Supercharger question

jamesd · Oct 22, 2024

Hey guys!
I'm working on the 1994 and after my post about engine mods and a lot of research I am planning on putting a supercharger on the motor vs heads, cam, intake (first step- the rest later).
I am beginning to put together parts and have some questions.
If if it's going to be on a stock motor should I be running a 75mm throttle body if I'm planning low boost to start? 42lb injectors? What size maf?
I'll be using a ported GT40 intake, some shorty headers and a new fuel pump.
Also, anything different that I need to do between running a Kenne Bell and a Vortech? Or is the plan the exact same?
Would LOVE to happen across a Kenne Bell for this engine- that would be amazing!!!!
THANK YOU!!

RAU03MACH · Oct 22, 2024

we talking roots or turbo Pro charger
there is a difference
kb roots is a nice start

ttocs · Oct 22, 2024

I am pretty sure the gt40 throat is only 70mm wide but it can be ported.

duh09 · Oct 22, 2024

First things first - what are your power goals for the car?

Generally, Kenne Bell's are cool looking, but from a performance stand-point on these cars, they're pretty lack luster when compared to other options. They're great on other platforms, but the SBF Kenne Bell's like making heat and that's about it. I haven't seen many making over 350whp.

Vortech is about the most simple way to go and have room for growth, but you'll have to be creative if you want to get to bigger power levels for an intercooler or other charge cooling. Vortechs are fairly available on the used market more than other options.

Procharger will be the most power potential out of the box with the intercooler but that comes at price.

Upgrading your throttle body with a stock upper end is not going to net you any real positives. The heads are the restriction on these car's breathing long before the throttle body becomes an issue, same with the MAF, there's no real reason to upgrade size on a basic build.

42lbs injectors should support up to like 500whp, so they would likely be fine, depending on your goals.

How do you plan on tuning the car?

jamesd · Oct 22, 2024

Ok this is super helpful to start!
Goals are something about 350hp. I'd be fine with that. Don't need anything crazy and just want a little more power than it has now.
I guess I'm best off running a supercharger with everything stock (throttle body, maf, intake, headers, etc) until I dive into the motor and deal with the heads?
I'll go with 42lb injectors, new fuel pump and a tune. Tuning is something I need to research more, I'm still learning but this forum is fantastic! Definitely want it to run right so I will be looking into a tune after doing this.

duh09 · Oct 22, 2024

jamesd said:
Ok this is super helpful to start!
Goals are something about 350hp. I'd be fine with that. Don't need anything crazy and just want a little more power than it has now.
I guess I'm best off running a supercharger with everything stock (throttle body, maf, intake, headers, etc) until I dive into the motor and deal with the heads?
I'll go with 42lb injectors, new fuel pump and a tune. Tuning is something I need to research more, I'm still learning but this forum is fantastic! Definitely want it to run right so I will be looking into a tune after doing this.

There are a few different ways to go on tuning and it really comes down to what you want to spend.

The old tried and true Moates chip was a decent economical deal for a long time but hasn't been made in awhile and still depends on the factory ECU to be working correctly.

There are plug-and-play Microsquirt and Megasquirt options available - gets you a more modern ECU, strong forum support from folks that have been running squirt for awhile, but is sort of weird amongst tuners. Some tuners aren't well versed in it and look down on them for some reason, so you might have to do some research with local tuners.

Holley has a couple options like the Terminator and harness options to go with them, but you start getting into some pricey pieces of equipment there. There's a guy who can tune Holley on every corner it feels like.

I'm running a Microsquirt on my car and have no complaints. I plan on running my Vortech S-Trim, AFR Enforcer (worked over China heads), with a stock Cobra intake (110% because it's pretty). Longtubes, full exhaust, got a couple cams to decide on and supporting mods for that. I will be going a bit overkill on the fuel system, 340lph pump, adjustable FPR, and likely 80# FRPP injectors to see what I can do on E85. I am shooting for 400whp, don't think I'll have any problem getting there, but the intake may hold me back a bunch. We will see. I've got 90% of the parts, just doing it in stages because I'm lazy and it's easier to work out tuning. Microsquirt is on the car as it sits, will be pulling the motor to freshen it up and put the heads/cam/exhaust and get tune dialed in again. Then fuel system, then boost. I am having all of my tuning done remotely by my buddy and forum OG Steven but he doesn't pop in here too much anymore.

95opal · Oct 22, 2024

Lots of good points already posted
V1 Strims are probably the most available used blowers for these cars.
I would also suggest looking for a renegade bracket set up and an 8" crank pulley. Throw a 3.1 or 3.0 blower pulley on it and you should be close to your goal.
Wouldn't worry to much about the lack of intercooler as meth is much more effective way to go these days.
If you can find a Novi 2000 or D1 procharger at a reasonable price I wouldn't hesitate on either of those units either. But as I stated Vortechs are everywhere.

