Turbo or Supercharger

[cudas7374]

Putting a turbo or supercharger on a 99 durango 360. Which is the best?

[BillyBob]

I would think that more supercharger kits are available as well as less plumbing to contend with.

[Wyldman]

There are going to be a lot of dissenting opinions on this, please remember, this is just IMHO.

Just as in most situations regarding engineering (cars in particular) there are always trade-offs to consider:

Low end torque is going to be much better w/a supercharger, particularly a Roots style or Whipple style direct belt drive unit. The centrifugal types are better for top end power, but still do a better job down low than turbochargers.

Turbochargers pull like crazy at the top end (once they have spun up) and can produce as much or (typically) more boost than a supercharger is capable of. They do have a tendancy to restrict the exhaust outflow and can really nasty effects on scavenging, you realy need a lot of exhaust system to run them efficiently, further robbing you of low end grunt.

The issue of "turbo lag" is also something to consider. I prefer the almost instant response the blower gives. Enough to forgive the parasitic effect on over all HP that driving a crank pulley induces.

In either case, you really have to watch your compression, too much and even forged pistons will burn through. Detonation is an ever present evil in a situation where you can easily get more air than fuel. Beware the lean condition, just like w/N2O.

Either way, ya gotta pay the piper if you want him to play. Figure out what exactly it is you want to accomplish, and apply the solution that best fits.

You asked, I answered...

The Wyldman

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Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
71 Dodge Challenger R/T 440, B5 Blue w/blk vinyl top



[This message has been edited by Wyldman (edited February 11, 2000).]

[sublime70]

Even though new turbo systems can make really good torque, I'd go with a Whipple or Kenne-Belle blower. They're quiet, troublefree, and with a boost retard and the right pulley setup will make that 360 feel like a 440 Six Pack, especially down at low RPM. The Vortech S-trims can make some obscene power on small blocks with good heads (gains up to 250+ hp), but you really have to spool them up to get it, like above 4000 or so for the real grunt. Torque rules in trucks like your Durango, so the positive-displacement blowers are the only way to go, and you could always spray it a little (30 horses)for a very helpful intercooling effect. Just my two cents worth.