BigMonkey73

Hey gang!

There are various threads on this subject, but I haven't found details on what is meant by "driveability" when adding Cam and Heads. Also read it affects MPG.

Can someone please explain how the car behaves after a Cam & Heads mod vs. a Supercharger? Does it ride differently? Rougher/Not as smooth? Does the MPG really drop significantly?

I think everyone agrees that the Cams definitely sound a lot better unless you just really like the whir/whine a SC makes....but I'm more interested in performance and every day changes I can expect.

I use mine as a daily driver. I have Billy Boat exhaust and it is already pretty loud. I don't mind since it is pretty fun to drive. After reading some stuff here though, I wasn't expecting anything to change after upgrades other than more power and different sound. What other changes can one expect?

ksurfer2

I just went through the same decision making process. In the end I opted for a cam and headers. My car is a 12 GS with a M6 transmission. I opted for the cam/headers combo for a couple of reasons. First was cost, I ended up a bout $1,000 less installed and out the door than a SC setup would have cost. Second, heat. I live in FL and am interested in doing some HPDE events and the shop I worked with had some concerns about heat soak for extended track sessions, also I wanted to keep highflow cats and was concerned about melting them. Third was power. My car came out of the shop with 490 rwhp....how much more do I really need?!?!? And last was sound...you just can't beat the chop of a nicely cammed car!

Drivability has been slightly affected. There is a little cam surge at low RPM's, but with a manual transmission it is easy enough to drive around.

I have not checked to see what effect there has been on gas mileage. This is not a daily driver for me.....if I'm worried about mileage, I'll take my Jetta!

I am sure there will be plenty of posts as to why the owners went with a SC, but this was my rationale with a cam and headers and I could not be happier!

BigMonkey73

Hmm, all makes sense to me. I have a 12 Base Manual myself so it's pretty close to your set up. And I do plan on taking it on the track, but with an instructor on the passenger side...not all out.

EvanZR1

I went with the blower specifically so I didn't have to deal with any drivability issues. Car makes 600RWHP and drives like stock at part throttle. Push the pedal all the way down and it's a whole different car and struggles for grip. As for heat, I went with the A&A with the Dewitts radiator with integrated oil cooler (to replace the factory GS oil cooler) and my coolant and oil temps are exactly what they were before the blower when doing normal driving (and this is in Texas). If you're going to do a lot of roadcourse track days, I'd probably point you towards cam/heads, but if it's for street, strip and occasional HPDE, then you should be fine. Gas mileage is about the same as before the blower if I'm not on it a lot, for me this typically means about 1-2MPG less than stock.

BigMonkey73

Yep, also a DFW guy here.

It's a daily driver and will be doing track days maybe twice a year at most.

Nosferatu

Even with heat soak a blower will still make more than 490rwhp (unless it's an E-Force )

Opinion...I agree it sounds nice but a boosted V8 sounds ridiculous as well. Also you don't hear them as frequently as you do bolt-on V8 cars

Not with a blower. Drives just like stock.

I'm giving you my counter points to why I didn't go that way.

Speedforhire

I've never heard much sound come from a centri unit. What makes a boosted V8 sound ridiculous? It's certainly not the unit itself.

IMHO! There's nothing better than a big cam V8 with headers and a catless exhaust. It's blissful. That's what I chose for my 2013 GS A6 car.

BigMonkey73

I'll just need to find some good Youtube videos to kind of compare Cammed vs Supercharged to give me an idea of the sound I would deal with on a daily basis.

Right now, I don't think I'm willing to deal with a crazy loud car every single day when I'm just going to work. The calmer Supercharger when I'm not gunning in is really sounding attractive right now...not to mention the overall HP gain is better with the SC.

shawnaj7731

I was always informed that H/C/I/E is more reliable then supercharger less strees?

EvanZR1

I have factory NPP with the man switch, and I've always thought it was a bit tame in the open position. Once I put the blower on that changed. It's sounds the same below about 3,500, but at full throttle above that it is WAY louder. Have had several of my Corvette buddies comment on how loud it is on the top end now.

NYC6

Centrifugal charger. Smooth as silk and a monster up top.

1968swbbigblock

imho- a blower car like an A&A will be deliver more performance for a less total cost than a cam, heads, exhaust car.
Much easier to pull the blower and resell when you are done & you will recoup more of your investment.
I do think a cam car is hard to beat for sound but a blower car gets more attention with the hood up or the gas pedal down.
I do also think the cam can be harder on the engine than a blower.
The cam is designed to change your valve train, faster opening and closing rates, taller lifts, longer duration etc.
That being said either choice will work just fine if you choose components wisely.

Entaille

I'd rather supercharge myself. no internal engine work, drives more stock like unless you're really on it, and easier to revert. I'm probably weird but I've never really been drawn to the lopey cam sound. it's cool because it's different and the car sounds like it means business .. but that's about it, to me : )

0JDP Tech

It really depends on what you want out of the car and what you will be doing with the car. Those who do road course racing should really avoid boost for the heat reasons posted about above. A good Head/cam package is a better way to go for that application.

As far as drivability, as long as you don't get too crazy with the cam, you can keep it easy to drive, but F/I will drive like stock.

I love the lope of a cammed LS engine but I also love having a lot of power; ultimately, I'm going to be the guy that asks: Why not both?!

Feel free to call, PM or email me anytime with questions.

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007

simplegto

If you go with a cam do your homework. Bigger is not better. The supercharger will change the balance of the car if you plan to track the car. You may want to talk to a good tuner about the CEL if you plan to drive the car on the street since Texas has inspections.

berk4422

I did many mods including a Cam, ported heads are next. Stock driveability because I selected the right Cam for what i wanted. Get the right Cam and you can have stock idle and driveability.

Mike's LS3

You brought up a couple good points!

1. I live in CA where we have strict emissions testing. Just adding a set of headers will fail the visual test!

This is why I chose to go with an A&A centrifugal force supercharger which has a C.A.R.B. Certification when installed and tuned by A&A Corvette. Does it pass emissions testing in CA? I'm good to go for another two years.

2. The weight of any supercharger and intercooler will be displaced over the front axle adding about 80# up front for a centrifugal supercharger/intercooler, not sure about roots S/C. I did not notice any handling differences in spirited driving around the twisties, but I do not track my car. However, the additional weight did drop the nose down almost 3/4". I just readjusted the lowering bolts to bring the nose back up to stock height.

Nosferatu

Here's my centri on boost.

Friend driving on some of these but gives you an idea. This is an ECS kit.






Also with NPP it's comical how quiet the car will get...



with everything including the bolded parts

MARSC6

A big benefit of a supercharger is how easy it is to get more HP after you become bored.


You need stickier tires in a bad way.

Nosferatu

Yeah the rear tires are starting to get bald. They'll hook in second if I slow roll into it. Most hits in 3rd I'm good. Today it was upper 40s on my work commute. Spun the tires on a 3rd gear hit on the freeway (empty stretch) at 100mph . Colder weather loves more power but colder weather sucks for summer tires.