Okay, so i realize that most of these threads are already about turbo vs. s/c . And i hate to start a new one about it, but i think my thoughts behind it are fairly unique.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to start modding the engine. headers, exhaust, intake, etc. BUT i was looking to go turbo in the near future making most of the aforemention useless as i would need a whole new exhaust set up and probably a cooler intake. My question is does a supercharger also need its own style of exhaust system, or could I change it now and just bolt the s.c on without changing the my previous mods. i'm not looking for anything too crazy as far as HP goes. i'd be very content with 250, which is pretty much what the EcoTec build book says i can get without major internal mods.

I know this may say confusing, but I'm sure most of you know exactly what i'm talking about.

For some reason I just dont feel like going N/A...

PLEASE HELP!

 

The answer is maybe.
If your headers intrude on the space that the <future> supercharger wants to sit in, then you will have to change/modify the header.

Your post shows just exactly why you need a plan before you do any mods. You will end up spending a ton of extra cash if you start adding mods without a definite goal in mind. Let's say you swap the cam out to one with a tighter LSA (give up some low end for a big jump in midrange and some extra oomph up top), then you decide you want to add forced induction. Guess what you need? Yep, a cam with a wider LSA so you don't end up blowing your boost out the exhaust with the added overlap (to say nothing of the potential for insanely high cylinder pressures which can ruin your day in a hurry) So you have just spent money buying and installing a cam which needs to come out and spent some more on a different one instead of just doing the job once. That is just a single example of what might happen if you add mods essentially on a whim.

Now, there are basic things you can do that will work with all engine mods, a cat-back exhaust will compliment all mods, whoops.....you decided on an STS rear mounted turbo kit, that expensive muffler you just bought has to come off to fit the kit. Trade-offs my good man, trade offs. Do nothing without a plan!

In all honesty, the first mod should be to the driver. Invest in a high-performance driving course for yourself. Not only will you learn to be a better and safer driver, you will have the time of your life at the course. Second mod? Unless you have a clear goal of what you want out of the engine, I would upgrade the brakes. Nobody ever does, but that is my suggestion to you.

-Good luck with your choices and have a nice evening.

 

this is the main reason i have no exhaust yet, if i go turbo next summer like im hoping, exhaust now would be a total waste of money, so im just saving my money until i can go turbo, until then just buy some appearence mods

 

the best thing for you to do is decide on a turbo or supercharged setup and then add mods to compliment your setup. Don't mod your car and then at the end throw on one of the above. Get the kit first and then start adding your supporting mods.

also, no reason to go NA either...it will end up costing you twice as much as an FI setup and you will still probably see less gains.

 

i would either get the turbo kit first then add things on top of that or do only appearance and suspension mods until im ready to get serious about the turbo, any turbo or supercharger kit can use the stock exhaust but it will hurt the gains if you get a n/a exhaust though now it would still work good with forced induction

 

Either way you go, N/A or F/I, I think the best thing to do would be to hold off on doing anything until after the SEMA show. Then I would start looking at your options!

 

you're right. basically im just trying to figure out whether or not to save a few G, or start chipping away at suspension, appearance, etc.

I'm sure SEMA is going to provide a lot for us to drool over

 

what if i just follow the GM build book, wouldn't that eventually lead me in the path of the Phase 5 cobalt?

 

yea go with the suspension and brakes ,save the engine mods till u have a plan everything is a compromise when it comes to power and things need to be properly matched for the most gain u would just be throwing your money away.

 

No. The book is very helpful, but it doesn't exactly build from one section to the next. The best way to use that book is to have a max HP goal in mind, and then work BACKWARDS from the section that targets your goal. If you work forward, you end up doing a lot of work that you will later just end up re-doing or replacing, which I think is exactly what you are trying to avoid.

 

all this talk off turbo vs supercharged ? Why not nitrous, extremely less than FI setup. no modding exhaust or anything, cheap, easy, reliable power...

 

well ill be quite content with the 250 HP max that it says the stock 2.2 can handle. i figure thats well over 100 over stock, and that makes me happy. And I'm sure i can squezze a few extra out of it without incident.

and yes, part of the build book says to go with nitrous, which I'm sure i will, just not at first. I'm a little wary of how to use it effectively without damaging anything.

 

Well I can tell you this much, for a supercharger header a 4-1 exhaust is better than a long tri Y. So going with a larger primary 4-1 header - no matter what type of S/C you get - will be a good start. I have tested mine on an engine dyno with a BD-11 and it makes great power, but it's a little on the big side of a N/A engine. (It's more noise than HP gains N/A IMO)

Also for the power you expect to make getting a 2.5" cat back exhaust will be prefect. It will be fine now N/A and large enough for 250 HP down the road. Best part no matter how you go (turbo or S/C) a cat back will be past any changes to the exhaust system.

If you go Turbo then just the manifold and down tube will be replaced and if you go S/C than just the manifold "can" be replaced.