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Without a doubt the best way to raise the power output of your s550 is to boost it. And with boost season upon us what better time than now?! We have listened to the community and are pleased to announce that Need4Speed is now an official authorized distributor for Whipple Superchargers, Roush Performance, Kenne Bell, Vortech, Paxton, and Procharger. But with so many options on the market how do you decide what is right for your s550? Well we did some homework for you and are here to answer any questions you may have to help make the right decision on boosting your Mustang into the tire shredding monster it could be. Let's first take a quick look at what a supercharger actually does.
A supercharger raises the density of the air charge before forcing it into the engine. This increased mass of air compressed in the cylinder during each induction and compression stroke makes more oxygen available for combustion, raising the power output drastically over what is capable in a naturally aspirated application. The most popular forms of "supercharging" are the exhaust-gas driven turbocharger, mechanically driven superchargers and pressure-wave superchargers. The mechanically driven supercharger is broken up into two groups as well: centrifugal and positive displacement. Each system is unique in how it works to create the extra power and we will go through that one at a time with a little background info on each company.
Whipple Superchargers, based in Fresno, CA is owned and operated by Art Whipple. Whipple has years of racing experience ranging from Funny Cars to Dragsters to boating and has been regarded as a true innovator in his trade. Through his experience, technology and hard work he has brought their twin screw supercharger to what it is today. A similar unit was previously available for the smaller engines of the European market but Whipple's supercharger increases compressor efficiency, lowers overall noise level, increases reliability and maximizes power output. They also engineered the ability to update and repair (some are non-repairable) and increase the durability of the supercharger for a wider variety of applications. This positive displacement unit utilizes an intermeshing dual rotor system sitting atop a massive intercooler core to compress its air charge. Whipple's supercharger has a front air inlet with a huge 132mm elliptical throttle body and utilizes a massive air to water intercooler.
Whipple's 2.9L supercharger is a direct bolt on(no cutting or grinding required) to the Coyote motor boosting it up to 825 engine horsepower and 640 foot-pound of torque on 93 octane fuel while still remaining 50-state emissions legal with Whipple's tuning. Each kit comes with a 6 rib belt system. 10 rib systems are available for an additional cost and higher boost potential. Made 100% in the USA. Additional custom add ons can include carbon fiber parts, either dual 11" fans or an oversized heat exchanger, 10 rib belt system, larger injectors and smaller pullies to up the boost levels. A new, more efficient Gen 3 Crusher top unit which instantly increases power output between 30-150 hp is now available. Complete kits are available, as well as the new Gen 3 supercharger for those that want to upgrade their older system.
The Whipple supercharger will provide you with heart stopping acceleration up to a 60% power increase throughout the operating range, incredible throttle response, and it is virtually maintenance free. This system provides the unique combination of maximum power at low rpms for incredible drive ability with huge top end power and no lag. Just mash the throttle and the engine responds immediately, from idle to redline. This supercharger system sees huge horsepower and torque gains while still maintaining safe and trouble free operation. Each Whipple supercharger comes with a 1 year limited warranty.
Flight Control
The new MyWhipple calibration suite, available to those enthusiasts opting for Whipple's tuning, allows the end user or the installer the ability to custom configure their supercharger system. With the new Flare software and latest calibration, customers can adjust the power output in each gear or globally. Simply load your calibration, turn the key on and slide the Flight Control dials where you want it, wait 2 seconds and it's now it's utilizing its virtual pulley software that mimics different pulley combinations. Using unique, advanced software, Whipple is able to detect the gear position in both auto and manual transmissions giving us the unique ability to control torque output. This gives every customer the capacity to have full control over their power output whether it's per gear or overall.
Roush Performance was founded by lifelong hot rod, racing and Mustang lover Jack Roush in 1995. Since then the company has engineered and produced an extensive line of aftermarket performance parts, vehicles and crate engines. Roush Performance also works directly with Ford Racing to produce specialty vehicles that puts the winning heritage of Roush's racing success into street legal use. This makes Roush the only aftermarket supercharger to retain the factory drivetrain warranty and to carry with it a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. The Roush R2300 supercharger is also 50 state emissions legal on all 2015-2016 Mustangs. Roush superchargers are made in the USA.
