What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged?
What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? I am sure you have heard this question a million times. I hope you will take the time to answer it again for me. I am getting ready to do some type of Forced induction on my car, but I am having a hard time deciding which route to take. I want something that is low maintance, and something that will last the life of my car. I have been looking at the ATI Procharger kits and if I go Supercharged, that is the one I will get. But I have also been thinking about going Turbocharged instead. What are the pros and cons of each? I know they say with a turbo there is a lag time before you start to make power with it. But the Supercharger doesn't realy make any boost off idol eaither. I am confused as to which to go with. It looks like it would be easier to change plugs and set valves with a turbo kit. Plus the headers are part of the system so I would not be buying headers like I would be doing with the supercharger. But I am consurned about all that extra heat being in the engine compartment. Also it looks like it would be a big pain to change a turbo if it goes out. I also noticed it looks like my power stearing lines that goes into the rack and pinion would be in the way and might have to be moved.
Someone please help me decide. Will I be able to achieve 8psi with a turbo? Can I run my nitrous system with a turbo or supercharger if I cut it back to 25 or 50 hp shot? If I put a good 3500 stall in my car will the turbo be spooled up when I leave the line?
Someone please help me decide. Will I be able to achieve 8psi with a turbo? Can I run my nitrous system with a turbo or supercharger if I cut it back to 25 or 50 hp shot? If I put a good 3500 stall in my car will the turbo be spooled up when I leave the line?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Mar 2002
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Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? Texas WS6:
I don't think anyone really wants to have this debate again. Use the search button and go back a couple of months. You'll find plenty of opinions.
SC-
I don't think anyone really wants to have this debate again. Use the search button and go back a couple of months. You'll find plenty of opinions.
SC-
TECH Junkie
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,340
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From: Houston, TX
Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? Well its going to depend on what your trying to achive and how much your willing to spend.The turbo kit from what ive seen runs about $7000 I think and the Procharger is around $4500 or so.I would think that the tuning would be about the same either way.As far as NOS I would'nt think a 25-50 shot would hurt anything just make sure you get some good tuning and programming.As far as spooling up off the line with turbo you definitely want too-but I would go bigger like a 4000 stall-just my .02 worth!! 
Let us know how this turns out!!
Let us know how this turns out!! Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? I vote for the following:
Vortech Supercharger
-Has always come with 8 rib crank and blower pulleys
-Proven to make 425-500rwhp with stock motor
-Rare complaints about quality or fitment of parts
-Don't have to remove the blower to change the belt like ATI kit
-My friend went 11.1@123mph with a kit, slicks, headers, 4000 stall, and some weight reduction
QMP Turbo System
-Only single turbo on the market
-Significant R&D behind product
-Easiest turbo system to install
-Friends have gone over 122mph with stock motor
Those are my choices.
Vortech Supercharger
-Has always come with 8 rib crank and blower pulleys
-Proven to make 425-500rwhp with stock motor
-Rare complaints about quality or fitment of parts
-Don't have to remove the blower to change the belt like ATI kit
-My friend went 11.1@123mph with a kit, slicks, headers, 4000 stall, and some weight reduction
QMP Turbo System
-Only single turbo on the market
-Significant R&D behind product
-Easiest turbo system to install
-Friends have gone over 122mph with stock motor
Those are my choices.
Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? Thanks you for your input XFactor. I was thinking of spending no more then 6500 on the set up. I know they should both preform about the same on the top of the rpm chain. I just want to make sure I get the best preformance gain I can on the bottom end too. I have no problem with a 4000 stall either. With the 6500 I have to spend, I am leaning to the ATI Procharger kit. That way I would have the money to get the fuel injectors, fuel pump, and the converter I want. And also buy LS1 Edit. I am starting to think the Turbo kits will run me alot more then 6500 after you add in the stall, injectors, and programing. Plus I am conserned with the maintance on the turbo from were it is placed at in the car. I also don't like the idea of using the engine oil to feed it. But if it will make alot more power in the lower rpm range then I will fork the money for it.
I drive this car from Odessa Texas to New Orleans once a week. Thats 800 miles one way every week. So I like to play on the run too.
So I guess I am just wondering wich of the two will make more power at the lower RPM, if they are both set up to make 8 to 9 psi on the top end?
I drive this car from Odessa Texas to New Orleans once a week. Thats 800 miles one way every week. So I like to play on the run too.
So I guess I am just wondering wich of the two will make more power at the lower RPM, if they are both set up to make 8 to 9 psi on the top end?
Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? PSJ, from what I understand about the Vortech system you have to relocate teh batterie to make room for the water tank for the aftercooler. Is this true? I have no idea where I would put the batterie at. I already have my spare tire well filled with my Nitrous bottle and a box for the 10" speaker that I put on that side of the car. I would have put the speaker on the other side but I put another 10' speaker there too 
. SO the only other place I can think of right now is in the bottom of the trunk. But I still use it for my T Tops. Like I was saying earlier, I drive this car cross country every week. I want all the origanal equipment in it. If I have to move my batterie someplace else to install the Vortec, well that just makes things worst. I could loose the Nitros system all together. But I payed 1300 dollars for the whole system and I haven't had it for a whole year yet. I would hait to get rid of it. I am hopeing to at least use a 25 to 50 hourse boost from it. Thats the main reason I am kind of shunning away from the Vortech Kit. Now I have no idea if I realy have to move the batterie or not. Maybe someone on here can tell me the rest of the story on that part of it.
As for the turbo you were talking about, were do I find it and info on it? I do like the idea of a turbo. I would go that route if it will make the same power running down the road that the supercharger makes. Wont there be a lag time or something like that?
. SO the only other place I can think of right now is in the bottom of the trunk. But I still use it for my T Tops. Like I was saying earlier, I drive this car cross country every week. I want all the origanal equipment in it. If I have to move my batterie someplace else to install the Vortec, well that just makes things worst. I could loose the Nitros system all together. But I payed 1300 dollars for the whole system and I haven't had it for a whole year yet. I would hait to get rid of it. I am hopeing to at least use a 25 to 50 hourse boost from it. Thats the main reason I am kind of shunning away from the Vortech Kit. Now I have no idea if I realy have to move the batterie or not. Maybe someone on here can tell me the rest of the story on that part of it. As for the turbo you were talking about, were do I find it and info on it? I do like the idea of a turbo. I would go that route if it will make the same power running down the road that the supercharger makes. Wont there be a lag time or something like that?
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TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2002
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Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? I agree with SS00Blue, let's please not enter into yet another hypothetical debate on such an unanswerable question. One should use the "search" buttons to gain an understanding of the pros and cons of both systems.
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 698
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From: PA
Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? well u missed a very good article in hot rod.
even at non-intercooled, the turbo made more avg torque AND peak torque.
no loss of power from a belt like a supercharger either. same went for avg hp..the Centrifugal made more peak hp, since the turbo wasn't intercooled in this comparison. however the turbo made more power al the way until 5k rpm.
superchargers depend on rpm for power, unlike turbos.
as far as efficiency, well it's not even close..think of the millions of turbodiesel trucks that rack up upwards of half a million miles.
yeah top fuel use superchargers..only because turbos are not allowed, eaton type blowers are significantly inferior as well.
NOW:
for mild power a vortech seems to be the ticket..if u own an ls1.
a properly tuned turbo will beat a properly tuned s/c always but sadly turboing our engines is a commitment of patience and u have to be ready for problems to come up.
of course think of it this way..once u get the s/c, u might still be wondering/hoping u had gotten the turbo- and once your turbo runs properly u will not want to go back.
even at non-intercooled, the turbo made more avg torque AND peak torque.
no loss of power from a belt like a supercharger either. same went for avg hp..the Centrifugal made more peak hp, since the turbo wasn't intercooled in this comparison. however the turbo made more power al the way until 5k rpm.
superchargers depend on rpm for power, unlike turbos.
as far as efficiency, well it's not even close..think of the millions of turbodiesel trucks that rack up upwards of half a million miles.
yeah top fuel use superchargers..only because turbos are not allowed, eaton type blowers are significantly inferior as well.
NOW:
for mild power a vortech seems to be the ticket..if u own an ls1.
a properly tuned turbo will beat a properly tuned s/c always but sadly turboing our engines is a commitment of patience and u have to be ready for problems to come up.
of course think of it this way..once u get the s/c, u might still be wondering/hoping u had gotten the turbo- and once your turbo runs properly u will not want to go back.
Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? TORQUE=MORE POWER=MORE FUN AND FASTER=TURBO. a good stall (3500+) with either SC or turbo will be great fun. I was driving a customers 11.0 car with an A4 and how we setup the trans was great
As you ease onto the throttle from a cruise the converter will unlock and downshift much more than stock and put @ 4300+rpms and into the 5psi boost area with the ATI. It will break the tires loose @ a 75mph roll on. With a turbo this would be even more fun, more boost at a lower RPM.
Jeremy Formato
As you ease onto the throttle from a cruise the converter will unlock and downshift much more than stock and put @ 4300+rpms and into the 5psi boost area with the ATI. It will break the tires loose @ a 75mph roll on. With a turbo this would be even more fun, more boost at a lower RPM.
Jeremy Formato
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 698
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From: PA
Re: What is better? Turbocharged or Supercharged? "Given equivalent vehicles, the turbo would easily motor away from the centrifugal in an acceleration contest......The turbo offered massive midrange torque production, the only system to exceed 600 lb-ft. Need more
convincing? At 4,000 rpm, the turbo was more than 100 lb-ft. stronger than either the Roots or centrifugal."
- Battle of the Boost, Hotrod Magazine, August 2003.
convincing? At 4,000 rpm, the turbo was more than 100 lb-ft. stronger than either the Roots or centrifugal."
- Battle of the Boost, Hotrod Magazine, August 2003.
