Hey guys,

I am hasseling over the ways to gain horsepower with a 2001 LS1 (California car) but need some advise. Certainly 450+ horsepower sounds great with a CA legal procharger, but what are the benefits/downsides to the ole basic power building ways of head/cam and header. More wear and tear on the engine, drivability? Reliability? Or can you simply get more power out of a supercharger? Please educate me :cheers:

 

Also, when does a supercharger "kick in?" Is it like nitrous where it only kicks in at wide open throttle?

 

Supercharger "kicks in" right away. Its connected to your drive system, the more RPM the more boost, but without the bottom end (low RPM) lag of a turbo setup. The supercharger is always turning.

Under normal driving, it will only be at modest boost levels. You will make more power with the supercharger, but less issues with a good heads and cam setup, and can always add the supercharger on top later :D

 

Uhh turbos make plenty of power at lower RPM. If you have a Midas Muffler turbo system you might have a timing delay between when you mash the gas and start building boost, but none of the modern systems have a problem with that, especially on larger engines like the LS1.

The problem with centrifugal superchargers is they only make good power at higher RPMS, say 4000+. Heads/cam share that characteristic, but are even worse. You can do that whipple style blower, but you need a new hood $$$ and it has limited peak rwhp.

I'd stick with an ATI based supercharger kit (MMS has a great kit, and A&As looks good too, both shops are local to you)

 

Uhh Terry, not sure what turbo cars you drive, but I beg to differ that most modern ones offer great low end. Being that most turbo cars are small displacement, I notice plenty of lag before the various RPM for each when turbo boost really kicks in. This includes MODERN, cars such as the WRX, EVO, SRT4, all the Saabs, and so on. This is what I was talking about when saying that, he never asked about a turbo on a LS1. So maybe we have a difference of opinion on power delivery, but none of the turbo cars I have been in recently have low RPM power as their strong suite and where they really shine? I think we had a misunderstanding on that or I didn't explain it right. What turbo car did this for you? I'd like to try it again, and see if I feel differently. I wasn't trying to compare the turbo to the supercharger, but rather explain how the supercharger works to answer when it kciks in.

Now of course a larger displacement V8 won’t have much of a turbo lag issue, as the engine is already making plenty of power and torque before the turbos hit their peak boost, so its just fast and faster, turbo 5.0s and LS1s included, but their aren’t many turbo factory V8 cars out there.

Furthermore, 2 friends with supras, one that runs 10s also has noticeable lag until the RPM gets up there and the thing really starts to fly. Supercharges, especially roots style, are much more known to produce lower RPM power then Turbos. I think this drivability is one reason more OEMS seem to go SC instead of Turbo, however I agree a turbo can make great low end, especially on a V8, though that is not your typical turbo car. Anyhow, he wasnÂ’t asking about turbos, just trying to figure out what he meant by kicking in on the supercharger.

With a supercharger, it is on/turning all the time and its power is based on RPM. With the nitrous, you can disarm it all together for everyday driving, and typically only sprays at WOT. There is no switich at Wide Open Throttle that turns the Super Charger on like with Nitrous.

Also Terry, you say heads/cam are even worse? IÂd have to differ with you there also, especially as I own a head and cam car, and let me tell you, the bottom end got very healthy as well as the top after this mod. Ive yet to be pulled by any car off the line in my A4 car by anything with similar tires and most on ET streets even, including VIPERS. And remember, I can’t hold much more then 2500RPM off the line in an automatic, definite low end buddy. Check my times, and keep the starting RPM and the fact that I am still traction limited with 315 wide drag radials that have been heated to get an idea of how much low end (not just "even worse" top end only type of power) a good H/C package can make.

Again, I would recommend head and cam package as it will be less maintenance, your car still appears stock, and you can stack a supercharged down the road with other mods. Nore maintenance, and more parts to deal with with a Super Charger Setup. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.




[Modified by TexCorvette, 5:49 AM 10/28/2003]

 

A S/C car will run like a NA car off boost. You can drive all day without kicking in the boost if you like... or you can spend the day rolling on the throttle and having a fun time with the boost. A good heads and cam car is VERY easy to drive and maintain. A S/C car may give you more power but it can be high maintanence as well as needing upgrades such as an aftermarket clutch assembly just to hold up to the newfound power. IOW, if you have the money, go S/C... if you dont... get the heads and cam.

VR :cheers:

 

heads and cam. then supercharge later on :yesnod:

 

One thing you must remember, yes you can go h/c but if you do h/c for most power it will not work the best with supercharger. Ideally with supercharger need different cam (so your not just blowing out boost) Ideally the heads for supercharger best to lower compression to run more boost safely. Other wise you will need to run less boost which negates the positives over the h/c package in the first place. Just my .02

 

TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE BOTH........TOGETHER THEY WORK GREAT........575RWHP@5PSI BOOST.IF U R ONLY CONSIDERING ONE THEN DO THE SUPERCHARGE(PREFFERABELY ATI PROCHARGER).GREAT REALIBILITY N DRIVABILITY.IF U R THINKING ABOUT DOING ONE AT A TIME THEN DO THE HEAD N CAM PACKAGE FIRST.THIS IS MY 1ST S/C,ALL MY OTHER CARS ARE TURBOS.I FIND THE S/C TO BE MUCH MORE SUPERIOR THAN A TURBO BECAUSE THERE IS LITTLE N NO LAG,N NO NIGHTMARE TUNING ISSUES.