Ok so I know this topic has been beat in to the ground here. I've spent days now combing through the older threads on this topic and while i gained a lot of knowledge i still have some questions so please bear with me. I'm a new vette owner and until now I've been a Mopar guy so I'm definitely getting an education on this car. It's worlds apart from my SRT's. I have an '11 base coupe LS3 A6, 2.56 RA with a Corsa axleback and I've decided do go the bolt on route and add a blower and long tube headers with a tune. The big question for me is in the title of this thread. Is this car better with gains in the full power band (PD) or would a centrifugal with power in the upper rpm range be better. Obviously traction is a concern so centrifugal would be better but I'm not looking to go crazy and I like the idea of power added throughout the powerband from the moment I hit the gas. I'm looking at 6 to 8lbs of boost with anywhere from 500 to 600 wheel hp on 93 pump gas and I'll be happy. I'm not going to track the car except for the occasional run down to my local dragstrip for test and tune night. With this modest approach do I need to worry about traction and will it be safe for the motor, trans and torque tube without replacing parts on the aforementioned. Also if you bolted on either one of these types of blowers I'd love to get your personal experience with the mod and if you'd do anything different. Thanks and I apologize for digging up this topic again.

 

Better traction with centrifugal supercharger is not a guarantee. I did a pro charger (centrifugal) on my C6. Because of the spike in power, it can actually be harder to manage than the linear power gains you get with a root style supercharger. Seems my buddy’s Callaway C6 (root) was easier to manage the traction.

I went with the pro charger mostly because I did not want to modify my hood in anyway. It was a daily driver at the time, and I was keeping it simple. Truth be told, if I was doing it again, I would do a route style supercharger.

 

I have an A&A kit and boost starts at around 3k RPM. I'm still able to break the tires loose before boost, so I can only imagine the traction issues I'd have with a roots blower. The boost from 3k to redline (~8 psi) is very linear and predictable and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing.

 

If the centrifugal isn't making power you're in the wrong gear.

 

Or not enough boost.

 

Centrifugal you don't have to modify the hood. Centrifugal you won't have to pin the harmonic balancer.
8 pounds of boost should be fine for the motor if you're under 125k miles. The torque tube is a gamble depending on milage.
my $0.02, ymmv

 

Thanks, the car has 34K miles.

 

Boost the hell out of her! The drive train with be fine.

 

Edlebrock makes a root where you don’t have to mod the hood. That was my other option when I did mine.

 

Edelbrock Eforce or ECS Centri system will be fine for the LS3. Just need to make sure that the car has a good, dialed in tune.

I have the Eforce on my 2011 Grand Sport. I love it. I installed it myself and it's been on my car for over 5 years now. It is super reliable with no problems.

I could have just as easily gone with a centrifugal system and I know I would have been happy with that as well.

With either, traction will always be a problem no matter what if you give it the beans.

 

Thanks for all of the feedback this is exactly what I was hoping for. I'm leaning towards PD (roots) blower as long as I can keep my stock hood. I just have a feeling I'll like it more but who knows I may change my mind at the last minute!

 

Anytime I need a reminder if my choice of PD supercharger was the right one, all I have to do is drive the car. Instant torque and holy **** the RPM's climb quick.

 

Roots blowers are much better, instant torque. I really can't think of a reason anyone would go centrifugal unless you have to.

 

My experience with a centrifugal the only point not in boost is the start of 1st gear but still overpowers the tires with ease. Beyond that you're in the power with every shift. If starting from a roll you're in the wrong gear if not making boost.

Maybe it's different driving an auto trans.

 

Harder to control at launch. Centris build boost similar to turbos, progressively more with more rpms, so easier to control from a launch.. In typical builds centris are capable of higher ultimate horsepower numbers. More area under the curve hp/torque with a Roots doesn't really help much if you can't use it because you just blow the tires off. JMO; everyone needs to determine which is best for them. Roots are IMO a better choice for an awd car or a heavy truck, where one can take advantage of that low rpm torque advantage.

 

If someone's car can't take advantage of a roots blower they need better tires and suspension. But I know what you're saying and you are correct that it helps with the launching if a car isn't setup for power.

 

All the options should easily be capable of overpowering any tire when launching.

 

Well spoken.
Roots are also best to just look REALLY cool! Lol

A buddy's rat rod.

 

yo! I’ve got the exact car you are describing. 09 A6 LS3 base c6. Got an edelbrock e force SC (roots), corsa sport exhaust. No headers yet, but running e85 on a return fuel system. I’ve got 590 wheel. Car absolutely rips, I love it. Running 6 boost. I’ve not got good tires currently so i will break traction from a dig if I’m trying for a 0-60 time. Car feels super reliable so far - had this set up for about 5,000 miles. Very good power in 2nd and 3rd all the way thru the band. Did an 8 second 60-130 today, 80 degrees out. I honestly thought the car would be a LITTLE faster with this set up but I think tires will help quite a bit. I do know many vette people are fully against edelbrock - if I could go back in time I may have just taken the car to A&A and let them do their thing. I feel you will be happy whichever route you go. One thing about the e force supercharger is you can’t hear the whine at all unless the hood is open, bummer, rips tho! Good luck send updates

 

One follow up tho if you get an E-force
the canned tune it comes with is complete garbage you will hardly feel a difference. Thoughtful tune from a pro is completely necessary