questions about turbocharging/supercharging

[rqms2]

I'm pretty inexperienced with cars and all this stuff...so I found my way here to ask you guys these questions

1) what is the difference between turbocharging and supercharging cars?

2) is it possible to supercharge or turbocharge a 2001 mustang? (not gt =/, so it's only a 3.8L v6)

3) if it is, how much would each cost? and how much of a difference would it make?

[73mustang351c]

the main difference between the two is that a turbocharger runs off the exhaust gases and the superchargers run off the crank.both are good. with a turbocharger some people say that at low RPMs the turbo has a delay. you can avoid this if you have a manual but with a v6 3.8 I doubt you do. I personally run tunnel ram air. both can add 40-65% power depending on the size. cost wise you can get a descent paxton turbo kit for 2k. if you decide to supercharge with a blower you need to do many things first to get your compression up to at least 11.1. can get expensive. for the street rodder I suggest turbo. hope this helped.

[Cobra01TT]

Great except you need to lower your compression, 8-8.5 is good for forced induction. Supercharging will be far less expensive than turboing it, like at least a grand. I haven't looked for turbo kits for 3.8's, but its about $3K more for mine.

[boosted331]

Originally Posted by 73mustang351c

the main difference between the two is that a turbocharger runs off the exhaust gases and the superchargers run off the crank.both are good. with a turbocharger some people say that at low RPMs the turbo has a delay. you can avoid this if you have a manual but with a v6 3.8 I doubt you do. I personally run tunnel ram air. both can add 40-65% power depending on the size. cost wise you can get a descent paxton turbo kit for 2k. if you decide to supercharge with a blower you need to do many things first to get your compression up to at least 11.1. can get expensive. for the street rodder I suggest turbo. hope this helped.

If you think a tunnel ram is the same thing as blower or adds as much power as a blower, or if you think that you need 11:1 compression to run a blower hold off on giving people advice for a while.

[73mustang351c]

i never said tunnel ram air is the same. I said that is what I am running.

[90Stangjc]

Actually, you can turbo a car for less than if you supercharge it. IF you do it yourself. You have to buy the turbo off an old junk car w/ the intercooler, make the piping, exhaust manifold, ect. Not too sure on the turbo scene but if you did enough research you could build yourself a kit.

[duplox]

Thats what I'm doing.. spent $400 on two turbos(could be run as is, but getting them rebuilt, ~$200 for both)... So I spent a total of $600 on turbos, fabricating my own exhaust and intake, going to fuel injection which is another $500 for injectors and $400 for computer/rails/fuel pump/regulator... And I spent $50 on a pair of Audi intercoolers which I'm making into an air-water unit. I also spent around $250 on ignition stuff. so thats around $1800 for a very good turbocharger system, IF you do it yourself. And if you already have good ignition controls, fuel controllers, fuel pressure regulator, rails, etc, you could knock a few hundred bucks off that. Plus you wouldn't need $500 injectors(I need 8 48lb/hr injectors running at like 50psi base)You could put together a very respectable turbo system for $1250-1500. My $1800 also includes the conversion to EFI... I haven't seen a supercharger system for $1800, let alone one as complete as my turbo system(ALL fuel system components, computer, sensors, pump, reg, injectors, wiring...). I'm very pleased with how everything is coming out, and should be a triumph for budget performance. Engine Analyzer 3.0 predicts 799hp and similar torque(mid 700s, max rpms is 6500) on 15psi. Not bad for a $1500 long block motor with a $1800 turbocharger system. Hell, a motor capable of 800hp on race gas(around 650hp on pump) for around $3500? Thats a good deal to me. Then again, if I were building a supercharger system it'd be even cheaper and easier, you can get a decent paxton or vortech centrifugal supercharger for around $350-$400, everything else is pretty much the same in regards to fuel and ignition changes. So you'd save a couple hundred bucks on the supercharger itself and save a lot of time on building the exhaust. I'd rather spend the money and time to get a turbo system over a centrifugal supercharger. Centrifugal superchargers don't do anything for me.. I like the full boost through the power range rather than just up high.. I could just put a bigger engine in rather than supercharge, which wouldn't be difficult at all. A stroked 351w would drop right in.