Turbo'd...or Procharged...that is the question
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Turbo'd...or Procharged...that is the question ok i dont know much about turbos...so im trying to learn as much as possible..but if anybody knows more than i do will be so kind as to break down the pros and cons of turbos vs superchargers...and overall which would get more power continuously thorought the powerband the safest...and cheaper of course..lol...oh not to mention other mods and the power they will end up putting on top of the blowers.....im just deciding what to spend cash on..the procharger..or the turbo..im just trying to see if im missing anything by procharging it instead.....thanks guys! 
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Turbo or Supercharge? Turbos are cheaper, suffer "a little" lag (being exhaust-driven), and are not parasitic (power) as shaft-driven units are. Who is the lucky one to install 'em? Bring $! There ARE other ways to make HP ...
Turbos are cheaper, suffer "a little" lag (being exhaust-driven), and are not parasitic (power) as shaft-driven units are. Who is the lucky one to install 'em? Bring $! There ARE other ways to make HP ... 
TECH Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: NC STATE
it depends on the goal of you car. You could make a nice 500 hp car with a fairly cheap supercharger...
You could make a 200 plus mph screamer with a big single turbo or a twin turbo setup.
If I had the money to invest and get some forged internals first, I'd personally go with turbos. Yeah they are a pain to install and everything, but you can dial the boost electronically. No changing pulleys. You can go from a 500 hp car to a 1200 hp car (okay maybe exaggerating a little) at the push of a button.
Space is also something to consider. Supercharger kits usually fit with all the normal amenities. Turbos, especially twins can take up a lot of room. The simplicity of supercharger kits are nice.
I would say if budget is your objective-go supercharger, as MDHMI said, turbos are very expensive.
You could make a 200 plus mph screamer with a big single turbo or a twin turbo setup.
If I had the money to invest and get some forged internals first, I'd personally go with turbos. Yeah they are a pain to install and everything, but you can dial the boost electronically. No changing pulleys. You can go from a 500 hp car to a 1200 hp car (okay maybe exaggerating a little) at the push of a button.
Space is also something to consider. Supercharger kits usually fit with all the normal amenities. Turbos, especially twins can take up a lot of room. The simplicity of supercharger kits are nice.
I would say if budget is your objective-go supercharger, as MDHMI said, turbos are very expensive.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bloomfield, NJ
Why not look at an STS turbo kit??? For around the price of a SC kit you can get up to 12lbs of boost at the flip of a switch and best part is it doesn't take away from your engine bay. They locate the turbo in the rear of the car. The guys with the STS kit are making nice numbers at the factory set 5lb and respectible numbers with the 7-8lbs. Add some fuel system upgrades such as Meth injection and 40lb injectors and in tank pump.. and run 10lbs. With the boost controller you can run it at 5lbs during the work week and hit the switch and go 10lbs.
Kit starts around 3,600 so for around 42 maybe 4300 you can run 10lbs of boost.
Kit starts around 3,600 so for around 42 maybe 4300 you can run 10lbs of boost.
Trending Topics
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, TN
Wow. That is the first time I have seen the STS kit. That looks really cool and sounds awesome. I was kinda worried about the distance the air has to tavel causing boost loss, but actually I don't guess it's any more boost loss than with an intercooler. Plus, all that pipe would act as an intercooler. In other words, very clever design.
Steven
By the way, I am also a member of the Corvette Forum and Digital Corvettes. This is my first post here. Looks to be a really cool place.
Steven
By the way, I am also a member of the Corvette Forum and Digital Corvettes. This is my first post here. Looks to be a really cool place.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
You know, this "stealing the turbo kit" thing came up in another thread. How many people are going to know much about a rear turbo setup who would understand what to take, and how to do this? If pipes are welded and pieces have been tacked, it would almost be easier just to steal the whole damned car.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Smoov-E
You know, this "stealing the turbo kit" thing came up in another thread. How many people are going to know much about a rear turbo setup who would understand what to take, and how to do this? If pipes are welded and pieces have been tacked, it would almost be easier just to steal the whole damned car.
Never been to the hood have you? lol
The single exhaust problem isn't a.... problem at all. Just get some custom tips fabbed up to run out both sides. As for someone stealing it, that is a concern. Something can be done though to make that difficult, or a proxy alarm will handle it.
12 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: MI
Originally Posted by Smoov-E
You know, this "stealing the turbo kit" thing came up in another thread. How many people are going to know much about a rear turbo setup who would understand what to take, and how to do this? If pipes are welded and pieces have been tacked, it would almost be easier just to steal the whole damned car.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 0
From: Germantown, MD
If this is for a Vette the stock ATI kit is already spring tensioned so I don't think you'll even need the SDConcepts kit. But not sure how far the Vette kit has been taken. The SDCE has seen 18 psi with no slip on an LS1 and 0ver 24 on non-LS1s. It's a new design so this is not to say 18 is the limit, I just haven't heard of anyone trying to go any further.
