I've been thinking about an idea lately. Maybe I've read a post about it before, but I can't remember so here goes. With the natural properties of my TPI intake, lots of low end and midrange torque wouldn't a centrifigal supercharger be utterly perfect for the engine? I mean the supercharger won't be pushing a lot of boost as lower RPM's, so I would still get great mileage (27 MPG last trip). But at higher RPMS, like over 4000-4400 the suercharger would really come on strong and force the air through those restrictive runners?
Wouldn't this give me big block torque right through the RPM range, great mileage on the highway and a large usable RPM range?

 

That is exactly correct.

John

Heart of Texas Power and Performance

 

so why doesn't everyone just use a supercharger? Why bother with engine build ups, other than to be different? Anyone with any sort of a budget should buy a blower.

 

Reliability, knowledge, preference, maintenance. Things like that. There's alot more involved to properly install a blower, and taking care of one is another story as well. A SC helps, but many will say a N/A motor will make the same power more reliably (to a point). Also, those hot blowers are not the greatest thing for a factory stock engine, especially with alot of miles...a mild kit is fine though. You'd be better off building a motor for a SC than using it on a stock motor. Anyway, what happens if the blower needs repair? And with a blower on a N/A stock 350 TPI, you're still pushing maybe a bit harder than a stock LS1, but you're already supercharged. Superchargers also limit you cam selection...mild. Superchargers also create boost when driving...as opposed to nitrous (on demand) and N/A motors, this can be somewhat hard on an engine depending on engine condition and boost levels. Some like to think of superchargers as artificial horsepower...goes away with the removal of 1 belt.

My recommendation...build a motor with forged pistons unless you plan on using 6 psi of boost, and use a quality intercooled unit (for the money). For the same money, I could build a hot motor with a ton of mods!

It really all comes down to preference.

 

And then you'd have to change your maf system to a 2 bar map system; different ecm, prom tuning, dump the maf for a map sensor.....



------------------
86 406

 

I debated this for a long time. Supercharger or engine buildup? Engine buildup or supercharger? I had a 305 with about 135K. I decided on a rebuilt 350 for three reasons: #1 I didn't want to blow up the 305 and be without wheels. #2 I didn't want to have to get the supercharger rebuilt every 10K miles. #3 When people hear supercharger, they expect miracles. I'd be humiliated to have a supercharger and still only run even with a stock LS1. If I have a stock sounding (besides exhaust rumble) 350 under the hood, people will be more impressed when I wax an LS1. Besides, I'd rather do the work now, and bolt on a supercharger later when I can afford more power.

------------------
Michelle
92 Formula 350
91 Z28

 

I didn't mean to and I hope I didn't imply that superchargers are just a bolt on and forget issue. I realize there is a lot more to a s/c install, but I meant that there is a lot less than an engine buildup. And a lot cheaper.

 

Well what if you totaly trick a engine out "then" add a supercharger I mean 360hp and 400lbs torque before you bolt on the charger. Then it would be insane power.