Super or Turbo.. what to do...

[JimGT]

If you daily drive one of these setups help me work out my pro/con list and maybe gotchas in the install in the way of added expense.. When I say daily drive I put about 500 miles a week on the car.

2018 A10 3:15 gear
Steeda suspension in rear
QA1 CF driveshaft
17" MT Street R's for track
Axles will be upgraded
Car is my daily driver and weekend track warrior (I have a backup if it breaks)
Will run mostly 1/8 mile
93 octane all the time

I have had both in the past and each had its strong points, but just not sure what to do on this one.
I don't want to upgrade fuel system other than maybe a voltage booster/injectors at this point.
No internal engine mods planned until they have to be done.
Looking to run low 7's, high 6's 1/8th, running 7.96 now

Both seem to offer ability to get to 1000 rwhp and that is a bunch probably more than I want without spending some bucks on the internals first.

Choices (price seems close enough among all 3):
Edelbrock stage 2
Whipple stage 2
Hellion street sleeper

Supercharger Pros/Cons:
Pro - clean install
Pro - flatter torque curve with instant boost - better for the 1/8 I think
Con - Intake air temps? had a KB in the past and these were not always pretty
Con - Belts, the KB used eat belts on a regular basis. Stage 2 kits appear to have the rib upgrade so maybe not an issue
Con - you can see it when you raise the hood - there goes the surprise
Con - pulley changes to up the power

Turbo
Pro - variable boost/power is easy to adjust
Pro - Looks like simpler install than SC
Pro - not obvious when hood is lifted
Pro - No belts
Pro - don't need to buy headers
Con - not wild about low mount turbo with daily driver in all types of weather
Con - just a few upgrades puts you into $10k range, ouch!

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[Bigswollnasty]

How much of a concern is money? Are you installing yourself?

Obviously that turbo will cost more for installation as well as the kit will cost more, but if you are trying to number crunch on 93 then turbo would get you the bigger numbers, I'd think. I DD my 18 whipple. Drives fine, when on the stage 1 with Whipple tune it got around 19-20 mpg average the lowest average i've had is high 18s. If you have an aluminum differential housing as my auto has, I'd look into the steeda diff housing brace. People have broken their diff housing at the track. I don't think I'm going to track mine until I add that piece.

 

[Notheryote]

I dd a 19 with stage 2 whipple. It’s a really nice kit, works very well. Unless I get stuck in traffic (because I didn’t get the fan upgrade for the heat exchanger) I tend to only sit 20*-30* F above ambient temp for intake temps.

If you go whipple or edelbrock, I’d definitely get a tuner kit and skip their tunes. An aftermarket tune (I use lund) will really help it out and provide safe power. I would bet if you stay on pump gas lu47’s and a bap or dw400 drop in pump would Work great. For example, the stage 2 whipple kit only comes with 38lb injectors anyways. Ultimately before you pull the trigger, I’d recommend talking to your tuner and let them know what kit you plan on buying and what your goals are and they will best direct you on what you need for the fuel system without going full return style if just staying in gas.

Anyways, I have the whipple but I think I’d be perfectly happy with the edelbrock too. It’s a beast and both superchargers are neck and neck right now for world record 18+ supercharged mustangs.

 

[JimGT]

Money is always a concern as I like to keep it when I can. BUT, looks like $8k to get in the door so another grand or so either way is not a big deal.

It will be self install. I have done both in the past.

Mileage is interesting.. my average for the first 12,000 miles sits at 24.9, but i spend a lot of time on the highway.. so I figured SC would eat a little more and turbo maybe a little less, but not enough either way to worry with I guess.

Housing is interesting thought as well.. I would think a turbo might have less hit and be easier on the diff.. more food for thought..

 

[Rjames18]

You should look into the Limitless Perforamnce & Fabrication mid mount kit.
Install is relatively easy. Install s197 header on driver side. Takes roughly 20-30 min. Have to do this for the hellion kit as well.
Next is bolt on the turbo adapters onto the headers - 4 bolts total.
Bolt on the turbo using a v-band.
Mount intercooler.
T into coolant line run down to turbos. (LPF uses oiless comp turbo's)
Run piping from turbos to intercooler then intercooler to intake.
Install wastegates, boost lines, and boost controller.
Get tuned (LPF offers this as well)
Bam done.
Install can be done in 6 hours.
Of course you'll need other things as well like fuel system(LPF offers this as well), injectors, axles. But you'lll need those for superchager applications as well.

My 2018 drives like its brand new out of the factory until I get on it and into boost. Then all hell breaks loose as the eagles scream from the tail pipes.

