Topic: Need some advice on what to do

[MyBigToy]

The Magnacharger unit you linked to is the 112 unit I've got on my truck. I would suggest going with the MP122HH (high helix) unit instead as it gives you a little more room to grow. I believe the Vortech unit is the same one KY_Bob & Blue have but the price seems a little high to me for a non-intercooled unit. Trust me, you want to leave yourself some room to grow because you won't be satisfied with the as-delivered power once you get used to it. 

If you aren't in a hurry, check out the PerformanceTrucks.net "for sale" section as you can pick up low-mileage, used units for a really good price. Just be sure you check out the seller before buying if you decide to go that route. There was a slightly used MP122HH there recently for $3500. It had been used for something like 6000 miles and was sent back to Magnacharger to be checked over, supplied with a new #2 box, and was being shipped directly from Magnacharger.

As far as the install; I was going to do mine myself but was working non-stop, 7 days a week when I purchased it. I decided it would never get installed unless I paid someone to do it; I used a local Magnacharger rep to do the install. They charged me 12 hours of labor. I could have gotten it done a little cheaper somewhere else but I talked to the shop owners and decided I would rather pay a little more to get it done right - one of the owners installed it himself and he's just as picky as I am. The install is not rocket science but if you don't feel comfortable attempting it, you should probably let someone else do it. There are almost always some small install snags that you run into that require you to adjust/make parts or improvise.

I've given my experience with my MP112 - 40K+ miles and I've never touched it. I'll let the Vortech guys (KY_Bob & Blue) chime in on their experiences - they have two different experiences with their units. I'm not sure how many miles either of them have put on their units.

[KY_BOB]

OK, I'll try to kick in a little input.  The Vortech kit that you linked to is the exact kit that I started with.  It's reasonable priced, easy to install, and dependable.  I know have over 20k on mine with no problems.  It will probably give you a solid 100hp off the shelf.  Can you (have I) get a lot more out of it?  Oh yea!  There is a price both in more parts, tuning, and broken drivetrain pieces.  In everyday driving, you'll never know it's there until you put your foot to the floor and the tranny downshifts.  Then, it IS there.  Don't bolt one on and expect your truck to smoke the tires from a dead stop unless you have a higher stall speed torque converter.  It adds power at 1600 rpm (stall speed of a stock converter) but not much.  By 3000rpm, it's pulling hard and will continue pulling harder and harder until your shift.  With a stock cam and springs and considering that you have boost pressure trying to push open your intake valves (cause valve float), you have to limit it to 5800 or so IMO.  Plus you are way past the rpm that the cam was designed to produce it's best power.  After the cam, springs, pulley, ect, ect, changes on mine, I'm shifting at 6200rpm and it's still pulling like a freight train with 10-11psi of boost. 

A vortech with the factory pulley doesn't have to have an intercooler (that's not to say that it would be nice to have).  Once you turn up the boost, the IAT's (inlet air temp gets hot quick).  I'm chemically intercooling mine with methanol injection.  At this point, I won't even get into relocating the IAT sensor so that the computer can protect the engine form high IAT's but if you up the boost, you really need to do this mod.

The Maggie will give you more bottom end torque but less top end.  It is also a very well designed kit.  It's a little more involved to install but still not too bad from what I've heard. (never done one myself).  It's also more expensive.  It does come with an intercooler that works good at the factory boost level.  If you go down in pulley size to make more boost, my understanding is that it quickly gets beyond the cooling capacity of the intercooler.  IMO, it's a great kit too.

Turbo: The most possible power, the most possible problems, the hardest install, the most fabrication and one-off pieces to make it work.

My $.02

[KY_BOB]

So after seven hours I have been able to watch about half of the above video.  I got to where they started to mount the drive belt and presto magic and crappy sat connections.....nothing .  I like the centrifugal systems but I'm still undecided if that will be the type of system I install.  Do either of the styles of systems make very much noise?  I know after I installed my cold air intake, I had at least twice the amount of engine noise.  After thinking about the way the intake is shaped, without the air box....I was able to understand the noise.  But this goes back to the "I have no idea about these again...lol.

Thanks,
Kevin

My Vortec has a slightly noticeable whistle to it at idle.  The average Joe (not MBT) would never notice it with the hood down.  You can't hear it in the truck.  My exhaust is fairly loud at all times and I have an exhaust cutout.  If the cutout is open, your never going to hear anything but exhaust.  If it's closed, you can not hear the supercharger in normal driving.  At WOT you can hear the sound of air rapidly rushing through the plumbing.

