Should I Supercharge?

[TJBERT67]

My engine builder loves the idea of supercharging my 408 stroker. It has not been built yet and he would have to build it differently if i want to supercharge it. what do you guys think. is it reliable. It is going to increase hp ant torque to unbelievable #s for about $4500. would you do it? Why? Or why not if you do not like the idea. help!!!!!! Tom in Ca.

[jayem]

Only you can decide where your money goes and what makes you happy. The TQ and HP would be incredible with 8 or 10 lbs of boost, easily 650+. For me it would be over the top. Jay

[MJN]

Tom

Your 408 will put down more than enough HP to scare the bejeezus out of you nomrally aspirated. Adding a blower on a motor like that should only be done because you want to. You definitely don't need to.

But you know you want to, so why ask?

Come on over and join the dark side young Skywalker! Boost is addictive, once you've had a little you just want more.

[750hp]

I think you can make more power with greater reliability by using a supercharger. A blower motor with low compression and a small camshaft will make the car nice to drive at moderate speeds. Trying to build similar horsepower naturally aspirated would mean high compression, massive solid roller camshaft, huge carb etc.

Like Mike says - you know you want to !!!

[relaxinrob]

Don't supercharge unless you want gut-wrenching power and torque like you have never experienced......but make sure your drivetrain is up for the job!

[blykins]

If you can't do it with just the engine, you're not doing it......

[Karl Bebout]

Blykins, tell that to those people that go REALLY fast, like those people running that nasty smelly stuff in their AA dragsters and funny cars, and don't those folks going around in circles with little tiny engines get just a little boost from turbo somethings?

If you wallet can stand it, and you've got that little disconnect somewhere in the rational side of your brain, make power however you want.

[blykins]

Top fuel dragsters are trying to go fast to make a living. That's understandable. However, I reserve this mentality for the "ricers" and for Cobra owners.

Actually, no, I take this back.....I reserve it for most cases. My buddy has a 2000 Z28 SS that he drag races....runs 11's, but needs a hairdryer and a shot of NOS.

It just an't me. Anybody can throw on a little NOS kit or even get a 4-5 psi centrifugal blower to add 50-100-200 hp.......but it really impresses me when someone gets 600-750 from a little small block that's naturally aspirated.

I especially 100% reserve this for Cobras. Cobras are supposed to be wicked little cars....muscle cars....vibrate your guts loose....big radical cams.....loud sidepipes.....5 mpg......Not a little "econo" car that idles like a Honda and whistles when it goes by.....

Just my opinion....everybody's got one. Tom asked a question.....I gave him what I thought.

[decooney]

Tom,
We are looking at changing to an SC on my friend's Arntz Cobra because he wants something a little different than what everyone else has around here. A 408s will be plenty, but if you just require more and want to spin the tires faster, seems the supercharger can certainly help you with that problem.

[Curt C.]

Just remember that you have a very light car with a short wheel base. Power levels above 500 RWHP in these cars requires a lot of discipline on the driver to stay out of trouble. Plus, hooking up on any kind of street tire will be not be achieved. SC's are a lot fun though.

[TJBERT67]

Thanks for the input, both for and against. That is exactly what I asked for.

I think I am leaning towards supercharging because I want something a little more exotic. I also feel that the car will be all around better as far as driveability is concerned. I had big concerns about reliability, but the more I research it the more comfortable I am becoming with it.

The car should still rumble nicely. It is not the traditional approach, but in the mid sixtys when the REAL THING hit the spotlight, wasn't the cobra a little over the top. I think that is what got our attention in the first place. Big HP and TQ in a small package seemed like just what the doctor ordered. With todays technology, why not up the ante????

