H/C/I vs. Supercharging

[GRGT1994]

BTW, this is an old, recurring (but still fun) debate. It's close to, but not quite up there with "Which CAI/mid pipe/shifter/intake is better?"

 

[94GTLaserRC]

BTW, this is an old, recurring (but still fun) debate. It's close to, but not quite up there with "Which CAI/mid pipe/shifter/intake is better?"

I dont see much debate here with shifters and CAI, but you forgot the eternal debate:

WHICH SIZE TB?

BTW...we ALL know the answer to that!!

RC

 

[Lyncher]

The s/c will give you more power, but I'm doing an HCI right now for the following reasons:

1 - My engine turned 100K, needs some freshening anyway.

2 - Its easier to do an HCI then a power adder then the other way around, and I plan on doing both eventually.

3 - It will be a good learning experience as I'm somewhat of a rookie and doing it all myself will help me out big time.

4 - I thnk it will be more satisfying to go fast on a combo i researched and designed rather then a bolting on a s/c in a weekend.

5 - Lopey cam > s/c whine.

adam

I think he was right on the ball there

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Duh 65 mm so you dont loose low end torque...

 

[GRGT1994]

I dont see much debate here with shifters and CAI, but you forgot the eternal debate:

WHICH SIZE TB?

BTW...we ALL know the answer to that!!

RC

I'll spot you the CAI maybe, but you don't see much debate on Tri-ax/pro5.0/mgw?

 

[nmcgrawj]

But you don't see much debate on Tri-ax/pro5.0/mgw?

Not really....they ALL work. Those are the top 3 IMO. Maybe if you include the "lesser" shifters into it then yea. But when doing a poll, i would bet that almost everyone would recommend one of those 3. I wish MGW would make a shifter for my TKO-600.

 

[5spd GT]

A h/c/i package will get you just as fast as a supercharger up to around an S trim. I say a h/c/i package will make more than a s/c trim (6psi).

Adding a h/c/i package will rebuild the top end of your engine. It is also more tuneable if you do not have the funds/location for a dyno tune or tuner. Idle can be effected...but I have seen gains in mpg with h/c/i (like in my case). I gained an average of 2-3mpg after adding my aftermarket h/c/i.

A supercharger is quicker to put together but dont' forget the price of bigger fuel pump/calibrated maf for new injectors and a couple other misc. items. Just like in a h/c/i package. It isn't just the price of the supercharger you have to pay for. Also a dyno tune or atleast a tuning device is pretty much needed to play it safe with boost. Something a h/c/i package doesn't need so much.

Also headgaskets can become an issue with a supercharger.

If you go the supercharger route first, when and if you decide to do a h/c/i package you will have to "remove" the supercharger which adds time to removal install.

A supercharger adds roughly 50lbs to your car (front) while a h/c/i package with aluminum heads will subtract 50lbs roughly. A difference of 100lbs between two differently equipped cars. Something to think about. A supercharger has more rotating parts and mainteance to take care of IMO.

Just some thoughts, I'm bias to the h/c/i idea for my own reasons. I do want a supercharger as well



nmcgrawjj - I'm sure George is going to work on one for the TKO-600 sometime soon

 

[nmcgrawj]

nmcgrawjj - I'm sure George is going to work on one for the TKO-600 sometime soon

Yea i was fairly surprised to see that they didnt have one for it already. Maybe cause the stock shifter that comes with it (hurst i believe) isnt bad at all. The tranny has built in stops inside of it so the hurst doesnt have any stops. So i wonder how much of an improvement there would be. Third gear is much better than in a stock stang

 

[Venom351R]

do hci first then when you have more money, supercharge it. thats what i did and it worked out nicely. go with some afr 185's you will never regret it.

Doing H/C/I first and then Supercharging it will give you close to if not over 500 RWHP, not everyone wants that.

I had mine supercharged on stock heads stock cam.

 

[Venom351R]

My vote is for the supercharger (for lower mileage engines)....

Pleanty of Mustangs w/ high miles out there w/ superchargers on them. Mine was one I had 118,000 on mine when I but a supercharger on it. Providing your motor is healthy and has good compression then it all depends upon your tune and not your miles.

 

[Killercanary]

I'm very partial to running NA, I just like the idea of making power that way more. But having said that IF I were to own a 94-95 with an AODE, I'm more than likely opt for a SC first. It WILL be faster no questions asked than a H/C/I setup, that is until the AODE is addressed with a new converter and beefed up tranny then it can be a different story. A SC plus an automatic car makes for a very quick car. Plus, the AODE cars tend to hate cam swaps even more than their 5 speed 94-95 counterparts, but tuning will be required for both. There are pros and cons to picking one versus the other, but its been covered MANY times before, do a search and you'll find some interesting reading. I personally think there are more pros than cons in going H/C/I over a SC on a daily/semi-daily driven car though.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Well put Paul, as is illustrated by Oink's low 13-sec run when he slapped the Vortech on a fairly stock AODE that was not even tuned.

AODE + PI Stallion + Vortech + few other goodies =

RC

 

[a50sn95]

I say S/C first. I put mine on at 97000 miles, and loved it. Nothing like boost.
Plus, it was 100% smog leagal here in Ca, so no questions getting it to pass.
Besides, if you are doing H/C/I, you better do the shortblock too, or you'll be pulling it back out shortly to replace the pistons.I know, lots of people have managed to use the hypers, but, they have alot of tuning experience.
Also, the Vortech on my stock shortblock Made 12 lbs of boost with the stock pulley.
Mines not a daily driver anymore, but that combo was NICE for a driver. Gas mileage was about the same as stock (if I could keep my foot out of it). Can't say that with H/C/I.
That all said, if you DONT have to smg it, a turbo is even a better option. More power, easier on the motor, etc.
I say Boost first, and then work on a long block for later, if you still need it....

 

[5spd GT]

a50sn95 - How is boost easier on the engine? How does it make more power neccessarily? Depends on what you get. Why would the hypers have problems with h/c/i. Why do you need to pull the shortblock out after doing h/c/i?

 

[95Vert]

Go with the S/C and have some fun with your car. After you get bored of it, which you will, switch over for a nice combo and make the same power. After that, get a turbo!!!!!

 

[a50sn95]

My reply was based on the assumption that he was going to do both, eventually, so I tailored it to that. If you ONLY do one, or the other, then the answers may be different

a50sn95 - How is boost easier on the engine?

I was speaking about Turbo vs. Supercharger, not boost vs. NA. So, it's generally considered that a turbo is easier on an engine than a Supercharger. I must confess, I haven't explored the reasons, why, just re-iterating something I've read about in several places. At the very least, you don't have a pulley and belt off the front of the engine drawing about 50 hp.

How does it make more power neccessarily?

Again, turbo vs SC. A turbo makes more boost down low, so more power down low. BUt, if you mean boost vs NA, Not may N/A combos approach 200% Volumetric Effeciency.

Depends on what you get. Why would the hypers have problems with h/c/i.

Again, this was aimed at boost. an H/C/I car would be much less likely to break pistons. The hypers are notorious for breaking under boost if they experience any detonation. Lots of people manage to get away with it. Even more don't get away with it. I did not.

Why do you need to pull the shortblock out after doing h/c/i?

If you did H/C/I on a stock shortblock, and then supercharged it. You'd be on thin ice. Might as well just do the forged piston swap if you have the motor that far apart. It's much easier, in my opinion.

Hopefully, this clears up any confusion my reply may have caused.

 

[5spd GT]

Hopefully, this clears up any confusion my reply may have caused.

It did