Hi,

a lot of cars that I see the pictures of here, seem to have these superchargers in their engines. How much are these and do they really make a big difference in HP, acceleration etc?
What is the best one also. I would appreciate some input.
How do these also affect the gas consumption.

Thanks

 

wrong forum, check out the Tech Area - Forced Induction forum.

 

I went Supercharger because this is my daily driver and in my opinion a turbo has more that can go wrong with it... All I need for my Vortech is a set of tools in my trunk and an extra belt in case the belt breaks on me...

I love the power and acceleration... And yes, there is a BIG difference

I am hitting 402 rwhp and 347 tq to the rear wheels...

If I had to do it again I would choose the Vortech all over again!

 

^+1 Supercharger is safer.

 

I cant say it is justifiably safer.... With a SC you are forcing air into the motor. While a turbocharged motor gains it added air through exhaust pressure and gases.

 

True, but if you have a problem with a Turbo (leakage) you have to search for the leak which is a PITA... On a SC chances are if your belt breaks you kinda know where the problem is... and you can fix it yourself in 30 - 60 mins... I just feel safer with the SC... My opinion only...

 

can you post a good one to buy?

 

The vortech and stillen are good super chargers

 

I love my Vortech

 

No youre absolutely right! Here's what Ive been analyzing.....

A SC requires far less modifications to the motor to run properly. I.e. injectors, major fuel management is a must for engine health, wastegate, etc that are all required for proper turbocharging. Also, youre right if something breaks on the turbo it could be multiple things. You could have blown a turbo seal, which means a new turbo, blew off a charge tube, more oil problems that anyone could imagine. A much longer install, and check, and checks, and checks to make sure everything is intact, BUT..... you can make more power on less boost with a turbo.

On the other hand, at what rpm does boost cause the most damage? Now that debatible. For one, most, if not all, superchargers are spooling at almost the beginning of the throttle response. So maybe you hit full boost at 2500 (just an estimate) and you run it out as boost fades. While on the turbo, you dont even begin boosting until 2500 and could possibly never hit full boost until the peak of the rpm range depending on the turbine, wheel, etc. So in what choice is the motor spending more time being boosted?

I cant argue the fact that *** motors live, eat, and breath turbocharging, but I dont see it being the safest avenue. Ideally, the safest is leaving it stock, but if youre like me you get an itch and it wont go away until your being thrown back in you seat.

Im still debating what to do Trij. Ive tossed back and forth from SC to a fully custom Single turbo system. I cant make my mind up...

 

The thing I like about the SC as well is, as you say, it starts spooling sooner than the turbo's (unless you go TT). Mine starts pulling early and hits hard at 3K rpms till redline. Where as a turbo spools later and "hits" hard when it hits... This can cause damage to the pistons / rods as well since it is a big "jolt" in TQ all at once (this is when you can throw a rod thru the block) where the SC is a more linear increase in power...

I just dyno'd at 402 rwhp and 347 tq w/ my Vortech and that is plenty for me... I am hitting 9psi right now. I plan on doing my Cams, Rods and pistons in the future. I also plan on getting this vortech to pull 550 - 600 to the wheels when all is said and done... Which will not be anytime soon... prolly like 12-18 months out before I get her there...

For a daily driver SC was my choice. Some people also swear by Turbo's...

Turbo's are much easier upgrade and you can pull more HP and TQ out of a turbo than you can a SC... The TQ will always be higher in a Turbo as well.

It is a very personal decision... The most important thing you can do is to study both and go for what you feel comfortable with... Do not go by what anyone on the web says... Make this decision for yourself, it is after all your car

 

Well you make all valid points... I guess I personally am kind of hooked on a turbo immaturely because I love the sound. I realize that Im not planning nor trying to make 600 whp. Its just not daily driver efficient. Im starting to think honestly for what I want a SC would be better simply because Im not trying to puke a motor (not that you cant with an SC), but its much less likely to happen.

That instantaneous charge of boost from a turbo is probably the best thing you said and I completely agree that all that torque is probably why so many turboed motors pop. I mean look if you can pop a full forged non-sleeved 2jz block due to that exact issue, then how does the VQ stand a chance over time?

I'm just looking for corvette embarassing power. So, I can show the old man that his 50k went to all the wrong places, maybe he should have left it in the 401k

 

The Vortech sounds mean as hell bro... It has a blow of valve that goes PFFFFFFFTTTTFFFF... LOL I have had alot of people think I was sporting a turbo under the hood... So if the sound is imprtant to you... Dont sweat it, the Vortech sounds SWEET.... It also has a bit of that jet engine whine that SC are famous for... So you get the best of both worlds

My kill list so far... Sub STI, E46 M3, Stang Cobra (95ish), and tonight a black Vette (2000ish) not Z06...

 

Thats awesome!!! I want one. I need urban to reply

 

this all depend what SC are you talking about, Stillen supercharged indeed boost early and does die down just a little above 5.5K. It is the blower that limits the power and not the boost on those Root/twin screw SC(Stillen), they are just to small. Vortech (Centrifugal Superchargers)does not hit full boost at 2.5K, it hit's full boost around 4K+ RPM. Vortech has a linear power curve and it increases its power the more you hit the Higher RPM.


with TT turbo or even smaller ST you hit full boost around 3K and you pretty much have majority of the power. Turbo does not have a linear power curve like Vortech which need to hit the High RPM just to hit full boost. Look at the Dyno chart of a Votech/Stillen/ST/TT you'll see the differences were the power starts.

Stillen =Turbo like feel, lot's of torque down low but dies at high RPM (Limited power potential)

Vortech/Pro charger = Good power, you feel the car get stronger the higher the RPM, but doesn't give you the TQ the Turbo can give.

Turbo = Lot's of fun when hit Full Boost, pretty much have most of power once you hit boost. Lot's of Torque on Full boost