Street Supercharging: Roots, Centrifugal & Twin Screw Superchargers (S-A Design) Paperback – July 15, 2009

After reading a few chapters, I found myself asking what the real purpose of this book was. I assume most of the people looking to purchase this book are hoping to understand superchargers, how they work, what they can do for your build, and what you can do to tap into some more power. Upon reading the reviews I figured that's what I would get with this book, but unfortunately that assumption was wrong.First, unless you would enjoy watching a History Channel special on the progression of supercharging for the last century, you will not enjoy this book. The author spends far too many pages and chapters on the history of the blowers, specifically those on American motors, and rarely touches on much else until the last chapter. Hell, for every page he spent detailing the design and function of a certain type of supercharger, there was at least 7 or 8 pages worth of worthless historical information about it. Don't get me wrong, the history is interesting and sometimes worthwhile to mention, but for a book like this the history should be kept to a minimum and science/application of the ideas should be thoroughly explained instead. Most of us spend our time in the garage, not the library.The author also seems to ramble on, delving into the realms of physics and mechanics that go far past the level needed for thorough understanding. It made many parts frustrating and difficult to read. The last chapter was the only one worthwhile. The author (almost reluctantly it seems) explains how motors respond to supercharging and what can be done to improve power and efficiency. Do not let the other reviews convince you otherwise. There are better books out there and for a better price, especially if your specific application involves something other than domestic V8's.

It is a great book for learning what supercharging is all about. It is not a build it this way book but more a general princible book.

First, let me disclose that I also author titles for CarTech books. In addition, I am what many would consider a super-enthusiast when it comes to supercharging as both of my vehicles have them. I own a copy of Mr. Ganahl's first edition of this book and I consider it, in conjunction with the Weiand Supercharger Technical Information white paper, to be the foundation for my understanding of superchargers. Quite honestly, the quality of this first edition book is one of the primary reasons that I approached CarTech as a potential publisher for my first book.This updated edition is a MUST OWN resource for any enthusiast that wants to fully comprehend the science of supercharging. As an owner of two vehicles with superchargers, I can tell you with great certainty that the questions I am asked at the local gatherings illustrate clearly that there is as much mis-information about blowers as there is good information. Mr. Ganahl does an excellent job of separating fact from fiction and does so in a way that is easily grasped. In my opinion, Chapters 1 and 3 are worth the price of this book alone. While it is true that to understand chapter 3 requires your undivided attention and a fairly good grasp of math and science, this meager investment in time will pay off in spades. Let me be clear here - even if you only digest half of the information presented in Chapter 3, you will be miles ahead of the typical enthusiast.Mr. Ganahl also does an excellent job covering the history of supercharging, a topic that I personally find fascinating. The collection of photos he has compiled here is nothing short of amazing. I will have to respectfully disagree with Mr. AMG in regards to these chapters (2 & 4) - what a great read! I would extend the photo compliment to the entire book as it is filled with many excellent pictures - some of them eye candy indeed. Personally, I find that very helpful as I love to see what others have done in regards to carburetion, air cleaners, fuel regulators, fuel line routing, and throttle linkage. Having so many excellent photos at your disposal will surely help you decide which approach is best for you.If I had to inject a criticism, I would offer that Mr. Ganahl is obviously a bit biased when it comes to blowers. This is especially clear in his comparisons to turbochargers (some will argue that this is a redeeming quality to author a title on supercharging). That minor criticism aside, I believe this is the single best text I know of on the topic. I've picked up others at the book store, but didn't bring them home. Owning the first edition of this book, I was still compelled to add this updated edition to my library.Whether you would just like to understand blowers, are contemplating installing one on your vehicle, or have one on your vehicle and would like to optimize its performance, this is an invaluable resource.