Well, a supercharger would get you more power. They make turbo and supercharger kits for rams, I'm not sure if you would need a new tranny or not, I'm not familiar enough with the stock 3rd gen transmission to know if it would be able to handle all that extra power...

 

actually...thats not true at all. A properly sized turbo would actually net you much more horsepower than a supercharger...however, its all in what you want.

A supercharger will give you low end mid range power. Meaning, as soon as you hit the pedal, your already making boost, so...it just keeps pulling till you shift. However, it loses efficiency at higher RPM (at low end, if it makes you 150hp, it takes 20hp - at high end, if it makes you 150 hp, its taking 75hp to run it). A supercharger takes power away just to spin it, meaning that you aren't getting the full gain from it. But, its still definitley worth it, and...if your just looking for some street fun...would probably be the better choice.

Now...a turbo takes absolutley no power to run it (it uses wasted exhaust energy to make boost). However...its drawback is that it is more geared for higher RPM power. You won't see full boost until about 3000RPM. Also, it is much easier to intercool a turbo, resulting in even more power due to the cooler air charge. Where a turbo would be better is on the track all out drag racing...or even something as simple as pulling a heavy trailer.

Also...superchargers put more stress on an engine then a turbo does. Because, a turbo is only making boost when you put a heavy load on the engine. A supercharger, however, is making a set amount of boost at certain RPM no matter how you drive it.

So...as I said. Its all in what you want out of your truck.

A supercharger is easier, being more of a bolt on affair...whereas a turbo will require installing new parts, and/or fabricating new ones, running vacuum/boost lines, plumbing the wastegate/intercooler piping.
Both will require some computer modifications (ie, more fuel to support the increased amount of air).
I would definitley install a cam to maximize the power increase (with a turbo engine, you want more valve overlap, however, in a supercharged engine, you want very little).
Also, with a turbo you will need a very free flowing exhaust as you want absolutley no backpressure behind it, which will help spool time a lot. With a supercharger, you want free flowing exhaust, but, as with an N/A engine...you don't want it to flow too freely, as you want some back pressure.
Also, I would recommend a wideband o2 sensor with a gauge with either route to monitor your air/fuel ratio so you can see a problem before it causes a bigger one.

But, figure out how you want your truck to perform (low end/mid range, or top end) and what you will be using it for. This is the most important factor in your decision.
Supercharger = low end/mid range (red light to red light)
Turbo = mid range/high end (all out drag racing, pulling a trailer, driving in a very hilly area)[on a hill, you can leave your foot in the same spot...the turbo will spool up, making more power, and the engine can pull you up the hill...all without even moving the throttle. Pretty cool actually)

As far as your trans...I'd put a shift kit in it, and maybe even upgrade the torque converter. But, as long as you aren't going to crazy power levels, I would think you'd be okay.

Either way you go, though....you'd have to keep boost relatively low. I don't know what your static compression ratio is...but...its higher than most boosted engines. So, something to keep in mind.
If you're really planning on going all out race truck...as set of lower compression pistons would be a good upgrade, so you can up the boost safely.

 

I think I would start by googling supercharger vs turbo or something like that. There is a lot to both of them.

A supercharger won't make more more than a turbo. When you compare them psi to psi the turbo will actually make more becuase it doesn't take hp to spin it.

What are your goals? Do you go to the track a lot or will it be a street truck? These questions will also help to answer your question.

 

I personally like the supercharger more than the turbo. And I have to agree with Strang that the turbo can make way more than the supercharger. I like the charger since there is less lag and its along the whole power band. I would only do a twin turbo system not a single.

You should beef the internals up if you want to make some serious power. You can bolt them on but you wont be able to crank the boost all the way up, youd be holding the fun back. If you get the internals all ready for a serious beating you can run more psi which results in more horespower!

I would also suggest doing the whole exhaust if you do not have that already. If your forcing induction into the motor you have to get rid of it. So go with some long tube headers and high flow cats and cat back exhaust. You will need a tuner to tune the computer after changing the crap out of it. If you go to a shop that has a dyno they should be able to tune it for you, and properly.

Hey Strang that was a great write up by the way!!

Good luck man!

 

:iagree: with strang3majik....and i would personally go with a supercharger myself...to be specific, the Pro Charger one which required no internal upgrades or additional parts...However it will set you back about 5k, but the kit is well worth it from what ive read, and is quite easy to install yourself if you have a garage or carport area to work in...supercharger on a ram just sounds better than a turbo to me, just sounds like it still has that muscle truck sound when you say "my ram is supercharged"...

 

As long as you don't get real crazy with the boost you can keep the stock bottom end . But once you start wanting more the chances of total destruction come into play .

 

^^^^ lol my bad, for some reason i wrote supercharger instead of turbo....must have been thinking about something else

 

it's ok, we all do it from time to time. I had written a similar tiriad to strange's then fell asleep on the couch so I lost my thunder when I woke up :doh: He gave some great info there, and the most important choice is how you plan on driving the truck, but for most people with a gas motor, the supercharger is the way to go, but the turbo has endless possibilities for making boost.

 

Haha...sorry for stealing your thunder CDnoilRAM.
But, this is something I have been putting a lot of thought into, myself. Figured I'd share what my research has given me

Something else to think about is the different kind of superchargers. You have centrifigal superchargers, which are basically a belt driven turbo, which are geared more for mid range high end since it has to spool up as well. But, they are what many of the kits you buy are. They do make instant boost, just not a lot of boost as quickly as a Roots type or Twin Screw supercharger, which is the one that sits atop the manifold.

The benefit to a centrifigal supercharger is that they can be easily intercooled (just run the piping). Where as a roots type or twin screw requires a special plate be made and water ran through it.

So, if you're set on superchargers, thats something else you'll have to choose is which you'd rather have.

I personally like roots type/twin screw superchargers just because they look evil, and give that classic blower whine, and make instant boot, but, they aren't as easy to make work, unless you happen to find a kit for them as well.

Centrifigals are basically universal, minus the bracket to mount it so you can put a belt around it.

 

Anything that's outlawed by the NHRA is going to be badass. I'll take the screw type blower, please!

 

I dont know alot about things on the forum cause I was a SRT 4... Guy before I got my ram. But If you do A Turbo do a rear mount on the exhaust. YeaH YOULL HAVE TO RUN YOUR LINES THE WHOLE LENGHT OF YOUR TRUCK. But its a lot better then you having it in the engine compartment. You will have a bit of delay but not that bad. And as far as a supercharger..... thats not my area but I know kenny belle makes a great on for Nova's.lol

 

Oh and for the tranny You would really want to beef it up alittle bit. I put a turbo on a buddies "Gay mans Cheverlot". And I told him that the tranny wont going to be able to hold the HP. And now he's on his 2 trans in the last month. Maybe one day he'll listen or GMC will make a better trans. It will probably be the first one.lol

 

the 48REs are pretty strong though...so...I'd think it'd be okay. Definitley wouldn't hurt thouhg.

 

Awesome post strang3majik , great info right on. I;m a Turbo Fan, but I wouldn't know the different type of supercharger.

Thanks for the Info

Coffee

 

for street ability i would think an sc'd ram would be a better preference then a turbo..we need that power early... I raced a paxton scharged rc ram awhile back, that must have been the only mod (I tried to look for him after the race to find out) he had because i handily beat him (1/4 at Infineon)

 

as far as i know, a supercharger is harder on the engine as it is constantly running with the engine, where as the turbo wont spool up until a certain pressure is met. if it a 100% toy, supercharger...any kind of an everyday driver i think turbo the better option...not as much punch but not as hard on the engine

 

personally i would go with a turbo, check out sts turbo systems