This is by far the most common question we get at www.SuperchargersOnline.com. The correct answer is there is not one supercharger brand that is best for you since all types have it’s pro’s and con’s. What it ultimately comes down to is what type of supercharger will fit your needs, what is your budget, and what are your goals?
Type of Superchargers
Understanding the types of supercharger is a great start to determine your supercharged needs. The three major types of superchargers are Centrifugal, Twin-Screw, and Roots. While we are not going to get into the science and technical aspects of these type superchargers we are at least going to provide you with a brief understanding of their usage.
- Centrifugal
Centrifugal type superchargers are normally the ones you see located on the side of the engine. A lot of people refer them as the “snail” or “turbo” type looking compressors.
Centrifugal type superchargers are very common for street and track applications. The characteristic of a Centrifugal type supercharger is that the boost level will build up per RPM speed. This means you hardly will see any boost pressure in the lower RPM range and the higher the RPM climbs the more boost you will receive. So your max boost level normally will be achieved at your RPM Redline or your rev limit.
What makes these very common for street applications is the that the power curve does not come on very strong so it puts less strain on your transmission and other parts of your Powertrain. Also, since a lot of street applications are running regular street tires not having the power in the lower RPM range allows you to have better traction and you will have more control over your vehicle so you do not slam into a tree from lack of traction.
Popular Centrifugal Supercharger brands are Vortech & Paxton.
- Twin-Screw and Roots
Twin-Screw and Roots superchargers are both a form of a positive displacement type compressor. This means that the supercharger normally sits on top of a custom manifold, which is attached directly on top of your engine.
Twin-Screw and Roots type superchargers are very common on Truck applications where people desire most torque and horsepower for towing and off the line power. It is also very commonly used for road course racing where more instant power is needed. The characteristic of a Twin-Screw and Roots type supercharger normally provides boost instantly. Unlike the Centrifugal type superchargers you do not need to wait until redline to see the higher boost levels for it normally will be present throughout the whole RPM band. Because of the boost curves this type of supercharger is idea for anyone seeking a lot of HP and Torque instantly, which makes it perfect for towing heavy loads or someone that needs the extra power in the lower, mid, and higher RPM range.
For street applications Twin-Screw and Roots type superchargers normally do not run as high of boost levels as Centrifugal type superchargers. On a Dyno a Centrifugal type superchargers normally will produce higher HP numbers, however a Twin-Screw and Roots type supercharger will normally produce more HP throughout the RPM range.
Popular Twin-Screw Supercharger brands are Vortech (Lysholm) and Whipple.
Popular Roots Superchargers are made from Eaton in which MagnaCharger, Edelbrock & Jackson Racing all create their systems from.
Your Goal
Now that you got a basic understanding on the type of supercharger that might suit you the best. When choosing a supercharger you have to consider how much more modifications you are going to do to the engine if any, and how much boost you want to run at that current time and/or in the future.
Most supercharger manufactures design their units around stock engines. So the more stock the engine is the more acceptable the manufactures tune and fuel components will be towards smooth operation. If you are planning to keep your engine fairly stock and or maybe adding some modifications to it like headers, full exhaust system and maybe run a slightly more higher boost level then normally then the manufactures entry kit will normally be acceptable.
As you start modifying your engine more and/or desire a lot higher boost levels than normal then a larger supercharger may be needed. A majority of the manufactures have several different size superchargers to fit ones needs. If you go with too small of a supercharger then you may have a difficult time achieving the boost levels you are desiring. If you go with to large of a compressor your engine may not be able to support it and it may be so far out of its efficiency zone that the superchargers boost curves might come on too late. So it is very important in choosing the right size supercharger for your engines needs and how your engine is going to be setup.
Budget
When dealing with the cost of a supercharger there are numerous factors in which determines the price. Normally Twin-screw and Roots type superchargers cost more. The main reasons are the cost of the blowers are more expensive to build, and normally these kits come with a manifold in which also drives up the price.
Intercooled and Aftercooled systems tend to cost more than non-Intercooled or non-Aftercooled systems. It is always more beneficial to go with an Intercooler or Aftercooler, however it is not necessary. And Intercooler or Aftercooler helps control heat, which overall will allow you to run more boost at a safer level and go more aggressive with the tune which leads to higher horsepower numbers. Normally supercharger systems in the lower boost range don’t really need any sort of Intercooler or Aftercooler. Once you start going in the higher boost levels then an Intercooler or Aftercooler becomes useful. Intercoolers and Aftercoolers are also useful for high compression engines for they help to control heat so you don’t have to run higher-octane gasoline to control detonation caused by heat.
Another factor when dealing with the price of a unit is how complete the system is. Most supercharger kits we offer come in complete packages. So nothing else is normally needed in order to fit the supercharger onto your engine. Since all the fuel accessories and programming comes in the system the supercharger kits normally will function perfectly right out the box.
Some manufactures offer their systems in a “Tuner” form. A “Tuner” kit normally is everything it takes to mount the kit onto your car but it will lack the programming and fuel components to make it function on your application. These “Tuner” kits do cost less, however the additional fuel components and programming is needed in order for it not to cause any damage to the engine. These manufactures sell these “Tuner” systems because some customers want to go in a different direction when it comes to tuning. They either want to go with a custom Dyno tune or they already have most of the components so the items in the kit are not needed.
