Supercharger for 203 or 403?

L

luthier

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I have one of these and might be interested in selling it if anyone is sufficiently interested. Or if I find some good info I might decide to fit it myself afterall.
It needs to run on an accessory belt I think , as it previously used a timing belt arrangement but this wouldn't stay on.
So if anyone knows what the best belt arrangement is that would be very helpful. As I say I think an accessory belt might work best as a timing belt needs more perfect alignment. In fact a double V would be the most tolerant of any slight misalignment.
It comes with a manifold that replaces the plate on the side of a 203 or 403 head and it uses a small solex downdraught carby that sits on top.
It looks like a Constantin but seems to be a generic copy in the Garrett style I think. I'll get some photos later if anyone wants to see.
It was last mounted on a standard 203 and was going exceptionally well up Mt Ousli overtaking everything when it threw the belt. Nothing was damaged but it was never refitted.
I was told it mounts straight on by virtue of the manifold but I would personally fabricate support brackets from the engine block as it is fairly hefty and there's a lot of force being exerted when it's running. It also comes very close to the bonnet but I'm told that it does fit without modification. Maybe a pancake filter could squeeze in there too but not sure.

Cheers.
 
Steve Goodwin at Goodwins Automotive in Cessnock (02)4990 1595 has a Constantin fitted to his 403. I sold it to him many years ago. I'm sure he would be happy to give you advice. It is driven by a V-belt off a double crankshaft pulley.
 
Yes I think so Ian. I was a bit worried about it but really it's not such an enormous job.
I have seen the Goodwins 403 with the blower but decades ago when I never even dreamed of coming across such a rare thing.
I'll call Mal to ask about pulley sizes, speed of running and any other hints he may have. I wonder if they ever use that car these days.
Cheers.
Dan
 
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the belts on that triple pulley must be tensioned some way must be on the bottom run ,interesting top rad hose ,there would be a lot of leverage on the front crank bearing with that triple mounted so far out ,
 
I cannot believe the 203 had a supercharger as an accessory :oops:
Could we find one for the XN1 504 ?
 
In the early 1960's Car and Driver published a piece on the various modifications for the 203/403 engine available in France. A twin overhead cam engine built by a modifier was shown but I never heard of a car with it fitted. At the same time Sports Car World in Australia published an article on modifying the 203/403 engine. There was a list of items available from a couple of firms in Sydney. I don't remember a compressor being offered. Wheels magazine also tested the highly modified 203 owned by Bob Holden. But as time has gone by interest in modifying old engines to attain a modest performance increase by modern standards has declined except in specialist sports areas.
 
Russell Hall said:
In the early 1960's Car and Driver published a piece on the various modifications for the 203/403 engine available in France. A twin overhead cam engine built by a modifier was shown but I never heard of a car with it fitted. At the same time Sports Car World in Australia published an article on modifying the 203/403 engine. There was a list of items available from a couple of firms in Sydney. I don't remember a compressor being offered. Wheels magazine also tested the highly modified 203 owned by Bob Holden. But as time has gone by interest in modifying old engines to attain a modest performance increase by modern standards has declined except in specialist sports areas
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In the early '70 I was running my 203 panel van with a 203 block , 404 sleeve kit and 403 head.
It made the "A" gear box hum for sure... but had great torque. My daly drive for years till the crank give up breaking to the front of the middle main.
 
Yes, most 203's in the 1970's seemed to get 403 engines but there was always talk the 1600cc modification was a step too far as regards reliability. Now tastes have swung the other way and most 203's being restored keep their original engines. There must be a lot of twin carby manifolds and water injectors and the like sitting in sheds.
 
my dad arrived home one afternoon with the motor in his car making a strange sound ,it turned out to be a broken crank shaft ,[holden 186 ] it had broken through the web between the front bearing and the no1 big end ,it must have broken in such a way as it still drove the cam gears , a fatigue[developed over time ] crack as dad was a steady driver ,and was mostly in the city,
 
interesting twin cam drive of the rear of the camshaft.
And drivng the blower from the generator
 
From memory the DOHC engine in Car and Driver had 98 bhp but I don't remember if it was 203 or 403. A French speed shop was selling the heads. Never saw them mentioned again anywhere so maybe they didn't work well.
 
pugmachine said:
In the early '70 I was running my 203 panel van with a 203 block , 404 sleeve kit and 403 head.
It made the "A" gear box hum for sure... but had great torque. My daly drive for years till the crank give up breaking to the front of the middle main.
Click to expand...
Strange for you to break anything, I remember what you did to that poor little 205 a few years ago at the drags. Ha Ha. :)
 
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