Turbo or Supercharger?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
Turbo or Supercharger? Hey guys,
I’m new to the LS engines and currently torn on which application would be best for my setup. I have a 1985 Toyota Landcruiser with a LQ4 swap and 4L80. It dyno’d 352 HP and 365 TQ. This is just a weekend vehicle to me and used for driving to the beach, off roading, light towing, and plain old fun. I’m not happy with the power and would like more. Sadly, it will not even do a burn out due to all the power train loss. I would like to increase the low end torque and at least burn some tires.
Should I do a roots style supercharger or turbo it?
Current setup:
1985 Landcruiser (4500lbs)
LQ4 with 4L80 with shift kit
3200 stall
PRC 2.5 5.3 heads 64cc CNC ported (Cathedral port)
8.1 marine injectors 42 lb
Comp cam 228/232 .585/.595 112 LSA
4.56 gears / 33” tires
I’m leaning towards a LSA Supercharger w/ adapters for the heads.
Tell me me what you think? Don’t hold back!
I’m new to the LS engines and currently torn on which application would be best for my setup. I have a 1985 Toyota Landcruiser with a LQ4 swap and 4L80. It dyno’d 352 HP and 365 TQ. This is just a weekend vehicle to me and used for driving to the beach, off roading, light towing, and plain old fun. I’m not happy with the power and would like more. Sadly, it will not even do a burn out due to all the power train loss. I would like to increase the low end torque and at least burn some tires.
Should I do a roots style supercharger or turbo it?
Current setup:
1985 Landcruiser (4500lbs)
LQ4 with 4L80 with shift kit
3200 stall
PRC 2.5 5.3 heads 64cc CNC ported (Cathedral port)
8.1 marine injectors 42 lb
Comp cam 228/232 .585/.595 112 LSA
4.56 gears / 33” tires
I’m leaning towards a LSA Supercharger w/ adapters for the heads.
Tell me me what you think? Don’t hold back!
Never a fan of running adapters... An LQ engine will take LSA heads which wouldn't require adapters and would make more power. Also those 5.3 heads are pretty high compression and have small valves so they don't flow well. . I'd be worried about detonation issues which is why those LSA heads would be a good choice. Then you'd need some bigger injectors.
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Hollywood of Dreams
i mean me personally i get my gigglies all warmed up and flowing high levels of testosterone every time my turbo'd cars spool and go. you can be a sissy or you can be awesome. put a turbo on it and dont think twice.
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And while you're waiting for your turbo to spool the LSA supercharger will already be making boost and tons of low end torque!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
I agree, running adapters is not preferred. I would like to stay on 91 octane and run on 6-7psi.
Factory the LQ4 had 9.4:1 compression with 71.06cc 317 heads (1.89 Int, 1.55 Exh)
PRC 2.5 5.3 heads are 63cc with (2.02 Int, 1.575 Exh) Raising my compression to roughly 10.2:1. Using the theory -1cc equals 1/10 compression. At .600 lift my heads flow 308 cfm Intake and 223 cfm Exhaust. 317 heads at .600 flow 253 cfm Intake and 184 cfm Exhaust.
I think the heads I have on the motor currently should be fine since they flow better then 317's and have larger valves.
Factory the LQ4 had 9.4:1 compression with 71.06cc 317 heads (1.89 Int, 1.55 Exh)
PRC 2.5 5.3 heads are 63cc with (2.02 Int, 1.575 Exh) Raising my compression to roughly 10.2:1. Using the theory -1cc equals 1/10 compression. At .600 lift my heads flow 308 cfm Intake and 223 cfm Exhaust. 317 heads at .600 flow 253 cfm Intake and 184 cfm Exhaust.
I think the heads I have on the motor currently should be fine since they flow better then 317's and have larger valves.
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Hollywood of Dreams
who cares about low end torque. no one on these forums is gonna be excited about your low end torque number! its all about peak HP and looking cool in your swapped FJ while doing 14sec 1/4 passes, because why swap an LS into an FJ and not take it to the drag strip.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
I see your point. As fun and exciting it would be to put down a huge peak HP number, I would be too much of a “sissy” to drive a 1985 Landcruiser with 800+ HP.
The adapters aren't ideal but they aren't much of a restriction with the LSA supercharger. There are a quite a few people running a similar setup to his and making good power with 5.3's and 6.0's with cathedral port heads.
His static compression ratio shouldn't be a problem as long as he runs premium fuel and runs a decent intercooler. If he can run e-85 it would even be better. He can expect to make a lot more torque and that is what he needs on a 4500lb vehicle. Yes a turbo will make more peak power but in this situation a positive displacement supercharger would work really well probably better than a turbo.
His static compression ratio shouldn't be a problem as long as he runs premium fuel and runs a decent intercooler. If he can run e-85 it would even be better. He can expect to make a lot more torque and that is what he needs on a 4500lb vehicle. Yes a turbo will make more peak power but in this situation a positive displacement supercharger would work really well probably better than a turbo.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
What do you guys think? Should I grab this if it will clear my hood?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
I am surprised as well. With the weight, 33” tires, 9.5” rear end, transfer case, and the 4L80 I have excessive power train loss. The cam probably isn’t helping either. It made 150lbs of torque at 2000 rpm and over 300lbs at 3k. Max torque was at 3750, putting down 365 tq. It’s been on the dyno twice now. Just a dog out of the hole, kinda depressing.