (that's what I have). They do have value, but they are also expensive to rebuild, so probably not worth a great deal in as-is condition. They must be installed on a low compression engine or you will have major heat issues, and not really suitable to fit to a 1275 without a lot of modification. They don't perform well with the stock carb, and many people make custom manifolds (myself included) to accept a 1-3/4" SU or something similar. The stock Holley carb pools a lot of fuel in the manifold when idling, and you'll leave a big black cloud behind you at takeoff.

I believe George still rebuilds them, but I have not communicated with him for several years now. You can check and see if his contact info is still valid:

For Judson supercharger rebuilding and custom parts, please contact: GEORGE B. FOLCHI - 58 Merryall Road-New Milford-CT 06776- (860) 355-2807

 

[tomshobby]

If I remember right they were a little over $100 in the day.

 

[Bayless]

I had one on a 190SL many years ago. It was noisy and maintaining the oil drip was a pain but I don't remember any smoking problems though. It did improve the performance significantly. Best I recall, it would put about 8-10 psi into the manifold. I would not do it again as I think it cost me a set of bearings.

 

[Gerard]

I'm quite certain a 190SL did not use the same intake manifold or carburetor. It was the design of the manifold for the Holley carb that was the problem. Look at the original manifold for the Holley carb used for the A-series (removed in picture), and you will see the flat "pan" under the supercharger itself, where fuel can pool.






https://www.190slgroup.com/tech/judson/judson p1.htm

I had one on a 190SL many years ago. It was noisy and maintaining the oil drip was a pain but I don't remember any smoking problems though. It did improve the performance significantly. Best I recall, it would put about 8-10 psi into the manifold. I would not do it again as I think it cost me a set of bearings.

 

[SD Bugeye]

Yep this were made for the 948
understand that anything but stock compression or far from a stock cam over heating became an issue.
if all is there less the oiler I may be interested

 

[Bill H]

The oiler is there, top right of the photo, next to the master cylinder.

 

[Bayless]

Gerard, the 190SL kit of course had a different intake manifold. Oh I see now you probably meant the intake between the carb and Judson. Too long ago so I don't remember that (it was 50 years ago) but it did have a Holley carb so might have been the same or similar setup.

 

[SD Bugeye]

Ah sorry I see the hose and feeder head,on my phone the jar is invisible