Whipple vs LSA pros and cons

[Hotrod61483]

Hello all, I'm a long-time Lurker, first time poster. I have a 2015 Yukon Denali XL that I've been wanting to put a Supercharger on. Can anyone help shed some light on the Gen 4 2.9L Whipple Supercharger vs using an LSA 1.9L Supercharger off of a Camaro SS or the CTSV? I've read a lot of threads, and seen some with the Whipple, and with the LSA, but I don't know what all parts and pieces I would need for this. The Whipple comes as a kit with everything I need install it, and if I'm not mistaken it also comes with a Tune from HP Tuners. I've actually wanted to do this for a long time and originally started out with an 06 Cadillac Escalade with the 6.0L LQ9. It got totaled and I got a 2010 Yukon Denali XL with the 6.2L. It also got totaled so then I got the 2015 Yukon Denali XL with the 6.2L. My Wife was driving both vehicles when the got totaled, not me, just thought I should throw that out there, Lol!! The 2015 has 68K miles right now, and the interior is mint condition, some old couple owned it and kept having minor fender benders, I was told he ran into his garage door 4 times!! That being said the back of the vehicle i don't think had ever had passengers, everything was new and untouched. DVD players still had plastic film over them and the remote controls didn't have batteries. Anyway, let me know what you all think, and what you would do if it were yours. Thank you, pics for attention

 

[randeez]

you now have an LTX engine, the intake ports are different than the gen4 "LS3" square port heads.

whipple does make a tub for the 2.9L to go onto with the correct ports so you can still use it, prob good for nearly 1khp, intercooler prob better at that hp than the oem blower
LSA blower wont work - you will need an LT4 blower, they are only 1730cc iirc (if youre interested in using an OEM blower 1.7L). they respond great to porting but heat is an issue when you start trying to make 700ish+ hp im going to say. but they will make around 900hp with everything thrown at it.

 

[Hotrod61483]

you now have an LTX engine, the intake ports are different than the gen4 "LS3" square port heads.

whipple does make a tub for the 2.9L to go onto with the correct ports so you can still use it, prob good for nearly 1khp, intercooler prob better at that hp than the oem blower
LSA blower wont work - you will need an LT4 blower, they are only 1730cc iirc (if youre interested in using an OEM blower 1.7L). they respond great to porting but heat is an issue when you start trying to make 700ish+ hp im going to say. but they will make around 900hp with everything thrown at it.

Wow, there's some really good info in your comment, I really appreciate it. Do you know if the Gen 5 3.0L Whipple will fit my engine? Only reason I ask is because I recently read a thread that had the Gen 5 Supercharger and it looked awesome!! I think it was on a 2021+ or something like that? It was red, vs there standard black, unless he painted or powder coated it?

 

[Hotrod61483]

Here's a couple pics of the Gen 5 3.0L Blower

 

[randeez]

the "gen 5" i believe refers to whipple's gen 5 blower....its has nothing to do with fitting GM gen 5 engines.
same engines for 14-current (15+ suvs)
trucks get L83/L86 engine designations, but they are similar to LT1/LT4 engines.... i think there are still adapters needed to run oem blower, doubt theyre needed with the whipple, will just need to make sure the belt spacing is correct i think it has changed throughout the years
the early version of the whipple for LT4s had some problems, seemed like everyone one of them always had excessive knock no matter who was tuning it, made a lot of GM (zl1/ctsv/vette) guys shy away from them and not come back it seems.

the other option is a 2650 blower, eaton rotors (oem for ZR1 vette LT5 blower), make lots of power, very effecient, great cooling

 

[THarber]

LSA kits are more expensive than WHipple kits, unless you piece it together. I'd get the whipple with the tune and let the smiles begin. The whipple is superior to the LSA in every way. The new 5.0 whipple has some draw backs for your application and is probably too much to begin with.