I've been slowly adding mods to my 99 C5 and I'm ready to really get thrown back in my seat. I have a dilemma between getting a supercharger or going the Nitrous route. I just need some outside opinions on the pros and cons to each. Besides the damage to the wallet difference. Is there any other types of damage that can come from either of these? How long will my engine last, how long will the S/C or NOS last before they have to be replaced. The car is a street car, and is driven about 2-3 times a week. I've already gotten a new clutch in preparation for more power to the wheels. And I am going to install whatever I get myself. I've been looking at the ATI Procharger and have heard a lot of bad stuff about it. I don't want to get a new hood as I want a "sleeper". I've also heard get NX if I go Nitrous. Any opinion on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

Repeated Nos use may damage your pistons/ bottom end. supercharging is very compatible with everyday use. ATI WILL make the most power, if tuned properly (with a dyno). Throw in some Beru plugs and upgraded wires if you didn't already.

 

urslooow is right, repeated nitrous use MAY damage your car. I know a couple of people with ls1 camaros that ran juice threw their car for 3 years with no problems. But if I had the money I would go ATI. Seeing that I dont have that kinda of money, I went with nitrous. I dont use it that much and it always good to know that it is there if I need it. I am only runnin a 100 shot. The car seems to be handling it fine.

 

Well, from my experience with my LT-1 Trans Am, I've had both.

First, I had an NOS kit, which was a 75HP shot. The instant torque was awesome, but it was only there every once in a great while.

Then, after removing the nitrous kit, I went with a Powerdyne centrifigul supercharger. It was advertised at 80HP increase. It felt less torquey, but had good 4000+ RPM power.

I, too, have researched both of these poweradders for my C5. However, this time, I'm trying to accomplish the best of both worlds. Torque and accessibility.

I decided to go with the Magnuson supercharger from LPE for these reasons.

1.) Power is there whenever I need it.
2.) Torque comes on much quicker than a centrifigul.
3.) 3 year/36000 mile warranty available.

I've rode in many cars and boats with roots type blowers, and they are impressive down low.

If I were going to race the car on the weekends at the track, I'd go with the nitrous.

Since I'm going to cruise my car, I want to feel the torque, and hear the whine.

I have no experience with the ATI/Vortech superchargers, so I can't help you there.

 

Does anyone know on avg how long will the S/C will last before it has to be replaced? My concern is similar, I want bigtime reliability and decent longevity for my street driven car....

 

FWIW -- from the FAQs on Mangacharger's website (http://www.magnacharger.com):

"The reliability of the Eaton supercharger was the first criteria, which was addressed during early design development of the supercharger. Dedicated engineers with backgrounds in compressors, gearing, tribology and metallurgy, as well as thermal and structural analysis enabled Eaton to find solutions to many reliability concerns. In addition, strict customer durability test criteria have been achieved. Successful completion of numerous 500+ hour durability tests established a firm grasp on achieving a reliable product. In addition, numerous vehicles have successfully completed 100,000 mile OEM (original equipment manufacturer), vehicle durability tests. Ongoing improvements in bearing and seal designs also aided in a product which meets or exceeds all OEM durability criteria."

Of course, this could be marketing hype, but to me it appears the rest of their answers are best efforts at honest and sincere estimates, so I would hope this answer is the same. Indeed, in the ongoing nagging match of what supercharger is "better," you'll often find some conservative benefits listed for the Magnacharger, and perhaps it's because that system has been engineered to last (along with the motor on which it is installed) rather than to eek out every last bit of horsepower.

Or, that's just my wishful thinking. :crazy:


[Modified by SteveL2, 9:19 AM 2/6/2003]

 

ragtop- I've been told that if and when the SC fails it doesn't require the same expense as the initial install. Usually it is an internal gear change. you shouldn't need to change all the intercooling piping or re'key the crank. so the cost should be much lower to "freshen" up the SC.

