Supercharger for towing

[SteveoTahoe]

I read a lot of threads about superchargers. Seems as if the performance gains are awesome. I haven’t see too much about how much you notice these while towing. I am considering a supercharger but only so I have more towing torque. I need reliability. I just don’t want to spend 7k and not notice a big difference while towing. Anyone else install one for this reason? Mine is a 5.3 with the 6 speed and max trailering.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I cannot personally help you with your question; however, other members on this Forum that have superchargers in stalled will chime in.

 

[Bill 1960]

I have not done that specific mod. However similar mods to other tow vehicles (finally) convinced me that performance mods are the enemy of reliability. I leave my towing vehicles as built now.

Issues of particular concern will likely be engine cooling and keeping the trans together.

 

[STORMIN08]

look into what most call the stage 1 or 2 cam....those seem to offer the best result bang for the dollar.

look up Richard Holdner on Youtube, he is a former westech dyno tech and has a ton of video with numerous levels of mods to LS, LT and SBC engines...all very good stuff

 

[STORMIN08]

Richard Holdener, Author at EngineLabs

www.enginelabs.com

 

[Foggy]

Mine is the GenIV, so a bit different.. But when adding my edlebrock SC
I really don't thing any reliability changed at all...
I did it for the same reason as you want to. Although mine is the 6.2, but
you have more gears in trans and direct injection.. From what I've found direct injected
motors Love forced induction.
I did have to upgrade my Radiator to deal with the extra heat of SC and towing.
The major drawback is MPG... My MPG dropped from 16-17 not towing hiway to 13-14
and while towing from 9-10 mpg to about 6 mpg. I do have lots more power, but
I think if i were to get a do over, I'd go with cam and head mods... Or a centrifugal supercharger
instead of a roots PDS type SC.

 

[SteveoTahoe]

look into what most call the stage 1 or 2 cam....those seem to offer the best result bang for the dollar.

look up Richard Holdner on Youtube, he is a former westech dyno tech and has a ton of video with numerous levels of mods to LS, LT and SBC engines...all very good stuff

Thanks I will check it out

 

[SteveoTahoe]

Mine is the GenIV, so a bit different.. But when adding my edlebrock SC
I really don't thing any reliability changed at all...
I did it for the same reason as you want to. Although mine is the 6.2, but
you have more gears in trans and direct injection.. From what I've found direct injected
motors Love forced induction.
I did have to upgrade my Radiator to deal with the extra heat of SC and towing.
The major drawback is MPG... My MPG dropped from 16-17 not towing hiway to 13-14
and while towing from 9-10 mpg to about 6 mpg. I do have lots more power, but
I think if i were to get a do over, I'd go with cam and head mods... Or a centrifugal supercharger
instead of a roots PDS type SC.

Yeah I was wondering about the mpg, didn’t consider the radiator but that’s good to know

 

[Thrust]

Some tuners can provide tow tunes. I doubt you will overheat with a supercharger. My concerns would be cat temps and trans life, if stock transmission.

 

[swathdiver]

I read a lot of threads about superchargers. Seems as if the performance gains are awesome. I haven’t see too much about how much you notice these while towing. I am considering a supercharger but only so I have more towing torque. I need reliability. I just don’t want to spend 7k and not notice a big difference while towing. Anyone else install one for this reason? Mine is a 5.3 with the 6 speed and max trailering.

These motors love blowers! They use about half a horsepower while cruising so no real loss in fuel efficiency when you're not on the throttle. Supercharger torque is instantaneous so it will hold gears longer before shifting while towing. These supercharger kits add about 100-120 Horsepower to a 5.3. They are very reliable and GM even warrants the add-on kits that came with some special editions from Lingenfelter, Hennessey, Calloway, etc.