Understanding better
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From: SC
Understanding better
I really have just started to learn about mod to my lightning and would like to know if there is a web site that would better explain how and why things work. I.E. like changing the pulley why does it add power. And this goes along with other mods as well. I just dont want to do things to my truck and not know why it works the way is does. Thanks for help.
God bless our troops!
SSG Bogdan
US ARMY INFANTRY
God bless our troops!
SSG Bogdan
US ARMY INFANTRY
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Lockport, Illinois
super charger
if you can - do a google search for any topic you have questions about and read. Get several different sources and eventually you'll know a lot more.
from a google of supercharger pulley
Superchargers 101 - Introduction to Superchargers
In order to understand how a supercharger is going to help your car scream, you first need to understand what a supercharger is and how it works. Well... class is in session, so sit down with your note pad pay close attention, because there might be a quiz at the end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A supercharger is essentially a large pump that compresses air and forces it into the engine's air intake. Turbochargers do the same thing, only they are run by exiting exhaust gasses, while superchargers are powered by the engine's spinning crankshaft, normally via the accessory belt. Originally built for World War II aircraft, superchargers have become very common in today's performance automotive world, and featured as original equipment on some new sports cars straight from the factory!
Superchargers have become popular in recent years for several reasons, including cost efficiency, reliability, and of course, performance. Supercharging an engine often results in huge power increases in the range of 50% to 100%, making them great for racing, hauling heavy loads, or just having fun in your daily driver. Although superchargers carry a fairly high ticket price when compared to other single performance upgrades ($1500 - $4000), nothing provides more horsepower for your dollar... in fact, nothing even comes close. And because of the way superchargers work, they provide power only when the engine is under full throttle or under load... not under normal cruising conditions. This means that the supercharger will not affect the engine's reliability, longevity, or fuel economy under normal driving conditions.
Most of the superchargers sold today are centrifugal-style superchargers, which are internal-compression superchargers, meaning they create the boost (compress the air) inside the supercharger head unit (blower) before discharging it into the engine's air intake. External compression superchargers (roots or screw-type superchargers - Whipple, Kenne Bell, Jackson Racing, Eaton) have become less popular as centrifugal superchargers have evolved. Centrifugal superchargers (Vortech, Paxton, Powerdyne, ATI ProCharger) are more reliable, especially at higher boost levels, and are capable of creating much more boost than external compression superchargers, while creating a much cooler intake charge (which results in an even denser intake charge).
Supercharger Impeller Boost is created at the point when the supercharger's internal impeller pushes enough air through the blower to overcome the vaccuum force naturally created by the engine's air intake, so air is being forced, rather than pulled, into the air intake. Boost is measured in pounds per square inch, or psi. More boost equates to a more dense air charge into the engine's combustion chamber, which allows the engine to burn more air and fuel and create more horsepower. Most street superchargers produce somewhere in the range of 6 to 9 psi, meaning they produce 6 to 9 additional pounds of pressure over the atmospheric pressure at that elevation (at sea level atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi).
Many people assume that running a supercharger, and hence added intake boost, puts added strain on an engine's engine parts. This is not necessarily true, because engine damage is almost always caused by RPM. Because a supercharger helps the engine produce more power at lower RPM, supercharged engines will make the same horsepower as their naturally aspirated counterparts at substantially lower engine RPM, where today's street engine's are designed to run (around 6000 RPM). Another concern some people have towards using a supercharger is that they think it will increase the engine's compression to the point that it will cause detonation inside the combusion chamber.
Supercharger impellers on centrifugal superchargers are spun via an external pulley that is normally driven from the engine's accessory belt. Because the supercharger pulley needs to spin at very high RPM, an internal step-up causes the impeller to run at substantially higher speeds than the input pulley. Because the speed that the impeller spins determines how much boost is produced by the supercharger, changing the input pulley size can have a large effect on the amount of boost put out by the supercharger. Smaller pulleys produce more boost, which is why they have become so popular for supercharger owners who are looking to squeeze every last bit of power from the engine.
from a google of supercharger pulley
Superchargers 101 - Introduction to Superchargers
In order to understand how a supercharger is going to help your car scream, you first need to understand what a supercharger is and how it works. Well... class is in session, so sit down with your note pad pay close attention, because there might be a quiz at the end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A supercharger is essentially a large pump that compresses air and forces it into the engine's air intake. Turbochargers do the same thing, only they are run by exiting exhaust gasses, while superchargers are powered by the engine's spinning crankshaft, normally via the accessory belt. Originally built for World War II aircraft, superchargers have become very common in today's performance automotive world, and featured as original equipment on some new sports cars straight from the factory!