If the car is out of control fast, I can just run it with lower boost. If i get used to 475hp and start craving more, like I think I will, Iwould have to start over with a new set up or run less reliable HP gainers like NOS

Big power gains for a reasonable price. far less quirky than a regularly aspirated 600+ hp car. Sure its the road less traveled, but what are the negatives other than a little whistle. If you are aware of any (other than thats not how Shelby did it) let me know as I REALLY want to make the right decision. thanks Tom

[blykins]

I don't think there's anything anyone could say against it to change your mind....I think you pretty have made the decision. If someone told you that you'd have to swap pistons once a day, you'd probably still do it.

[CobraV8]

Originally posted by TJBERT67


other than thats not how Shelby did it

Are you sure?


Shelby's Supercharged Cobra

[Bill Wells]

tjbert67....been there done that. nothing like the sound of a blower, the kick to the back of the seat when it spools up and the looks it gets when the hood is lifted.

now, for the practical side: your money is better spent going with a non blown engine. longevity expectancy is better with a non blown engine. spend your bucks a different way OR make darned sure the engine is specifically built for a blower...right pistons and cam, right air to fuel ratio, low enough compression for a safety zone boost level. mine was not , blower is fine, engine blew after 3000 miles : wrong pistons, wrong compression and too much boost=catastrophic failure. blew the tops off of 3 pistons and the side lips off 3 more. i was advised against the blower but proceeded anyway. now i have a great paxton sitting in a box in my garage as garage art...and great memories...and that $inking feeling of what the blower and install cost and then the cost of another motor when it blew..

so be careful with what ya do...many will say " it is not a question of IF a blown motor will fail, but ONLY WHEN it will do so"

but oh, how i loved the sound of that blower, especially as it spooled up....yeee haw...but now, only memories. current motor is NOT blown . pics of blower install in my spf are in my picture gallery...man, it was nice while it lasted but dollar wi$e fooli$h. bill

[klayfish]

Tom,
Sounds to me also like your mind is already made up, but I'll throw my limited thoughts in too.

As has already been said, that 408 as it is should be more than enough to turn your tires into piles of rubber chunks. The car will be extremely fast as it is. If you're new to Cobras, you may want to seriously consider going naturally aspirated. Get used to it and get a good feel for it. Take it to the local drags and practice putting down the power the naturally aspirated 408 makes. Then if you're itching for more, put the blower on it.

My Cobra is a naturally aspirated 351W. I recently bought a '92 Mustang convertible to run on the open track. It's got a supercharged 302, pretty worked over. I absolutely love that motor!! I'm so glad to have it. But I've taken the car out on cool days, when the pavement is cool, and even in 2nd gear I had to feather the throttle, as I got some pretty good wheelspin. And the Mustang is probably 1200-1300lbs heavier than my Cobra.

If you do the supercharger right off, I think you'll love it, but be really, really careful with it.

Steve

[lovehamr]

Hey Bill, what do you want for the garage art?

[PcarRacr]

Please don't forget that Ol' Shelby sell's a Vortech Supercharger as a factory option to his New 427 motors. It puts those things at 750hp on pump gas. IMO it is a great way to go as long as you have the bottom-end to handle boost.

Chad

[Bill Wells]

Lovehamr...i I missed your earlier inquiry. I just sent you an offline email, let me know if you don't get it. Bill.

[hp/weight]

So Tom, what's the verdict? Are you huffing or was it a no blow?

[Edley Rondinone]

If you are going to run a supercharger, you can probably save money and NOT get the stroker kit! Keep the cubes at 351, and build THAT 351 motor for the blower.
NOTHING beats the look and sound of a blower on top of an engine! And they are rare, as well! How often do you see a car with a blower on it?
I was at a Good Guys show many years ago, and we came across a guy with a stock-looking, dirty '68 Chevelle, with a blower on it. Asked him what was the story, and he said he never had as much fun with a car as when he put that blower on!! Said he went through a tank of gas THE FIRST DAY!!!

My advice: keep the motor sized at 351, build the motor for the blower, and have a ball with that set-up! If and when the motor blows up, THEN get the 408 stroker kit!!! Have fun!!!