Turbos will cost more and are less parasitic, so with equal sized compressers the Turbo kit will put more power to the ground. But they are much hard to install and tune. They have more complex routing and more weight(in general, not always). They have less predictable power. All this adds up to more downtime and a less turn key system. Every turbo car I've known has seen significant downtime. Where as my car has run a year and a half untuned with no issues(other than normal car stuff).
I would think for a track car where you'll want your power at WOT all the time a Turbo would be the way to go. On the street, where quick blasts, and partial throttle accel is more prevalent not to mention it's more stable nature, the S/C setup is the better choice.
Both are potent avenues, but I think they have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose which one best fits your needs. You'll be happy with either.
Mike
Turbos will cost more and are less parasitic, so with equal sized compressers the Turbo kit will put more power to the ground. But they are much hard to install and tune. They have more complex routing and more weight(in general, not always). They have less predictable power. All this adds up to more downtime and a less turn key system. Every turbo car I've known has seen significant downtime. Where as my car has run a year and a half untuned with no issues(other than normal car stuff).
I would think for a track car where you'll want your power at WOT all the time a Turbo would be the way to go. On the street, where quick blasts, and partial throttle accel is more prevalent not to mention it's more stable nature, the S/C setup is the better choice.
Both are potent avenues, but I think they have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose which one best fits your needs. You'll be happy with either.
Mike
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by buschman
If this is for a Vette the stock ATI kit is already spring tensioned so I don't think you'll even need the SDConcepts kit. But not sure how far the Vette kit has been taken. The SDCE has seen 18 psi with no slip on an LS1 and 0ver 24 on non-LS1s. It's a new design so this is not to say 18 is the limit, I just haven't heard of anyone trying to go any further.
Turbos will cost more and are less parasitic, so with equal sized compressers the Turbo kit will put more power to the ground. But they are much hard to install and tune. They have more complex routing and more weight(in general, not always). They have less predictable power. All this adds up to more downtime and a less turn key system. Every turbo car I've known has seen significant downtime. Where as my car has run a year and a half untuned with no issues(other than normal car stuff).
I would think for a track car where you'll want your power at WOT all the time a Turbo would be the way to go. On the street, where quick blasts, and partial throttle accel is more prevalent not to mention it's more stable nature, the S/C setup is the better choice.
Both are potent avenues, but I think they have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose which one best fits your needs. You'll be happy with either.
Mike
Turbos will cost more and are less parasitic, so with equal sized compressers the Turbo kit will put more power to the ground. But they are much hard to install and tune. They have more complex routing and more weight(in general, not always). They have less predictable power. All this adds up to more downtime and a less turn key system. Every turbo car I've known has seen significant downtime. Where as my car has run a year and a half untuned with no issues(other than normal car stuff).
I would think for a track car where you'll want your power at WOT all the time a Turbo would be the way to go. On the street, where quick blasts, and partial throttle accel is more prevalent not to mention it's more stable nature, the S/C setup is the better choice.
Both are potent avenues, but I think they have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose which one best fits your needs. You'll be happy with either.
Mike
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 0
From: Germantown, MD
Originally Posted by 5432LT1
so out of a pretty stock lt1 how much boost could i run with a d1sc prochr. and whats the most power i could crank out safely at the wheels?
The big problem with the LS1s is their compression(10.1:1), shallow ringland lip, and weak piston material. If LT1s have the same problem areas, regardless of them having iron blocks, they'll probably be limited to the same 8-9 lbs. of boost. But you'd need to talk to an LT1 pro about that.
Mike
12 Second Truck Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,574
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
This is a decent lil explaination for total newbies. Maybe a lil biased towards turbos but who wouldn't be? Turbos are just plain more efficient :p
http://rcspoolers.com/tech.htm
http://rcspoolers.com/tech.htm
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 0
From: Germantown, MD
Originally Posted by F8L Z71
This is a decent lil explaination for total newbies. Maybe a lil biased towards turbos but who wouldn't be? Turbos are just plain more efficient :p
http://rcspoolers.com/tech.htm
http://rcspoolers.com/tech.htm
I was surprised they said cost was no factor though. that tends to be one of the initial points a newbie will face.
Mike
12 Second Truck Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,574
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
I think on some cars it is not as much of a factor though. Say on a Fox body Mustang yeah the blower route would be much cheaper but on an LS1 I don't see it being much different. A fully installed ATI kit is what $7k isn't that what most fornt mount turbos would cost? I know my STS kit with upgraded turbo, injectors, Alky, tuning etc would be in the $5.5k range retail. So not too much different on our cars I would think.