received 14 July 2001

The Granatelli connection with Paxton has come to an end.  Paxton
Superchargers, as we know it has changed.  About a year ago, Paxton was sold
by the Granatelli family to a group of investors.  The new company, Paxton
Automotive has recently merged with Vortec Superchargers.  As of this
writing, they are separating themselves from all connection with the ball
drive supercharger.  The transaction should be complete by the end of June.
That is the bad news.  The good news is some one is rescuing that product
line.  Craig Conley of Paradise Wheels Inc. is a long time sales and service
dealer for Paxton.  In the recent past, he has done the majority of the
service and warranty work for Paxton on the ball-drive line of
superchargers.  Craig has purchased all the rights, tooling, engineering,
parts, and remaining inventory of the ball drive product line.  This
includes all the mounting and drive hardware, bonnets, and air boxes.  The
new company does not have an official name yet but it will shortly.  Paxton
was hard to deal with in recent years for parts and service.  They would
sell you a complete supercharger but otherwise, didn't want to talk to you.
Craig is out to change all that.  He is making available individual parts
and a rebuilding/updating/testing service.  He will be selling new and
remanufactured units up to the SN2000 model.  He will even service the old
SN57 from the Golden Hawk era.  When I talked to him, he was very willing to
answer my technical questions.  The main reason for my call was to find out
what the best lubricant is today for use in a supercharger.  He told me that
in testing, Ford Motorcraft brand type "F" transmission fluid, offers the
best compromise between wear and traction on the
ball-drive supercharger.  It also will withstand the greatest heat.  They
are testing some synthetics but have yet to find something better.  Both the
Paxatrac and B&M trick shift fluid show better traction characteristics but
exhibit more wear.  Lets wish him our best and hope that this remnant of
Studebaker survives and prospers.  They can be contacted at:

Paradise Wheels Inc.
Craig Conley
920 Rancheros Dr. Suite E
San Marcos, CA 92069