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Supercharger ?'s, compression VS boost

7.2K views 30 replies 11 participants last post by  Heath  
#1 ·
Hey Guys, I would like to know what your opponions on our 3 valve motors. I want to get the Kenne Bell Mommoth supercharger for my 2008 GT. I am going to put all forged internals and don't know what compression ratio to run. I will eventually crank up the boost to 24 psi on race fuel, but what about the 93 oct at the pump. would this combo be safe on 9.55:1 I know its all in the tune but would like to have some insight. I hear of people running three differant tunes, say like a 91, a 93 and then a race tune. all these tunes would be based on supercharger pulley size right? For instance the 91 tune with 10lbs boost with given pully size, the 93 on 14lbs on smaller pulley size, and the race fuel on the 24lbs with an even smaller pulley. All these boost and octains are just estimated. Also are ther any formulas out there to help on what octane race fuel would be needed with this combo. Should I go lower on the compression ratio to start with. This will be a weekend warrior and will be driven on the street also. I know there are a lot of questions but all help will be greatly appreaciated. Thanks again,"Virgin thread starter", 03VENOUM.
 
#3 ·
Here is my 2 cents on compression and Superchargers. Keep it high (9.2:1) if you want the highest possible hp on race fuel. But you will have to back it down to 10 psi or so to run pump gas. If you drop the CR to 8.5:1 or so, you can run higher boost (15 psi or so) on pump gas, and make more hp on the street, but the power you will make on Race fuel and high boost on the track will drop quite a bit from the 9.2:1 ratio.

So basically it's where you want to be in the tradeoff. I kept my ratio at 9.25:1 in my 5.3 engine, and I still wonder if I made the right decision.
 
#4 ·
Here is my 2 cents on compression and Superchargers. Keep it high (9.2:1) if you want the highest possible hp on race fuel. But you will have to back it down to 10 psi or so to run pump gas. If you drop the CR to 8.5:1 or so, you can run higher boost (15 psi or so) on pump gas, and make more hp on the street, but the power you will make on Race fuel and high boost on the track will drop quite a bit from the 9.2:1 ratio.

So basically it's where you want to be in the tradeoff. I kept my ratio at 9.25:1 in my 5.3 engine, and I still wonder if I made the right decision.
So, I would probably want to run a lower compression than the 9.55:1 to get the higher boost for the street. Say a 9.0:1 I dont want to go too low and have problems with tunning. I feel The street would be more fun to play with the extra power and develop a little reputation, so everybody and there grandma in the mini van don't always want to race at every stop light.:thumb: Or maybe that will still happen, but at least I'd win most of the time. Some of these damn four cylinders are getting pretty fast from the factory. How are you guys running the tunes? in a piggyback/stand alone set up, or a hand held tunner that you have to reflash the pcm with every time you want to go racing? Anybody else?
 
#5 ·
9.0:1 sounds like a good compromise. I am running the standard KB tune for my KB 2.6 Stage 2 at this point. I will be going to a tuner when I get my new engine finished. Good move on the Mammoth, I will max my 2.6 out at about 17 psi with the new 5.3L I am building, where as A 2.8 would have gone up to 20 psi or so.
 
#6 ·
9.0:1 sounds like a good compromise. I am running the standard KB tune for my KB 2.6 Stage 2 at this point. I will be going to a tuner when I get my new engine finished. Good move on the Mammoth, I will max my 2.6 out at about 17 psi with the new 5.3L I am building, where as A 2.8 would have gone up to 20 psi or so.
If you don't mind me asking, what kit(5.3L) are going with, and who sells it. What is your stroke and rod lenght, and what brands did you choose. Light weight I beam or the H beam rods. I was planning on the 5.0L but that's not definate right now. What kind of power are you shooting for?
 
#12 ·
Let me just leave you this reference thread on the subject so you know the tradeoffs:
Link => Increasing static CR vs boost pressure

A common complaint of a lower CR is less responsiveness when not under boost. But with a P-D blower, I have to say that I honestly don't see why you need to run a high static CR. My '03 Cobra has a stock CR of 8.5, and has far better part-throttle response than my '01 Cobra had, which had a CR of 9.85, IIRC.

Just my thoughts.
 
#13 ·
Let me just leave you this reference thread on the subject so you know the tradeoffs:
Link => Increasing static CR vs boost pressure

A common complaint of a lower CR is less responsiveness when not under boost. But with a P-D blower, I have to say that I honestly don't see why you need to run a high static CR. My '03 Cobra has a stock CR of 8.5, and has far better part-throttle response than my '01 Cobra had, which had a CR of 9.85, IIRC.

Just my thoughts.
Hey black2003cobra that was a great write up. I have now switched my thoughts on this subject. I think I will try to run 8.7 to 9.2 to 1. I haven't ordered any thing yet. But this seem to be the sweet spot for booth street performance and track performance. I really don't want a doggy car for the street, but in the the other hand, I want to make killer # on the race fuel. How can you tell when your reaching your boost/detonation limits when on the dyno. What are the signs, and how do you know( if I were to keep pulleying it down and increasing the PSI) when to say thats enuff on the 93 oct and its time for the 110?:dunno2: Thanks for the info.
 
#15 ·
I'd keep it at 9.0:1 or a little less. You should call some of the top modular engine builders and get some real tried and true professional advice.
 
#16 ·
Havent some of the Cobra guys been having issues with spinning the big KBs fast enough for big boost and driving them on the street that way? What is your ultimate hp and use goal?
 
#18 ·
I've heard of that before. Too much compression always seems to make a blown engine's top end and bottom end at odds with each other. I've never done it, but it's kind of the norm to lower the compression a bit with blown applications.
 
#20 ·
What's the compression ratio?
 
#23 ·
What kind of Street boost are you shooting for and what fuel Oct.?
 
#25 ·
What are your thoughts on a turbo car? I have a bullseye s366 (66mm). It has a small bit of lag, so I would like to go with a higher compression. Goal is 750 hp, but I don't want it to be a dog on the street. What is you guy's opinion ?
 
#26 ·
I wouldn't go any higher than stock.