Topic: Need some advice on what to do

[kklobe]

I need some advice from both the turbo folks and the supercharger folks.  My 04 Av is stock under the hood except for a simple cold air intake.  I'm looking to add some power without going super crazy.  I wouldn't mind turbo charging or supercharging the motor.  My problem here is that I don't know jack crap about either system. 

I would like to hear from the guys that use them on the pros and cons for both systems.  Is one harder on the motor, is one more maintenance then the other.  What are the options or are there different levels of performance on either system..  I don't want this to sound harsh, but I want to stick to the facts and not opinions on this.  I ask this because as I said...I don't know jack about this so it's a big learning process for me and I need facts!  I won't be working on the motor for another 11 months because I'm stuck next to He!! here in Saudi.  I'll get home sometime in the next 4 months or so to uncover my baby and put a couple of miles on, but that's it.

I'm hoping to be able to make a decision before I get home and hopefully have some parts waiting for me when I get there.  My other problem is, while I'm mechanically literate, I have never attempted anything like this....should be educational  

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

[bluedevil]

You do realize this hobby is not cheap right?


I will gather some links for you and post back

[kklobe]

It's another motorcycle when I finish overseas or some engine work.  And the wife isn't too keen on the scooter idea as her dad got hit and messes up pretty bad on his bike.

But I have almost a year to put back some cash so hopefully it won't be too big of a hit all at once.

[MyBigToy]

The underhood mods are just the start of the money pit. You'll need to upgrade the tranny at a minimum or run it until it blows and then replace it with a fully built unit. The G80 is the next weak link. Once you get used to the additional power the next thing you will want to do is increase the boost. You may want to add a high stall converter to help out with the off-the-line performance a little more. And you may decide to either have a tune done or to purchase tuning software and learn to tune yourself so that the power is optimized. You get the picture.......

If you are looking for ultimate horsepower a turbo is probably better than a supercharger but you have to deal with underhood heat issues if you go with a front-mount unit. The rear mount units seem to have fallen out of favor. For superchargers for the trucks either Magnacharger or Vortech seem to be the most-favored units.

If you are looking for a complete, bolt-it-on and forget it kit, take a look at the various Magnacharger units as they offer the most complete kits. Vortech units are cheaper if you don't go intercooled but you can also do the same thing with the Magnacharger units. Magnacharger twin-screw units (MP112, MP112HH & MP122 series) generally deliver more low rpm horsepower as the boost comes on at lower rpm. The Vortech units offer more ultimate horsepower on the top end. The Magnacharger twin screw units generate more heat at higher rpms and can suffer from heat soak and decreased timing because of this; it's generally not an issue on the street. I don't know much about the new Magnacharger TVS units but they supposedly address the heat soak issues of the MP units.

I chose the Magnacharger MP112, which was the only unit they had out when I installed mine, because of their reliability reputation and because I felt the low rpm horsepower/torque boost is what we need for our 6K lb pigs to get them moving. I think if I was doing it today I would put a TVS 1900 or 2300 unit on my truck; the 2300 is a little overkill for the 5.3.

You can modify any of the units to overcome their specific shortcomings but again, you will be spending additional money. My suggestion would be to look for a used unit at Performance Trucks. You can pick up good, low mileage units over there cheaply. That's also where I would suggest you go to look at the forced induction threads as there are a billion totally rabid horsepower addicts over there.

Hopefully this info will at least give you something to think about and digest. BTW, you are more than welcome to come take a ride in my truck and see how it runs. If you were going to be home for Bratfest you could take a ride in Mick's Vortec-charged truck also. We have yet to line them up to see which one is better! 

[MyBigToy]

I forgot to address the maintenance question - I've put 40K+ miles on my Magnacharger and have yet to touch it since it was installed. Get in, turn the key, and drive! You've gotta love that.  

Another information source, if you could get to talk with him, is Allen Nelson of Nelson Performance (Farmtruc on these boards). He's familiar with all of the options for our trucks and specializes in all types of performance enhancements in general. He has a great rep as a tuner for our trucks. He's located in San Antonio, TX.

[MyBigToy]

You'll probably want to plan on adding long tube headers and a low restriction exhaust. They aren't essential to add but help maximize the performance potential. If you add headers, don't add anything except ceramic coated, stainless steel, or stainless ceramic coated. Ask me how I know not to install mild-steel headers. 

[bluedevil]

You'll like this

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVmIDi3Azno[/youtube]


A 2003 Chevy Avalanche sporting a 540cid big block chevy with twin supercharged water-to-air intercooled 4-wheel drive that makes 890ftlbs of torque at 2300rpm. Can you say 4-wheel burnouts? built by Nelson Racing Engines - www.NelsonRacingEngines.com

[kklobe]

Thanks for the input.  Now I have somewhere to start looking, but anything else...keep it coming!  At least I have plenty of time to do my homework before I get home.  I don't believe I will be home for Bratfest, but if I am I'll be spending my few days with the boss and our little girls.  I'll have to catch the ride later.  I have seen that video before.  I think I can take him.  Well that is as long as he can't find his keys.
Thanks again for the info.  Don't stop now!

K

[Main One]

You can add about 150 hp to the drivetrain before you can count on breaking things such as the tranny and rearend.  KY_Bob has dynoed 500 hp at the rear wheels (more than 200 hp over stock) and hasn't broken his tranny, yet, with the help of a supercharger, nitrous, meth injection, etc.  He does have a shift kit in his tranny which may be of some help in keeping it alive.  His original rearend didn't last very long - it broke well before he got up to the 500 rwhp level.

Most of the off-the-shelf supercharger kits will provide about 150 hp, which should give you close to 400 rwhp.  The trouble is, it is so easy to change supercharger pulleys to get more boost that many people end up doing that and going well over what the rest of the drivetrain can reliably handle.

If you are going to install this yourself, the off-the-shelf supercharger kits will be the easiest.  With a turbo, you are going to be getting into not only intake air plumbing, but exhaust plumbing as well.  This makes it a bit more work usually, and also if you put the turbo(s) under the hood, adds more "stuff" to work around under the hood.

Good luck with this project.  Stay safe over there!  I spent 7 weeks in Saudi after Desert Storm.  Supposedly was 20 degrees cooler that summer due to the smoke from the Kuwaiti oil well fires set by Saddam, but was still dang hot.  Hit 124 one day.

[kklobe]

This is probably going to make those who already know laugh or cry...but here goes....Just to clarify (and probably scare some), a Centrifugal Supercharger is the same thing as Turbocharger correct?    Did I mention that I don't have a clue on this side of the application....but I intend to learn.  I have been looking at the Vortech line...Vortech 4GL218-128SQ - Vortech Centrifugal Supercharger Kits.  I have also been reading on the Magnacharger goodies.  

From what I gather, heatsoaking the engine/components is basically overheating?  And I see the TVS units have a nice $ tag.

K