To lamb: At the recent corvette forum drags in Gainesville several Magnachargers were there and they were totally unimpressive in terms of ET. Joe Cool has one on his '01 z06 and ran a 12.7 best. When I hooked up well, I smoked all the magnachargers. Breathless did a great install and highly reccommended the ati. :iagree: :iagree: :iagree:


[Modified by urslooow, 1:06 PM 2/6/2003]

 

Even though there's another thread (and have been many) comparing S/C'ers, I'll risk this. What were the "unimpressive" ETs of the several Magnachargers. I would really like to know, particularly b/c Joe's times sounds WAY slower than what has been reported here. Not trying to start a :lurk: match, just looking for facts.

 

12.7 ET with a magnacharger? I really can't believe that as my car ran a 12.9 at 112 with nothing more than a powerloader and B&B catback! :crazy:

 

runamuk also has a magnacharger and the best he could do was high 12's. I'm not saying they can't do better, the ati cars seem to be faster from what I've seen. Maybe it's the intercooling in the ati's. I don't mean to trash the magna's but I've had GREAT results with my ati (esp w/ dyno tune). When I put the question out as to which SC to get on this forum and LS-1 tech the overwhelming majority said ati.

 

Well that shows that even with any FI or Nitrous system it all depends on the driver and traction. :yesnod:

 

I've seen a bone stock '02 Z06 run 12.70s at my local track, which isn't a very good track at all.

When I had my Powerdyne on the T/A, just changing from a Goodyear radial to a BFG Drag radial yielded a 1 sec drop in my ETs.

In order to turn these super low times everyone's been flashing around, you have to hook the car up.

ETs don't impress me. I'm not going to drag race this car.

All I know is that a roots blower on anything making 5 lbs of boost is going to look, feel, and sound damn good..........and that's what I want.

 

:iagree: :yesnod:

 

:iagree:
The best I ran that day was 12.7 with a trap speed of 108 but I had traction control turned on and thats the only way I could get traction, there was another car there that had the Magnacharger and an automatic tranny like me but he had better tires than my Goodyear runflats and I watched him run 12.1 (he may have done better when I wasn't watching).
There is no doubt in my mind for drag racing and all things being equal the ATI cars will outrun the Magnacharger cars all day simply because they produce more boost, but I bought the Magnacharger mainly for the looks and sound :cheers:

 

Ok, for your ET to be low, you need traction, however at only 108MPH for a Super Charged C5, something has to be wrong with your setup!! You can have a slow ET do to traction, but the MPH is an indication of the power of the car.

 

Nitrous is safe for the car and will not shorten the life of any part any faster than any other Forced Induction. If you are worried about fixing it, then leave it stock and get an extended warranty. The only way N2O will shorten this life of a part is if the kit was not tuned and you go lean. But that can happen with turbo & S/C too. People think that just because their ECU doesnt need extensive modification that they dont have to get their N2O tuned, since the car runs like stock without the bottle. This is the #1 reason why people blow up their cars on the juice.

 

Well I hate to say it but if your getting only a 12.7 and seeing another car running a 12.1 with a magnacharger somethings definately wrong. Who installed and tuned these cars? I would disconnect the belts cause their not doing anything but wasting HP as they run. :crazy:

 

Even with traction issues, your times may suck but your speed should be much higher than posted. Alot of NA vettes can go that fast from the redlight let alone a prepped track. I haven't been to the track yet and not sure if I will, but if I get those results after knowing what my car can do on the street, I think I'll throw it away :yesnod:

 

:iagree: I run 110 to 112 in virtual stock form all day long. Somethings not right with those cars. :confused:


[Modified by Dave00C5, 8:21 AM 2/11/2003]

 

:iagree:

As I've already stated above, the MPH is too low and something has to be wrond for a SuperCharged C5 at that MPH regardless of traction. My MPH is higher then that for just a bolt-on car. Again, for low ETs, yes you need traction for that, but MPH is an indication of the power your putting out, not related to traction, and being that low, its hardly over a stock or very mildly tuned C5!? So unless you let off the throttle mid run or somthing, I would have that checked out and maybe tuned again. I've beat other SuperCharged Vettes in the 1/4 with a lower ET due to traction, them being on street tires, but they almost always trap higher speeds.