[Z06] SC vs Heads/Cam
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Worcester ma
SC vs Heads/Cam
Hi Guys
My 04 Z has about 10,000 miles and I am wondering if anyone can give the pros-cons of the A & A supercharger kit vs the heads/cam/headers route.
I like naturally aspirated engines for the linear power delivery, but for the same money it sounds like you can get less emissions/driveability problems and 100 more hp with the blower.
I'm sure this has been discussed before, if anyone can weigh with their advice or maybe direct me to an earlier link, would appreciate it.
Thanks very much
George
My 04 Z has about 10,000 miles and I am wondering if anyone can give the pros-cons of the A & A supercharger kit vs the heads/cam/headers route.
I like naturally aspirated engines for the linear power delivery, but for the same money it sounds like you can get less emissions/driveability problems and 100 more hp with the blower.
I'm sure this has been discussed before, if anyone can weigh with their advice or maybe direct me to an earlier link, would appreciate it.
Thanks very much
George
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 903
Likes: 1
From: Burbank CA
Hi. Adding a SC to your car will maintain driveability and maintain original gas mileage during normal driving. heads by themself won't necessarily change driveability too much. The cam change is where you will start to change things, a more radical cam will affect driveability and will significantly reduce your fuel mileage across the board. You will gain more power and maintain great driveability with the SC.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Worcester ma
thanks for the reply. I still have the stock Goodyears but will be changing to Pilot Sports. Hopefully they will improve grip, but since I dont have traction now, even in 2nd gear, with the stock motor, how do you possibly have traction with the blown motor?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: VA
I have a custom grind cam and the best holding street tires I have used are the Nitto. I have the NT05. You may want to check theese out.
I don't know much about blowers since all of my LS engines have always gone the H/C route. Good luck I am sure you will be happy with which ever route you go.
I don't know much about blowers since all of my LS engines have always gone the H/C route. Good luck I am sure you will be happy with which ever route you go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
My advice is to hold off on major mods until you learn how to control your car extremely well at its stock power level. Based on your comments, it seems you haven't done this yet (no offense intended).
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
The ol "get used to the power you already have" rule of thumb is pretty good advice, but some of us choose to ignore it anyway. Many have made this decision in the course of modding their cars, including myself. I choose the H/C, full bolt-on way, and I was very pleased with the result, but I always wanted a power adder. Of course, after "finishing" my NA build, the stock clutch gave up the fight. So, needing a clutch, but knowing a SC would be alot of fun, I ended up doing both. A&A had an incredible sale, and I could no longer resist. The smart way would be to start off with the SC kit. It's much easier to add boost, than bolting on better components. Besides, as time and budget allows, you can do it all eventually. I would buy headers, but not install them until you're ready to install the SC. You have to almost totally remove them anyway. If you want another 30-50 HP, add a nice blower cam, and valve springs, which you need anyway. Allow budget for a clutch; you'll need one. Good luck with your decision.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Worcester ma
Thank you, I guess what I am trying to say is, my car before this was a heavily modified 1986 911 turbo. It had big cams, high boost, big intercoolers, the usual. Nothing off the line, but once it was on the highway the power would come on like a hurricane. The Z in stock form has more ***** down low but wouldnt touch it on the highway. With a few mods, however, I'm sure it would. The thing is, the Porsche felt like it would handle whatever power you could put into it; it was very stable, even though it was stone age and had no traction control or anything like that. The Z is a little more squirrelly, and I think its because the V8 power comnes on so strong, so soon. I'm just wondering about the squirrelly factor of the blower as compared to the heads/cam.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Worcester ma
Thank you, I'm going to go with the Michelin Pilot Sport 315/30/18 and 275/40/17 on the stock wheels, assuming the tire guy doesnt give me a hard time about that size, and also look up the alignment specs on this site for street duty.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
I don't know much about Porsches, then or now. Was your '86 an AWD? I'm assuming it wasn't, but regardless, the steering response of a Corvette is nothing like a Porsche. A cruder, more sledgehammer like device for going fast, that gets the job done. With those tires, and maybe some suspension mods, it'll out corner your old car pretty easily, but, it won't feel like it's faster. And with engine mods, it'll be a handful. Worth it, though, because it's pretty cheap to make a Corvette really fast.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Worcester ma
Zeevette, my old Porsche wasnt all wheel drive. Also, maybe compared to the new Porsches costing twice as much the Vette could be seen as cruder but definitely not compared to mine. That thing was the real deal just like the Vette.
I will be looking at the latest Pilot Sports available for the Vette, I assume the PS2's.
I will be looking at the latest Pilot Sports available for the Vette, I assume the PS2's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 29
From: Federal Way WA
I was also on the fence about going supercharger or a nice head/cam/intake setup. I am choosing to go NA as that's what i wanted to do all along. After adding up all the parts on my list i am only about 700 shy of a new A&A kit. So at this point so it wasn't much cheaper but I didnt do a budget setup either. TFS heads/ported fast, and all the other small parts to finish out the parts list. You will need a clutch with either setup eventually as well so add that to the list. You can get some money back from heads and intake if you go head/cam/intake route also which you cant with a supercharger. Like most people say it all depends on what your goals are and your budget. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Zeevette, my old Porsche wasnt all wheel drive. Also, maybe compared to the new Porsches costing twice as much the Vette could be seen as cruder but definitely not compared to mine. That thing was the real deal just like the Vette.
I will be looking at the latest Pilot Sports available for the Vette, I assume the PS2's.
I will be looking at the latest Pilot Sports available for the Vette, I assume the PS2's.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
There are a few things that I don't like about the blower route:
Added weight- I know it's not that much weight, but still...
Belt slip/throw- The new set-ups seem to have much less of this issue.
Octane- It's getting hard to find good gas anymore and I'd rather not fuss with a meth kit or race fuel/xylene/whatever.
I haven't had a boosted car since my old Grand National back in the early 1990s and miss it sometimes...hard to beat FI for big power.
Added weight- I know it's not that much weight, but still...
Belt slip/throw- The new set-ups seem to have much less of this issue.
Octane- It's getting hard to find good gas anymore and I'd rather not fuss with a meth kit or race fuel/xylene/whatever.
I haven't had a boosted car since my old Grand National back in the early 1990s and miss it sometimes...hard to beat FI for big power.