Superchargers have become popular in recent years for several reasons, including cost efficiency, reliability, and of course, performance. Supercharging an engine often results in huge power increases in the range of 50% to 100%, making them great for racing, hauling heavy loads, or just having fun in your daily driver. Although superchargers carry a fairly high ticket price when compared to other single performance upgrades ($1500 - $4000), nothing provides more horsepower for your dollar... in fact, nothing even comes close. And because of the way superchargers work, they provide power only when the engine is under full throttle or under load... not under normal cruising conditions. This means that the supercharger will not affect the engine's reliability, longevity, or fuel economy under normal driving conditions.
Most of the superchargers sold today are centrifugal-style superchargers, which are internal-compression superchargers, meaning they create the boost (compress the air) inside the supercharger head unit (blower) before discharging it into the engine's air intake. External compression superchargers (roots or screw-type superchargers - Whipple, Kenne Bell, Jackson Racing, Eaton) have become less popular as centrifugal superchargers have evolved. Centrifugal superchargers (Vortech, Paxton, Powerdyne, ATI ProCharger) are more reliable, especially at higher boost levels, and are capable of creating much more boost than external compression superchargers, while creating a much cooler intake charge (which results in an even denser intake charge).
Supercharger Impeller Boost is created at the point when the supercharger's internal impeller pushes enough air through the blower to overcome the vaccuum force naturally created by the engine's air intake, so air is being forced, rather than pulled, into the air intake. Boost is measured in pounds per square inch, or psi. More boost equates to a more dense air charge into the engine's combustion chamber, which allows the engine to burn more air and fuel and create more horsepower. Most street superchargers produce somewhere in the range of 6 to 9 psi, meaning they produce 6 to 9 additional pounds of pressure over the atmospheric pressure at that elevation (at sea level atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi).
Many people assume that running a supercharger, and hence added intake boost, puts added strain on an engine's engine parts. This is not necessarily true, because engine damage is almost always caused by RPM. Because a supercharger helps the engine produce more power at lower RPM, supercharged engines will make the same horsepower as their naturally aspirated counterparts at substantially lower engine RPM, where today's street engine's are designed to run (around 6000 RPM). Another concern some people have towards using a supercharger is that they think it will increase the engine's compression to the point that it will cause detonation inside the combusion chamber.
Supercharger impellers on centrifugal superchargers are spun via an external pulley that is normally driven from the engine's accessory belt. Because the supercharger pulley needs to spin at very high RPM, an internal step-up causes the impeller to run at substantially higher speeds than the input pulley. Because the speed that the impeller spins determines how much boost is produced by the supercharger, changing the input pulley size can have a large effect on the amount of boost put out by the supercharger. Smaller pulleys produce more boost, which is why they have become so popular for supercharger owners who are looking to squeeze every last bit of power from the engine.
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From: Northern VA
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From: Florence, Al
Check out Kenne Bell's website (link Below). Keep in mind they sell superchargers and promote their product because, after all, it is their website. They do a good job talking about different mods and what you will see gains from and why. This may help you identify what you want to do first and what things can wait until later. scroll down to page 2 under "Lightning" and then as you move down they talk about different mods. It has some pretty good information and may be just what you are looking for.
http://www.kennebell.net/techinfo/fo...ngTechTips.pdf
Bruce
http://www.kennebell.net/techinfo/fo...ngTechTips.pdf
Bruce
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From: Norwalk Ct.
A great resource is this very forum. When I decided to modify my Lightning I went back and read every post on every thread since the start of this forum. A great deal has happened over the years and I am happy I took the time to read up.
Jim
Jim
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From: Seattle, WA.
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