Roush utilizes a version of Eaton's TVS(twin vortices series) supercharger housing two rotors that spin together to compress air and create its forced induction. This 2.3L positive displacement supercharger system is a roots type that features twin 4 lobe rotors that are twisted 160 degrees with increased volume, enhanced thermal efficiency, higher operating speeds, more efficient flow and improved noise and vibration characteristics over the Eaton. This system also utilizes an air to water intercooler, rear air inlet and a pulley system for different boost levels.
Roush superchargers are available in different boost and power levels. The Phase 1 supercharger is a complete bolt on kit to the Coyote that provides a power output of 675 horsepower and 545 foot-pound of torque using the 85mm pulley, twin 60mm throttle body and Roush designed injectors.
For those enthusiasts that desire a little more punch for their Coyote powered beast, Roush's Phase 2 supercharger system raises the bar by offering 727 horsepower and 610 pound-foot of torque. Phase 2 includes a smaller 80mm pulley for higher boost, unique calibration, digital fuel pump controller and NGK spark plugs. For Phase 1 owners, the Phase 2 upgrade is a simple addition to their current supercharger system. No need to swap units!
KENNE BELL
LIQUID COOLED
Kenne Bell was established in 1968 by Jim Bell, specializing initially in naturally aspirated V6 and V8 Buicks. In December of 1994, the D'Alessandro/Kenne Bell Single "Street" Turbo Stage 1 Buick cemented itself in history running a 7.99 at 167.25! That record still stands today in its class. The company has since been known for its tuning and as an innovator of high tech performance products, especially in supercharging. Kenne Bell's racing heritage and reputation as a master builder and tuner is that of legend. All engineering, fabrication, dyno testing, calibration and emissions testing is done in house at the Kenne Bell facility Rancho Cucamongo, CA. In fact, when the existing dynos rendered themselves incapable of testing their larger displacement units, Kenne Bell designed and fabricated their own dyno! Kenne Bell superchargers are 100% made in the USA and 50 state emissions legal up to the 3.2L unit.
Kenne Bell positive displacement superchargers use the rear air inlet twin screw rotor design because throughout their years of testing and experience, it has held up as the leader in efficiency and performance offering the coolest air discharge temps, lowest power loss both under boost and cruising and the highest boost at any rpm. Top it off with the quiet operation, lifetime sealed bearings, self contained lubrication, bypass system and reliability that meets and exceeds OEM standards. Add to that the 4x6 rotor profile, unique billet housing design, liquid cooling(the only supercharger to offer this) and seal pressure equalization and Kenne Bell is sure that they have the "#1 supercharger kit". When guys like Carroll Shelby and Steve Saleen choose Kenne Bell for their elite high horsepower muscle cars you know this theory may not be too far fetched. Shelby 1000 ring a Bell? (pun intended)
Kenne Bell offers a variety of different displacement units, each one larger and opening up more potential for higher power output, with their largest easily tapping into quad digit horsepower. Supercharger units include a 2.8, 3.2, 3.6, 4.2 and 4.7L option, all of which coming equipped with a massive Mammoth 168mm oval throttle body. The latter two also have a dual 106mm option for highest flow and power potential. Each kit includes a massive integrated intercooler and front mount heat exchanger. Kenne Bell's standard 6 rib belt system works efficiently up to 15 lbs of boost. 8 and 10 rib options are available beyond that. The Mustang's Coyote motor accepts each supercharger unit but the 2.8, 3.2, and 3.6 are more than enough to push 700 wheel horsepower. As with any supercharged vehicle, modifications like headers, exhaust, cams, etc are going to bump horsepower and torque numbers. Johnny Lightning's incredible NMRA Coyote Modified Class Cobra Jet uses a 3.6L with the dual 106mm TB and a built engine, for instance, and that car is pushing 1500hp.
Jim Middlebrook was an engineer at Paxton Superchargers when he designed a revolutionary new internally gear-driven compressor and went off on his own to start his own company. Vortech Engineering was then founded in 1990. Middlebrook turned his attention towards Ford engines and since then Vortech has made a name for themselves producing potent supercharger systems for their 5.0, 5.8 and 7.5L engines. About 10 years after departing from Paxton, Middlebrook purchased his former employer and expanded the product line of Vortech Engineering. The company now produces centrifugal supercharger systems for automotive, marine, industrial and aeronautical applications. From the daily driven Mustang, to 3000hp drag racers, industrial airplane wing de-icers, to 8000hp quad engine speed boats, Vortech engineers and produces the compressors and kits with extreme efficiency and reliability. Vortech superchargers are made right here in the USA with their headquarters located in Oxnard, CA.
