I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me out. First, let me apologize if this is a question that has already been addressed. I tried to look through several previous threads, but could not find what I was looking for.

My question: I am looking to add some umph to my truck. I am initially considering supercharging, but don't know if turbocharging will be what I need. I'm still learning what each system will provide for me (that's where you come in). I have a lifted truck, running 35s, with a 3.55 diff. I want to be able to have awesome power off the line when necessary. My truck may see a little mud, soft dirt, and sand, but will primarily be a street truck. What I really want is to be able to take a few sports cars off the line, not caring too much about overall top end speed or 1/4 mile times (if I can get all of them that's good too!!)

So can anyone give me any viable options? I've talked to JBA (here in San Diego), and may have them do whatever work I decide on.

Thanks in advance..............JB

 

You are going to start a major discussion here.

A turbo will give you lots of power from midrange to high rpm (generally speaking - a turbo could be optimized for low end but would cost at the top end). The main problem with turbos is lag - the delay from when you put your foot down to the time the engine responds. Turbos are very efficient. At this time AFAIK, no one makes a turbo kit for the 5.4 truck.

Blowers come in two styles: centrifigal and positive displacement. Centrifigals (ATI, Vortech, etc.) generally give more boost as the revs increase while positive displacement (Roots, Lysholm) give full boost at very low revs but suffer in efficiency as revs and boost levels rise.

For a heavy truck with big wheels that is driven on the street, not the strip, a positive displacement type is probably best. Your choices for your truck are Magnacharger, Whipplecharger (if the kit actually ever appears) and Kenne Bell. The Magnacharger and Whipple have an intercooler, the KB doesn't.

Personally, I am saving my pennies for the Magnacharger.

Ian

 

JBinSD-The first thing I would do is get rid of the 3:55 gears and install 4:10's. That will help a lot and will fit right into your plans down the road!

 

Thanks, for the initial response.

Flats Man, What specifically will changing my gears to 4:10 do for me, and what will I lose as a result of this change? My truck came stock with 3:55s off the lot. I've been reading a couple of articles in Sport Truck magazine about gearing, but I'm still trying to determine what will give me the performance I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance............JB

 

Thanks, for the initial response.

Flats Man, What specifically will changing my gears to 4:10 do for me, and what will I lose as a result of this change? My truck came stock with 3:55s off the lot. I've been reading a couple of articles in Sport Truck magazine about gearing, but I'm still trying to determine what will give me the performance I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance............JB

 

Well, you have a big heavy truck and the 4:10 will be much quicker out of the hole. The disadvantage is your gas milage will go down a little but Nothing is free. If you want more low end, gears are a great way to start!

 

With 35" tires you may not see a decrease in MPG. Some see an increase because you're not taxing the engine just trying to get it to move.

With 35" tires I think I saw a post where the grearing you would need is like a 3.92 to get you back to the same thing you had without the 35"er's. So a 4.10 would be perfect and give you slightly more. Top end is where you might loose some MPG but I'd imagine not much. You'd see a world of difference!