Musturd · Oct 23, 2024

Personally I’d look for a used vortech kit or procharger . You can find a used vortech kit for relatively cheap . The kit on my cobra was 2500 usd and the head unit was a brand new v3

ttocs · Oct 23, 2024

as he said if you are not in a huge hurry, maybe put the word out that you are looking for one and you can find what you want. They are all rebuildable if its been used too hard but I found my kit for a little more than musturds but it was a completely new unused kit. They guy got it, took the supercharger out to oogle it and then put it all on a shelf, then wrecked/totalled the car. It had every nut/bolt still in the bag and the instructions were simple enough for a first timer like myself to put on. They are tried and true power and there is more than a few for sale if you look around.

Daryl · Oct 27, 2024

Can’t he get to 350rwhp without the supercharger? I’m a stroked 347 (AFR heads; Scat rotating assembly; 75mm TB; and Ford Performance 3.55 rear gears… and I’m right there. Cheaper than $5-7k for a supercharger + a tune $$$. And yes, CARB legal & approved ;-)

duh09 · Oct 27, 2024

Daryl said:
Can’t he get to 350rwhp without the supercharger? I’m a stroked 347 (AFR heads; Scat rotating assembly; 75mm TB; and Ford Performance 3.55 rear gears… and I’m right there. Cheaper than $5-7k for a supercharger + a tune $$$. And yes, CARB legal & approved ;-)

Dollar for dollar, a used supercharger kit will get there way cheaper than a motor build with minimal downtime.

Used complete Vortech kits can be found for $2500-3000 fairly easily and take maybe a weekend to slap together if you're taking your time. If you want to be super on top of things, parts to rebuild a Vortech are around $250, you can ship them off to get rebuilt for like $700-800.

Spitballing a stroker you've got like $1500 in a cheaper rotating assembly, $1500-2500 in heads, $1000 in top end, plus machine work plus downtime waiting on the machine shop. Of course, pieces of this could be sourced used as well, but building a proper combo out of used parts will take a lot more due diligence and a lot more time to track down - plus hoping used motor parts are good and ready to roll.

Supercharger or stroker will benefit from exhaust, both going to need tuned, both could use gears so we're talking $2500 to slap a blower on or $5k in a cheaper stroker build to make the same power.

It really just all comes down to what you want. My car will be stock bottom end - if it pops, I've got another on the stand, and if it pops, I've got a few buildable cores or I'll source another running 302 and keep on rolling. I'd much rather scatter a $500-600 bottom end being an idiot than one I've got $3-4k in.

Musturd · Oct 27, 2024

Daryl said:
Can’t he get to 350rwhp without the supercharger? I’m a stroked 347 (AFR heads; Scat rotating assembly; 75mm TB; and Ford Performance 3.55 rear gears… and I’m right there. Cheaper than $5-7k for a supercharger + a tune $$$. And yes, CARB legal & approved ;-)

It’s not even close . You can get a used blower kit for like 2500 usd . I’ll put money on your carb legal 347 making 300-315whp also by the time you pay for machining , rotating assembly heads cam intake a 347 is Goona be 5k plus quickly

ttocs · Oct 27, 2024

5k for a cheap one....

Musturd · Oct 27, 2024

ttocs said:
5k for a cheap one....

I couldn’t build a 347 stroker for 5k if I tried . The heads alone would eat up over half that budget . Valve train , cam ,rotating assembly plus machine work intake manifolds have doubled in price over the years shit adds up fast .

ttocs · Oct 28, 2024

ok I was thinking "shit" instead of "cheap" as I was wondering where you could get one made for that price without using the cheapest parts that you will have to install.

the rule stands - Good/Cheap/Fast : you can pick 2....

jamesd · Oct 28, 2024

Yeah that's what I had been thinking- thanks for that! I did a rough budget for a rebuild and it was way higher than $2500- plus a ton more work! And if I do it in stages I can start with the blower and collect parts and learn along the way. Thanks for this- I appreciate it!!!

95opal · Oct 28, 2024

Daryl said:
Can’t he get to 350rwhp without the supercharger? I’m a stroked 347 (AFR heads; Scat rotating assembly; 75mm TB; and Ford Performance 3.55 rear gears… and I’m right there. Cheaper than $5-7k for a supercharger + a tune $$$. And yes, CARB legal & approved ;-)

I've got a used v1 si trim. Total cost with purchase and rebuild. $2k
I have a dart 331. Total cost 10k
Show me how you can build a stroker cheaper than a used blower.

Daryl · Oct 29, 2024

95opal said:
I've got a used v1 si trim. Total cost with purchase and rebuild. $2k
I have a dart 331. Total cost 10k
Show me how you can build a stroker cheaper than a used blower.

Guess I was thinking a brand new one. My bad…

ju015dd · Oct 29, 2024

Way back in the day....2005 ish. I bought a used vortec v2 for my 96 cobra. Been so long I honestly can't remember what I gave for it. 2500-3000 if I remember correctly. Once all said and done the car put down 410 hp on an all stock block. Was very happy and damn she sounded wicked.