hey i was wondering what the best supercharger kit is? i'm about to graduate and hopefully i'll get a job that pays well and i'll be able to do more stuff to the truck. however, i have a couple more questions:

1. should i not waste my time getting a supercharger because i have around 62,000 miles on the truck?

2. is ok to be a daily driver, because i imagine when i get it done that i'll be putting a lot of miles driving to and from work. (example if i drive over 50 miles a day)

3. how long will the transmission last if i do this? i didn't want to get a supercharger and then all of a sudden my transmission goes out.

i don't want to be the fastest guy on the block but i just want to beat stock lightnings. most of the guys i have met up here don't have anything done to them but they still act like they have the fastest vehicle ever. i just want to put it to them. anyways let me know what yalls views are. thanks for the help...

Randy

 

The RADIX kit is the most popular we carry for the 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0. It will provide you with boost from just off idle to red line. 62,000 miles isn't bad as long as the motor is in good mechanical condition. I've seen motors that had a hard life with 25,000 miles while others with 100k were pretty much like new. A supercharger can be used on a daily driver without a problem. I would go with a shift kit along with the supercharger. This will help your tranny handle the added power. You might need a rebuild down the road if the truck will see alot of hard use. This kit should drop your ETs into the 13s.

Tom

 

well what about the ATI or whipple. what is making Radix so much more popular than the others. didn't seem like it was too long ago that everyone was getting the whipple and then after that everyone was getting ATI. i'm just curious on why it is so much better.

as for the shift kit, is there different types? i've had a bad experience with a shift kit in a older truck and it nearly broke my neck when i shifted. i wanted this to be a daily driver but not a race truck, like i don't want the tires to be chirping when i shift. right now i have the hard shift setting from the HPP III, though i don't feel it, will it be similar to that? thanks for the help........

Randy

 

Randy, if you want a kit that will bolt right on and perform flawless then the RADIX is the way to go. I too have 60k + miles on my truck, and I am running high boost daily driven!

The other kits require too much to make them a "bolt-on" kit. The RADIX comes with EVERYTHING you need to make the installation as painless as possible. Give yourself a weekend and you will be set! If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call @ 818-340-1714.

Thanks!

 

well i went and looked at the manga charger web-site and found the install instructions. it doesn't look to hard but i don't trust myself to do it. i will probably end up getting it sometime in the next few months so hopefully the price will drop a bit. like that is going to happen.....

anyways well what about the transmission stuff. what would i need in order to have my tranny shifting like normal but still have protection from it breaking within the first week of having the supercharger? i don't go around racing or anything but if someone pulls up next to me wanting a piece then i'll race. otherwise i don't race. i go to the track maybe once a year. thanks again for the help......

 

You should be ok with the stock trans and a shift kit with a servo. MagnaCharger tunes the converter lockup and shift points for optimum performance.

 

The Vortech and ATI kits can also be bolted on without alot (if any) tuning required. The Vortech comes with everything you need for the install including programming. Most of their truck kits make 6-7# of boost.

ATI's kit for the 4.8 and 5.3 motors makes 8-9# while their 6.0 kit makes 7-8# of boost. 3 core intercooler upgrades are available for these. You can also go with their larger D-1SC head unit if your looking to make some big horsepower or need to feed a motor that has induction/exhaust mods. This is also recommended if your at high altitude. These kits use an FMU so programming isn't required.

The Magnuson also comes with everything required and the install isn't bad at all.

It doesn't sound like your to hard on the truck so you should be fine with a TransGo shift kit. This will give you a crisp shift but not something that is harsh for a daily driver.

Tom

 

just a note about whipple, i made the mistake of listening to my local performance shop and got one for my 1500 hd. the theory was, since the kit included add on injectors and an add on computer and stock pump booster, i wouldn't have to mess with anything. well it works pretty good except between 3k-3700 rpms i have a power loss. whipple basically told me if i wanted to drive to fresno, and possibly spend a few days there they would look at it, other than that tough for me. i decided to get edit and see if i can fix it myself. so far, it's not what i suspected [ torque management] i will probably end up losing most of their junk and getting new injectors, pump etc and doing all the things i didn't want to do in the first place. so be aware their kit is not flawless no matter what they might tell you.

 

I had to do some fine tuning with the kit that is on my Suburban. The programming had to be changed so it wouldn't go into "Reduced Engine Power" mode plus the bypass was bleeding off boost when it wasn't supposed to. 7.5# is a big power difference from what I was seeing with 4.5.

Tom


2002 8.1 Silverado HD - Comp Cam, TOGs headers, Volant induction, Direct Hits ignition, 8" lift 18" wheels/tires + more
2002 8.1 Suburban -Intercooled Whipple supercharger, TOGs headers, Volant induction, 22" wheels/tires + more - 407hp/558 ft-lb torque at the rear wheels.

www.tbyrnemotorsports.com

 

phat u can just get an nx kit and take out all those stock lightnings. if thats what u want it for. simple and cheap