Other types of superchargers may be more efficient and fit comfortably under the hoods of most cars. But if you don’t mind cutting a little sheet metal to clear a fat blower case, and you don’t mind bending your neck occasionally to see around that obtrusive air scoop–then a “Jimmie” blower is for you.
The GMC-style blower was a bit temperamental if not unpredictable when it first appeared on street machines in the ‘60s. Over the years, numerous supercharger shops have refined their setups and developed parts with tighter tolerances and increased durability. Additional improvements in supporting players like camshaft design, ignition options and carburetor tuning have more than tamed the big beast. But challenges still remain to building a supercharged engine for the street, especially if you’re looking for 900 horsepower out of a small-block!