With stock motor, transmission and stock driveshaft I ran 9.04 @153 and peaked a little over 11lbs. My car weighs 3800 with me in it. I only weight 150lbs though.
That is with baer brakes and 15'' welds upfront, sway bar removed and the spare tire taken out.

I just recently had the transmission beefed up with LPF stage 2 10r80 kit. So far its been holding 1300+ just fine.
If you're looking for a one stop shop and everything done in house LPF is the place to go. Everything from engine building, installs, tuning, fuel systems and turbo kit builds. They've sold over 250+ kits for s550's now.
The owner and I just took first and second place at Dignight Noprep 1/8th mile event down here in Houston. Typically my car runs 5.80's in the 1/8th. Haven't had the chance to go turn it up at the track with the built trans now. Should definitely do 5.60-70's and run high 8's now.

 

[Notheryote]

You should look into the Limitless Perforamnce & Fabrication mid mount kit.
Install is relatively easy. Install s197 header on driver side. Takes roughly 20-30 min. Have to do this for the hellion kit as well.
Next is bolt on the turbo adapters onto the headers - 4 bolts total.
Bolt on the turbo using a v-band.
Mount intercooler.
T into coolant line run down to turbos. (LPF uses oiless comp turbo's)
Run piping from turbos to intercooler then intercooler to intake.
Install wastegates, boost lines, and boost controller.
Get tuned (LPF offers this as well)
Bam done.
Install can be done in 6 hours.
Of course you'll need other things as well like fuel system(LPF offers this as well), injectors, axles. But you'lll need those for superchager applications as well.

My 2018 drives like its brand new out of the factory until I get on it and into boost. Then all hell breaks loose as the eagles scream from the tail pipes.

With stock motor, transmission and stock driveshaft I ran 9.04 @153 and peaked a little over 11lbs. My car weighs 3800 with me in it. I only weight 150lbs though.
That is with baer brakes and 15'' welds upfront, sway bar removed and the spare tire taken out.

I just recently had the transmission beefed up with LPF stage 2 10r80 kit. So far its been holding 1300+ just fine.
If you're looking for a one stop shop and everything done in house LPF is the place to go. Everything from engine building, installs, tuning, fuel systems and turbo kit builds. They've sold over 250+ kits for s550's now.
The owner and I just took first and second place at Dignight Noprep 1/8th mile event down here in Houston. Typically my car runs 5.80's in the 1/8th. Haven't had the chance to go turn it up at the track with the built trans now. Should definitely do 5.60-70's and run high 8's now.

There’s this too, his build has been fun to watch. Ultimately I think you really need to look at the driving characteristics to make the best choice. Turbos an superchargers deliver power pretty differently and spending some time figuring out which one suits you better would be best I think (versus aesthetics or other stuff, just my opinion. Hood will be closed 99% of the time, but power delivery will always be felt).

 

[Rjames18]

There’s this too, his build has been fun to watch. Ultimately I think you really need to look at the driving characteristics to make the best choice. Turbos an superchargers deliver power pretty differently and spending some time figuring out which one suits you better would be best I think (versus aesthetics or other stuff, just my opinion. Hood will be closed 99% of the time, but power delivery will always be felt).

I definitely agree with this.
I want to switch to a top mount one day just for the stunts lol. But my hood is closed like you said 99% of the time.
I've never been in a supercharged mustang so really my opinion is very biased. I've been in probably 12-15 LPF turbo cars

 

[Dalton@Evolution]

I love my Edelbrock TVS!

 

[Bigswollnasty]

Money is always a concern as I like to keep it when I can. BUT, looks like $8k to get in the door so another grand or so either way is not a big deal.

It will be self install. I have done both in the past.

Mileage is interesting.. my average for the first 12,000 miles sits at 24.9, but i spend a lot of time on the highway.. so I figured SC would eat a little more and turbo maybe a little less, but not enough either way to worry with I guess.

Housing is interesting thought as well.. I would think a turbo might have less hit and be easier on the diff.. more food for thought..

Based on your installation experience, I'd probably go with the turbo then, also being able to change the boost (boost controller) for street vs strip sounds like it might be a nice perk for you. The steeda part is pretty cheap, like 150 and the upgraded bolts are like 100 I think. Not sure if the kit comes with the upgraded bolts or not but it also seems like the install is pretty much a bolt on without removal of anything major.

 

[JimGT]

There’s this too, his build has been fun to watch. Ultimately I think you really need to look at the driving characteristics to make the best choice. Turbos an superchargers deliver power pretty differently and spending some time figuring out which one suits you better would be best I think (versus aesthetics or other stuff, just my opinion. Hood will be closed 99% of the time, but power delivery will always be felt).

