Have an opinion about power adders? Come in here!

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 09:11 AM

Given my background with power adders, it's a real suprise that so many people opt to consider supercharger kits over turbocharger kits. So I decided to make this thread to get some feedback to see if the mustang world (in the Pittsburgh region anyway) is biased toward one power adder over another and the reasons why.

This is not intended as a power adder holy war, so keep it relatively civil. Thanks!

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 10:01 AM

LOL didnt take long for someone to vote "stickers"

If you choose combination of the above, post what the combo is.

Thanks!

**SonofaBish** · 01-30-2008, 10:07 AM

Well my choice is obvious, but i think mustang owners are more typically going the supercharger route....

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by SonofaBish

Well my choice is obvious, but i think mustang owners are more typically going the supercharger route....

yes, but *why* do they go that route? Are kits cheaper? more plentiful? better support in the aftermarket tuning community?

Are there aesthetic reasons because they like the way one power adder over another looks in the engine bay? (e.g. Direct port nitrous)

EDIT - For example, Im going turbo because on the whole a turbo system is pretty efficient and will give me the powerband I'm looking for and I already have familiarity with them regarding sizing them and tuning. I would consider nitrous but only as a secondary source because once the nitrous is gone so is the power.

**SV1000s** · 01-30-2008, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by phillysrt4

LOL didnt take long for someone to vote "stickers"

Guilty

**shawnsvtcobra** · 01-30-2008, 10:45 AM

If i had the $$$ i go turbo, but since funds are low i went with a new YSI.

**Rodeheaver's** · 01-30-2008, 10:54 AM

I would say for the mustang crowd that blowers are a little more cost affective because.... the stock internals will only take so much abuse and for 4500$ you can buy a blower kit that has everything included and it will take your car close to the limit of the short block, but a turbo kit is usually a little more money and will have the capability to boost the power way beyond the short blocks limits, and i think some people are scard of turbos because they hear so many horror storys about wastegate lines blowing off and such.. just my .02$

**v6mustang01** · 01-30-2008, 11:05 AM

I prefer superchargers. To many horror stories for turbochargers and I myself and not familiar with turbo in any way shape or form. I know you have a bigger power band and from what i hear if its done right its the way to go...but just finding what you can afford and what you know the most about....i chose supercharging.

**SonofaBish** · 01-30-2008, 11:33 AM

I agree with you Philly, i think turbos are the best way to go....

Myself, i dont look at mustang stuff, but i don't see any horror stories with turbos that i don't see with blowers for my car...

I would say that the ease of installation is also a huge factor... Supercharger kits can be installed by any guy with *SOME* automotive knowledge and the tools he has in his garage... Turbo kits often require some sort of fabrication and are much harder - THOUGH, companies are coming out with turbo kits that require only the the same small tools as a blower kit...

turbos allow for quick boost adjustments (if you're into switchign it around depending on situation), great efficiency, great gas mileage out of boost, huge powerband, GOBS of torque, and are capable of making way more power than blowers (usually, obviously depending on size)

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 12:46 PM

thanks for the feedback everyone. Hopefully more people will contribute why they went a certain direction over another.

It was odd to me since most other auto communities put more of an emphasis on turbos or "NAAaaaAaAAWWwWwzZZzzzZzz" than superchargers.

**Troll** · 01-30-2008, 12:54 PM

IMO, like already stated above, the (turbo) labor is intensive on a V8 motor, especially the 90* 4.6 because of the header location and very limited space. I'm considering s/c mine right now. Like Tim said and from what I've researched the very upper limit for crank hp on stock 4.6 internals is 450hp. That's about 380hp at the wheels. Most 9-10psi superchargers can get you to that number for about $4k and minimal work.

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 01:07 PM

thats cool troll. I hadn't considered the space issue with the mod motor 4.6's and turbo placement.

what suprises me is that no one has voted or commented on nitrous yet especially given how prevalent it seems on the streets in general.

**yeahloh95** · 01-30-2008, 01:11 PM

Well i have 2 turbo's and a supercharger , they both have their advantages, its easier to run more boost with a turbo , swapping pulleys stinks, i went with the blower on the 95 over a turbo because of less under hood heat.

**Troll** · 01-30-2008, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by phillysrt4

what suprises me is that no one has voted or commented on nitrous yet especially given how prevalent it seems on the streets in general.

n2o is temporary, confusing (to me) and supposedly (

) illegal in PA now. What tune do you run? Do you have a flip chip and keep going back and forth? Where do you gap your plugs?

Turbos and s/c's are permanent fixtures and SHOULD deliver the same amount of boost at the same RPM at all times. Much easier to tune for and maintain.

**White5.0** · 01-30-2008, 01:32 PM

i'm all for superchargers for a few reasons:
superchargers are, in most cases, much more affordable than turbos. and as stated before, they are often times much easier to install making them more of a bolt-on type modification as opposed to turbos where fabrication is sometimes needed and there are wastegates and blow off valves and a bunch more parts.

one more thing is that a lot of people have street stangs that they enjoy making fast, and nothing is better on the street (IMO) than the instant boost of a roots or twinscrew blower that you would find on a lightning or kenne bell cobra. i know turbos are definatly streetable but in most cases there is lag (and i know that superchargers have lag too, esp the centrifugal ones)

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

n2o is temporary, confusing (to me) and supposedly (

) illegal in PA now. What tune do you run? Do you have a flip chip and keep going back and forth? Where do you gap your plugs?

Turbos and s/c's are permanent fixtures and SHOULD deliver the same amount of boost at the same RPM at all times. Much easier to tune for and maintain.

nitrous is illegal in PA??? when did that happen??

I thought if you went with a wet shot and jetted the fuel right you can use the same "daily driver tune" because the nitrous kit takes care of adding extra fuel, provided your shot is reasonable (50 shot).

Im no nitrous expert but I see videos of people who run no power adder other than a high-shot nitrous system and they seem to like it.

edit - hmm found this on a honda forum (go figure)

ditto in pa on the connected thing..... no tank other then primary fuel may be connected to any device with in a vehicle... ie... nitrous...

**Pure Stock** · 01-30-2008, 02:19 PM

My vote is in:D

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Pure Stock

My vote is in:D

you're welcome!

**Troll** · 01-30-2008, 03:17 PM

here's something to think about. If the exhaust gasses that run the turbo are "free" , how much hp does it actually take to run the s/c off the crank pulley? I know it depends on the s/c pulley size, but does the amount of drag rise and/or fall with engine rpm?

**phillysrt4** · 01-30-2008, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

here's something to think about. If the exhaust gasses that run the turbo are "free" , how much hp does it actually take to run the s/c off the crank pulley? I know it depends on the s/c pulley size, but does the amount of drag rise and/or fall with engine rpm?

When I take my break i'll crunch this, but a priori, the faster its going to spin, the more you are "fighting inertia" and it will increase the amount of work that must be done to turn the pulley.