Vortech has a variety of different supercharger compressors, each having blades that the air charge is forced through, and tubing feeding cold air to the engine via a massive front air to air intercooler. Any excess pressure is released through a blowoff valve. Vortech's centrifugal supercharger is probably the best bang for your buck delivering the most horsepower dollar for dollar. When driven normally gas mileage can even increase, but let's face it, you're not buying a supercharger for its mileage capabilities! Complete kits are available as are tuner kits that allow higher power output potential with custom tuning and vehicle modifications. Once again, these kits come standard with a 6 rib belt system but 8 and 10 ribs are also available.
Vortech superchargers offer the only 50 state smog legal centrifugal kit on the market. Vortech's V-3 Si head unit is their introductory supercharger for the Coyote, and this kit boosts power output to 630hp and 483 foot pounds of torque on 7.5-8.5 psi. The tuner kit uses the same head unit and is capable of 775hp in lightly modified applications, however does not include a fuel pump, injectors or ECU programmer. These are available separately though allowing a custom tune to be loaded for higher horsepower potential.
Paxton Superchargers has been around since 1934, with innovator Robert Paxton McCulloch's odd looking supercharger units made for the flat head Ford engines of those times. He also created an air pump for the US Navy which was used to circulate air in World War II submarines. But what really brought Paxton Superchargers to what we know today was McCulloch's idea of bringing an inexpensive bolt-on supercharger to the everyday working man's automobile. The Kaisers, Studebakers, and Ford's Thunderbirds and Fairlanes of the 1950s were all production vehicles that saw Paxton supercharging. Carroll Shelby later teamed up with Paxton but none of the vehicles saw production to the general public. But as early as the mid 1980s Paxton Superchargers became the first aftermarket supercharger manufacturer to make a 50 state legal street system for the Mustang.
Paxton's kit is essentially the same as Vortech's with a few minor tweaks, but same basic principal and method of operation. They use the NOVI-2200SL supercharger. These gear driven centrifugal kits are high output systems that retain the drive ability and reliability that a daily driver depends upon. They come in complete kits using cast aluminum or billet components designed to look as factory issued as possible while retaining the strength and rigidity to stand up to the abuse you throw at it. Its progressive and linear power allow for peak power targets to be achieved without overwhelming drivetrain components such as transmissions, driveshafts, clutches and rear axle assemblies and its performance curve is directly proportionate to rpms. Paxton systems with factory settings from 5-11 pounds per square inch of boost pressure typically result in a 20%-56% increase in horsepower but the NOVI powered kits are capable of more than 1000hp on highly modified vehicles with custom tuning.
Kansas City is home to the Procharger headquarters with a new regional presence in the San Francisco Bay Area in proximity to Sonoma Raceway. This gives them the ability to do rigorous testing for street and track use. Since the early to mid 1990s Procharger has been designing, engineering, and building the most powerful, reliable, and advanced centrifugal superchargers on the market. With an original billet aluminum bracket design and compact belt-drive system, massive intercooler, ProCharger P-1SC-1 systems provide OEM-style fit and finish, ease of installation, and reliable performance.
Procharger air to air supercharger kits offer different levels of performance out of the P-1SC-1 and D-1SC powered complete kits. The introductory high output kit offers a 55-60% power increase of up to 750hp on pump gas. The Stage II kit uses the same head unit but increases boost to 10psi and is capable of up to 1200 hp.
Procharger's new P-1X and D-1X units offer a new aerodynamic compressor design that creates cooler charge air temperatures and more horsepower at the same boost level than our industry-standard P-1SC-1 and D-1SC. These more robust head units were engineered to be a bolt-in replacement for P-1SC-1 and D-1SC equipped systems and use the same pulley systems. The P-1X is easily capable of 875 hp while its big brother, the D-1X is the 1000hp+ big dog of the yard.
We are thrilled to be able to offer these new products to our community and add some more members to the Need4Speed family! Now is the time! Take your Mustang from mild to wild with one of these awesome supercharger kits this season! Available through Need4Speed Motorsports!
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