Agreed here.. and part of my dilemma.. I had KB supercharged mustang and loved it, the install and the instant power. The belt eating drove me nuts.. I currently have a Turbo Trans Am that is wicked, but you can feel it spool and not as responsive as the Mustang was. And the turbo install was a pain in the A** and was not complete despite being called a kit and from a reputable company. That thing dollar and five dollared me to death.

My leaning at this point is the supercharger and probably the Edelbrock as it seems more complete. Just don't want to do a head smack in a month and say shoulda, woulda, coulda...

 

[Dalton@Evolution]

Agreed here.. and part of my dilemma.. I had KB supercharged mustang and loved it, the install and the instant power. The belt eating drove me nuts.. I currently have a Turbo Trans Am that is wicked, but you can feel it spool and not as responsive as the Mustang was. And the turbo install was a pain in the A** and was not complete despite being called a kit and from a reputable company. That thing dollar and five dollared me to death.

My leaning at this point is the supercharger and probably the Edelbrock as it seems more complete. Just don't want to do a head smack in a month and say shoulda, woulda, coulda...

May I ask what car your KB was on?

 

[JimGT]

02 Mustang

 

[HELLION TURBO]

If you daily drive one of these setups help me work out my pro/con list and maybe gotchas in the install in the way of added expense.. When I say daily drive I put about 500 miles a week on the car.

2018 A10 3:15 gear
Steeda suspension in rear
QA1 CF driveshaft
17" MT Street R's for track
Axles will be upgraded
Car is my daily driver and weekend track warrior (I have a backup if it breaks)
Will run mostly 1/8 mile
93 octane all the time

I have had both in the past and each had its strong points, but just not sure what to do on this one.
I don't want to upgrade fuel system other than maybe a voltage booster/injectors at this point.
No internal engine mods planned until they have to be done.
Looking to run low 7's, high 6's 1/8th, running 7.96 now

Both seem to offer ability to get to 1000 rwhp and that is a bunch probably more than I want without spending some bucks on the internals first.

Choices (price seems close enough among all 3):
Edelbrock stage 2
Whipple stage 2
Hellion street sleeper

Supercharger Pros/Cons:
Pro - clean install
Pro - flatter torque curve with instant boost - better for the 1/8 I think
Con - Intake air temps? had a KB in the past and these were not always pretty
Con - Belts, the KB used eat belts on a regular basis. Stage 2 kits appear to have the rib upgrade so maybe not an issue
Con - you can see it when you raise the hood - there goes the surprise
Con - pulley changes to up the power

Turbo
Pro - variable boost/power is easy to adjust
Pro - Looks like simpler install than SC
Pro - not obvious when hood is lifted
Pro - No belts
Pro - don't need to buy headers
Con - not wild about low mount turbo with daily driver in all types of weather
Con - just a few upgrades puts you into $10k range, ouch!

Hello.

Thank you for considering our Street Sleeper system.

We are very proud of this kit and believe it is the best option to add boost on the market. We have designed it to bolt on, and have a super clean look once installed. It will have higher fuel efficiency than a comparable supercharger because we are not constantly driving a belt (the blowers soak up drive power at all times, even when not in boost).

We see you noted that you have a concern with low or "hidden" turbo mounting. We have been very careful in design to route the air inlet up and out of the way. With a high air inlet it makes this system easily driven in all sorts of weather (rain, snow etc.), so no worries.

We have a multitude of options/upgrades, but we offer them for all sorts of builds, from 1000 rwhp all the way to 2000 rwhp if ever desired. For your goals, the entry level kit will meet all of your needs easily (base system can make well over 1000 rwhp).

One last thing...we can guarantee that your ride will be the fastest thing on the road! One of our largest customer groups are folks that are removing their supercharger to gain the power and fuel efficiency of a twin turbo! You wont be disappointed!

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Team Hellion

 

[ahl395]

Personally, having considered turbo in the same situation as you, I went supercharger. Being limited by 93 octane was the main reason. You can easily hit the limits of 93 octane with a supercharger, so IMO turbos really just arent worth the extra complexity, loss of ground clearance, and more possible points of failure in general.

Not hating on TT setups at all, they can generally crank out more HP than blowers can, but for me it wasn't worth it. Not for a street car on 93 with a stock motor.

 

[SolarFlare]

Wuuuuut??? Not considering a P1x or D1x?? with an A10 the procharger would be a great combo.

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