[kklobe]

Thanks again for the input, everything has been very helpful.  After reading and reading some more, I still haven't made up my mind.  Now for the fun stuff.  The wife is trying to put her foot down and say that nothing needs to be done to my baby.  "It's not a sportscar, it's a truck"... to be exact.     Not a sportscar....I'll show her!!!!

Now let me say before anyone takes that the wrong way.  Tracy and I have a very open line of communication, we like to rib the other when we don't agree with what they want.  Ultimately this is a family decision and we will discuss it but now I just want to go cry in the corner.....

I mean where does she get off.....Just because I bought her a minivan...twice...and just because we have three Angels from god (children for the slower readers)  COME ON NOW!  This is all about what I want.  And what if she is my wife, what right does that give her to tell me what I can and can't do to MY Av?  I'll show her, just wait until I get home....I'll do whatever I want....like taking out the trash....raking the yard....putting away the laundry.....ya know all of the "usual" guy stuff.

And on a serious note, I do hope I can convince her to let me do something.  Time will tell.....  And can anyone tell me if there is anything coming up around the end of October to the first week in November?  I have some leave and we are looking at doing something besides just setting at home.

Thanks and tune in next week for an exciting update to " over".

[oHIobellboy]

Thanks again for the input, everything has been very helpful.  After reading and reading some more, I still haven't made up my mind.  Now for the fun stuff.  The wife is trying to put her foot down and say that nothing needs to be done to my baby.  "It's not a sportscar, it's a truck"... to be exact.     Not a sportscar....I'll show her!!!!

Now let me say before anyone takes that the wrong way.  Tracy and I have a very open line of communication, we like to rib the other when we don't agree with what they want.  Ultimately this is a family decision and we will discuss it but now I just want to go cry in the corner.....

I mean where does she get off.....Just because I bought her a minivan...twice...and just because we have three Angels from god (children for the slower readers)  COME ON NOW!  This is all about what I want.  And what if she is my wife, what right does that give her to tell me what I can and can't do to MY Av?  I'll show her, just wait until I get home....I'll do whatever I want....like taking out the trash....raking the yard....putting away the laundry.....ya know all of the "usual" guy stuff.

And on a serious note, I do hope I can convince her to let me do something.  Time will tell.....  And can anyone tell me if there is anything coming up around the end of October to the first week in November?  I have some leave and we are looking at doing something besides just setting at home.

Thanks and tune in next week for an exciting update to " over".

 

[kklobe]

It seems as "that discussion" came a lot faster than I was expecting.  Turns out the boss had already made up her mind on this issue long before she let me know.   So it looks like I won't be adding any ponies to the Av via engine mods. 

I am able to pick up a tuner, Pred ordered.  Are the tuners fairly straight forward for the computerly challenged guy?  Mechanical issues I can troubleshoot and figure out, but programming has always been my weekness; however, I can write you a library cataloging program if you like, lol.

Thanks for all of the input and information.  I'll keep you all updated as to how soon she is going to kill me.

K

[MyBigToy]

Loading the "canned" Predator program in is very simple. However, you will want to tweak the parameters to customize the tune to your truck. That takes some reading to learn how to do it. Just join the Diablosport forum and do some reading or come on down to St. Louis when you get some time and someone can help you learn how to tweak it.

[KY_BOB]

How about easing her in to getting used to you spending money on the AV with some smaller mods that would also work well with a supercharger at a later date.  A Corvette servo is less than $20 (about $100 if you want to change both servos).  You can do that in the name of making you trans last longer.  A trans oil cooler isn't expensive.  Again, it's a longevity thing that would be a big help if you ever go forced induction but will help anyway.   A cat-back exhaust?  Headers? 

 

[MyBigToy]

How about easing her in to getting used to you spending money on the AV with some smaller mods that would also work well with a supercharger at a later date.  A Corvette servo is less than $20 (about $100 if you want to change both servos).  You can do that in the name of making you trans last longer.  A trans oil cooler isn't expensive.  Again, it's a longevity thing that would be a big help if you ever go forced induction but will help anyway.   A cat-back exhaust?  Headers? 

 

Bob's always trying to help! (Spend someone else's money, that is).  

But then again, he's had a little prodding along the way to spend some of his own money. He's probably like me and is afraid to start adding up how much he's actually spent.

[KY_BOB]

He's probably like me and is afraid to start adding up how much he's actually spent.

The thought of adding up what I've spent on my truck over the past 6 years is scary.  I could have bought another nice vehicle for what I've spent on mods but I've never actually added it up and won't.