Thanks in advance for any insight from you blown guys on my question.

Obviously, I have a 98 4x4 5.4. I'm gonna blow it but I need to ask you experts what you would do if you were starting from scratch. Hopeing to draw from some of your experiences. My truck weighs 5150 lbs without me and a half tank of gas in it so I'm not dreaming of 12s here. What I would like is everyday streetable power. It would be nice to smoke both tires once in a while or maybe even all four

Of the available systems out there, what would give me good bottom end for 4wheelin and enough top end grunt to catch the errant average street rod by surprise? Keep in mind my stock internals and the boost level I will have to survive at. What would that be btw? 6/7/8/9? My year engine also does not have the PI heads. I like what I see about that Thunder kit Holley is making but others seem to love the KB. I have a buddy with a GT who ordered a KB and is having problems getting all the parts shipped in the promised time, broken promises from manufactures doesn't sit well with me, reflects badly on the whole operation to me. I think they are all close to the same money so I guess I would revert to my reasons/what I would like from it/ and fit/finish.

 

I am very happy with my ATI Procharger. I have a 1998 5.4L 4x4 (extended cab) also. It is a heavy truck. I chose the ATI because it is a well built complete kit with excellent customer support and most inmortantly offers tons of upgradeable potential.

The stock kit produces 9lbs of boost and you can safely run about 12lbs with stock internals. I was seriously considering the KB, had all the literature mailed to me and everything, but after spending some time researching, on thier web site, and talking to others who bought them I decieded against it. Mainly because of their customer support and their attitude about going beyond the basic kit. I looked at the Magnacharger, great blower, but felt that it was already maxed out power wise on the 5.4L out of the box. The Holley looks great and makes some serious power but my understanding is there are some serious fitment problems and the kit is not complete. They are also having problems with 99 and up model years.

Hope this helps and good luck with your decision.

 

kp, thanks for the advice. Mind saying who you got your ATI from and how much it was and if you were satisfied with the quality of it?

 

I lucked out and bought mine used with only about 5 miles on it. Paid $2,800 for it shipped. I would strongly suggest checking out skid/crash!'s site, they have the lowest prices and unbeatable service. www.trixters-playground.com

 

There is a low mileage kit, with mods for sale in the classifieds.

 

98lariet4x4,

Although the ATI procharger is an awesome kit (it is the nicest fitting, most complete kit I have seen so far) it is a centrifugal supercharger. They generate reasonable low-end power, but where they really shine is higher-RPM high boost scenarios.

If you want serious low-end power, and still get good boost up high, then (in my very limited opinion) the best choice is a positive displacement unit such as roots type or a screw type supercharger.

As kapton already suggested, give skid/crash at Trixters playground a call. They sell Whipple screw superchargers (as opposed to the Kenne-Bell) and they sell the Magnacharger (roots type) which people have pushed as high as 12 pounds of boost (possibly more) as well as the ATI systems. If anyone can explain the pro's and con's of each system, it would be them.

If you want serious low-end, then the Magnacharger is probably a good choice. If you want serious low-end and the ability to produce a lot of boost up high, then the Whipple may be the better choice.

Just my 2 cents.

-Don

 

Thanks for the info. I'll give those guys a call, I see him post on here pretty often.

 

The ATI produces the most power out of the box, when compared to the others. Just remember that you will have major traction problems with a lot of low end.

The procharger is nice because it helps you get traction. But, for the ppl who say the procharger has NO low end, they are full of crap. With the stock out of box kit and no tune, I can spin my tires all the way through first.

 

Noone said it produced "NO low end," only that it does not produce the same low-end power as a positive displacement unit such as a roots type supercharger.

If you disagree, that's fine, but I am sure any of the supercharger guru's will tell you the same thing.

-Don

 

I have heard many ppl say the ATI has no low end. So, don't be saying nobody says that.

Obviously a positive displacement will have more, I never said they wouldn't.

 

My apologies. I thought you were referring to something said in this thread and from what I saw, noone had said anything like that

-Don

 

Appreciate the help guys. I'm going to go with the ATI.

 

Excellent choice

 

hey guys just checking out this post, some great info in here, i also have a question, how reliable will my truck be if i decide to put in a supercharger? my main reason is acceleration and speed, i feel my truck is to slugish with as much power as it has......i love driving fast and want to accelerate better....ive got an 03 Supercab, 10,000 miles...will most likely put on next spring if i decide to get one, by then i should have about 20,000+ miles......so any info you guys can give me would be great on the reliablity issue....

 

The reasons you just posted is why I bought my ATI. I just couldn't get my heavy 4x4 up and going. Installed at 89,000 miles now at 106,000 miles.