Mild Supercharger
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 161
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Mild Supercharger
Is there such a thing as a "Mild" supercharger. I have a stock LS1 and want a little more grunt but dont want to break anything especially my wallet. Just a reasonable amount of boost that's not going to require
rebuilding the rest of the drivetrain.
Thanks
Bob
rebuilding the rest of the drivetrain.
Thanks
Bob
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Radioflyer is selling his vortech SI trim blower right now in the parts for sale section. It is very mild as far as superchargers go and I believe he was running it on a stock drivetrain and motor. Remember to budget for a dyno tune after the install; it is NOT optional.
While you're heading down this road remember the rule of thumb is: Cheap/Fast/Reliable... pick two.
Also... what mods do you already have done. There are quite a few things you can do to add power that don't involve a blower.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,294
Likes: 1,527
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
all the power they can find. That being said you can have
less hp with a mild tune and a few other changes. It is
not hard to do but why spend the money on a SC if you
don't want much power?? A small cam and a little head
work and you can have small hp. You would spend less
money and have your results. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 161
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Ok
Well ok, thanks for the info. Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree, with the supercharger.
When you say a "mild tune", just what do you mean. The car is an automatic, bone stock except for a BBN air filter setup that was put be the previous owner. The car is pretty quick but you know the way it is
I'm just looking for a few extra ponies without making things unreliable.
What exactly will a "tune" get me ?
Bob
When you say a "mild tune", just what do you mean. The car is an automatic, bone stock except for a BBN air filter setup that was put be the previous owner. The car is pretty quick but you know the way it is
I'm just looking for a few extra ponies without making things unreliable.
What exactly will a "tune" get me ?
Bob
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Well ok, thanks for the info. Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree, with the supercharger.
When you say a "mild tune", just what do you mean. The car is an automatic, bone stock except for a BBN air filter setup that was put be the previous owner. The car is pretty quick but you know the way it is
I'm just looking for a few extra ponies without making things unreliable.
What exactly will a "tune" get me ?
Bob
When you say a "mild tune", just what do you mean. The car is an automatic, bone stock except for a BBN air filter setup that was put be the previous owner. The car is pretty quick but you know the way it is
I'm just looking for a few extra ponies without making things unreliable.
What exactly will a "tune" get me ?
Bob
There is the Magnuson Kit, which is a roots type charger but I don't know if people still use it. You needed to change the hood though.
There are kits that A&A and ECS put out which are centrifugal superchargers. They fit under the existing hood.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
The car is an automatic, bone stock except for a BBN air filter setup that was put be the previous owner. The car is pretty quick but you know the way it is
I'm just looking for a few extra ponies without making things unreliable.
What exactly will a "tune" get me ?
Bob
I'm just looking for a few extra ponies without making things unreliable.
What exactly will a "tune" get me ?
Bob
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 71
From: MA
I have a "mild" supercharger. As someone else said, it depends on how much boost you want. I am running 7 psi boost, which generates 160 RWHP (general rule is 20-25 HP per lb of boost). Now I could easily increase my boost but for me +160 RWHP is adequate. I can easily spin my tires in 1st, 2nd and going into 3rd without popping the clutch (rolling into each gear). You have to ask the question how much HP is USABLE on street tires).
If you go big on boost things break. I am running running my original stock clutch and so far it is holding up fine.
If you go big on boost things break. I am running running my original stock clutch and so far it is holding up fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
If you're looking for a little more grunt I would start with Long Tube headers, a 3.42 rear end with a stall converter and a dyno tune. The gears will not net you any real horsepower but it'll feel like you just freed up 100 ponies... The headers and the tune should be good for 30+ horsepower easily.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 7
From: Oxnard SoCal www.aacorvette.com www.superchargersuperstore.com
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
If you're looking for a little more grunt I would start with Long Tube headers, a 3.42 rear end with a stall converter and a dyno tune. The gears will not net you any real horsepower but it'll feel like you just freed up 100 ponies... The headers and the tune should be good for 30+ horsepower easily.
Having said that, an automatic with stock stall/gears isn't going to feel much more powerfull off the line with a centrifugal blower, but once you're moving the difference will be huge. The tuner can "wake-up" the auto tranny while tuning as well, making it more responsive and much less sluggish.
IMO, headers netting a +30hp gain is not something you can feel. I put LG Pros on my Z and other than the sound the car felt the same. It picked up 2-3 MPH at the strip, not something the butt dyno can register.
A bone stock car with a blower is a pretty good value equation. There's no limit to the amount of money you can spend on small "mods" that may/may not affect how fast the car is. There's NO QUESTION that a blower will make the car MUCH faster.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Here you go, an A&A kit installed and tuned for under $6200:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...0-at-tick.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...0-at-tick.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Good feedback on gear ratios and stall speeds if you decide to go that route:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-in-an-a4.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-in-an-a4.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
I'm not sure how much that package would cost, especially if you're paying someone to install it, but I would think for not much more he could have a blower installed and have some REAL horsepower, not just the "illusion" of more.
Having said that, an automatic with stock stall/gears isn't going to feel much more powerfull off the line with a centrifugal blower, but once you're moving the difference will be huge. The tuner can "wake-up" the auto tranny while tuning as well, making it more responsive and much less sluggish.
IMO, headers netting a +30hp gain is not something you can feel. I put LG Pros on my Z and other than the sound the car felt the same. It picked up 2-3 MPH at the strip, not something the butt dyno can register.
A bone stock car with a blower is a pretty good value equation. There's no limit to the amount of money you can spend on small "mods" that may/may not affect how fast the car is. There's NO QUESTION that a blower will make the car MUCH faster.
Having said that, an automatic with stock stall/gears isn't going to feel much more powerfull off the line with a centrifugal blower, but once you're moving the difference will be huge. The tuner can "wake-up" the auto tranny while tuning as well, making it more responsive and much less sluggish.
IMO, headers netting a +30hp gain is not something you can feel. I put LG Pros on my Z and other than the sound the car felt the same. It picked up 2-3 MPH at the strip, not something the butt dyno can register.
A bone stock car with a blower is a pretty good value equation. There's no limit to the amount of money you can spend on small "mods" that may/may not affect how fast the car is. There's NO QUESTION that a blower will make the car MUCH faster.
So... gears, stall, headers and a tune would net a few more ponies and the gears would "feel" like a 75 hp increase. The combination of the lower gearing and the tune would make for lightning fast throttle response and huge off-the-line grunt. I got the impression that the OP doesn't track his car and therefore doesn't care about actual performance at the track. JMHO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
From: North Bay CA