At SuperchargersOnline we really try to price our kits at the best possible price we can. We even try our best to price match or beat authorized distributors.
Summery
As you can see there can be a lot to consider when choosing the correct supercharger for your needs. We suggest for you to take your time when picking the correct system for your needs and goal. And please feel free to contact us anytime on questions you may have to help guide you to your decision. We sell pretty much every major brand so we will be honest with the information we provide and hopefully we can help you choose the system that will fit you the best.
SuperchargersOnline.com
Email: SuperchargersOnline@gmail.com
I have a 2020 Jeep gladiator. I want more get up and go in general. I will not be towing anything. I would want at least a 100 hp increase in brake hp if possible.
Hey Paul, the best system for your 2020 Gladiator is the Magnuson TVS1900 supercharger. Here is the information on that system, if you have any other questions please give us a call 818-518-9889
2020 Jeep Gladiator Supercharger
Paul, I just installed a Ripp SC in my ‘20 gladiator with 2,600 miles, it significantly boosted my mid thru top end. I am extremely happy with the power provided. I will probably get a Dyno reading to accurately determine the increase in HP. Just on a side note, I was able to EASILY shadow a 2019 camaro full throttle!
I have a V10 5.2 liters engine and I am between a TVS 2300 and Whipple 2.9… the engine is stock. Which one you think is the best choice? I was told twin screw works in lower temperatures.
They are both going to do a great job on your Truck, if there was a kit available. If you are looking to fabricate your own supercharger manifold, let us know we can provide you with the head unit of your choice.
Hii want ask what supercharger is the best no limit for budget for nissan 2020_ 2021 titan that fit the engine and give more power with intercoolde
thanks
The Harrop supercharger will be the best, and only option available. It is due to be released soon.
Thanks i see some video that have harrop supercharger i will cheak internet if it will fit
I have a 2011 Ford F-150 raptor 6.2L. I was looking for a good supercharger to boost my hp so that I can run larger tires but still have plenty of power. Is the roush kit for the 6.2L my best option?
We suggest the Roush kit for the 2011 Raptor. If you are interested in a quote give us a call 818-518-9889
Hello all!
And question is for Brian Zacuto:
I`ve a Mercedes engine M104 AMG 3.6L (inline-6) what can You offer in this case?
Thanks!
Sorry, we do not have anything for that vehicle.
What’s a good supercharger for a 2019 Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenger rt that is the 5.7L
They are all great units, we do sell allot of the Magnuson TVS2300 Superchargers for those cars!
Hey guys, I have a 2009 Yukon denali,looking to install a supercharger on it,which one do you think will work the best for this 6.2 liter engine,and how many hp will it give in addition? Also what would be the cost of it ?
We think all of them are a great option! We have a Magnuson on our company cruiser, it is a 2019 Yukon with a 6.2L .
Give us a shout if you would like to discuss it further! 877-222-8098
I have a 2003 Silverado 2500 HD with the 6.0 vortec that I’d like to increase torque for towing. What supercharger do you suggest ?
David, we offer the Magnuson, Edelbrock, and Whipple units for that truck. Shoot us an email for pricing and availability. sales@superchargersonline.com
Hello I got a 2007 vett with a v3 supercharger I’m thinking of a cam for more horsepower but started looking into a meth set up as you know it will benefit the supercharger just looking for more power , your thoughts ,Thank You
Meth is a great addition as long as you are not tuning the vehicle to be dependent on it.
Hey guysI know you probably don’t have anything like what I’m looking for but I’m hoping against hope here that somebody can give me a lead of some sort.
I got a 2004 Kia Spectra 2.0 l inline 4 cylinder I dynoed at 122.2 horsepower I’m wondering if anybody knows what kind of supercharger I should get whether it be positive displacement or centrifugal, and if anybody knows where I could find said supercharger online. my engine is mounted transversely so there isn’t much access to the belt drive on the face of the engine but I have gobs of room at the back of the engine over top of the transmission yes this car is front wheel drive and I’m simply looking to make a little more horsepower so that I have the confidence in my vehicle to make enough power to get me out of any sticky situation I might be in, nothing too excessive maybe another 50 to 80 horsepower just to give a little performance boost to my daily driver.
Thanks for the help
Sadly there is not anything available in “kit” form for your vehicle.
I have a 1997 BMW Z3 2.8 and am trying to find the right supercharger system for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Sadly we do not have anything available for that vehicle.
I have a 2006 corvette c6 automatic with American racing headers borla exhaust and stage 1 cam i have 415hp to the rear wheels right now What supercharger would best to get me to near 600hp?
Shoot us an email sales@superchargersonline.com
If I wanted to Supercharge a 7.4L Chevy Big Block V8 and get maximum power output, and consistent air input throughout the rev ranges, what supercharger set-up should I use? Can someone suggest any websites to buy superchargers?
Thank you 🙂
what vehicle is this motor in?
I have a 2012 kia forte ex, (2.0L) 4 cylinder engine, I was wondering what the best budget/insurance friendly supercharger would be and what would be other good performance upgrades?
sadly there is nothing available in the supercharger line up, sorry
I have a 15 chevy ss, what’s the best blower to go on my car to make 600+whp. Also doing cam and other supporting mods. Already has long tubes and full 3inch
We can set you up with a few different options, give us a shout 818-518-9889 and ask for Nergal.