I enjoy off-roading from time to time. I've noticed I have a need for power increase below 4,000 RPM's, particularly. I've looked at headers, Manifolds, a less restrictive exhuast (Billy Boat), turbocharger, supercharger, CPU swap (Predator's Rapteq), chips, cooling systems (Cry o2), cold air intakes (Airfraid), throttle body spacers (Airfraid), etc. Could you please explain the exhaust system that will provide the most gains. Also the difficulty of installing all of the above. I'm one of those "Do-it-yourself" guys, but I'd much rather pay someone to install it properly than me install it wrong or it take me more than 4-6 hours for a simple install.

 

Well the best upgrade would be a turbo charger you would get 40 percent boost in horse power and 50 in torque problem is there is a level of maintenance required due to the heat created and turbo chargers need to cool down after doing really serious driving by idling for a few mins or a intercooler can be installed giving virtually unlimited boost. The super charger is less of a boost but can actually help with fuel efficiency and is less maintenance and doesn't require such a cool down as the turbo charger. Down side is theres a bit of strain on engine due to superchargers being pulley driven but a super charger will last longer then a turbo because little to no maintenance and and it has a self contained oil supply. These are not little upgrades though and can be quite costly. If you have decent mechanical knowledge you could do it yourself but a kit used runs about 1000-1500 dollars Brand New your looking at 5k+. I think you would be looking more at air filter changes and maybe some tuning options.

 

Tonyg41,

appreciate the prompt reply; I'm a newbie to forums if its not already painfully apparent. I have little knowledge of turbos and a little more of superchargers. I was always under the assumption that the gas saver was the turbo since the "wind" essentially powered it and the supercharger as u stated was pulley driven by the engine. You meantioned "used turbo kits" this a totally new concept to me!!! Would you happen to have a link lying around or perhaps be able tp reccomend a site or person(s) willing to sell a turbo kit? I also wanted to know if there are any potiential problems with buying a used kit? Id love to have a new turbo from the box but being a college student my funds are limited to part time jobs in-between classes. If i got a turbo kit id definately buy an intercooler becuase ive been known to be rough on my H3... Maintanence is not an issue at all unless its a "1 hr a day" type deal. I appologize for the mispellings and grammatical errors; replying to your post via iPhone. Again, thank you for the prompt reply!!! I look forward to hearing from you again.

PS

is there somekind of rating system i can leave members for thier responses? I've never really tried forums previously to this.

 

I dont think on this forum people can build rep power. Usually these used turbos and superchargers are taken off by mechanics and cleaned up pretty well from the ones I've seen. I would suggest talking to a performance garage by you and see what there suggestions are.If going with used you should get the back story from who ever is selling it. The maintenance needed for a turbo wouldn't be a daily type of thing it would be something almong the lines of once every few months I believe. I am going based off of things ive read and what ive learned from a few people I know with them.

 

To be helpful... stick with a supercharger. Turbo lag will be really apparent when off roading, the turbo(s) will need to spool up and at lower end rpms take longer to do so, than the boost will need to go somewhere... when offroading the last thing you need is extra boost and loose control in a sticky spot.

However to achieve maximum potential for a supercharger I would build up to it, get other mods done first, header, free flowing exhaust, intake, pcmforless tune... etc... than supercharge it.

Just my 0.02

 

DAGKANA,

Agreed on the spool up time and the extra boost during an off-road adventure! Is it not possible to reprogram my boost to kick in at lower RPM's? Even so I like both ideas and definitely need to do more research on turbochargers and superchargers. I thank you and TonyG41 for the valuable input. Have you known anyone with a supercharger on their H3 (any year)??? I'd really like to hear from someone that personally has the two items in question. Also, not to get this topic off track ; anyone have any of the small upgrades i mentioned previously? Headers or Manifolds, CAI, exhaust system, chips, or throttle body spacers? As well as how hard they are to put on? I've heard some advice to avoid headers at all costs due to high maintenance with the gaskets. Manifolds have thicker more durable gaskets right? Anyone ever heard of aftermarket Manifolds for 07' H3's? As always, thanks for the valuable input.

 

No, I don't know anyone that has jumped the gun and gotten either setup. Though in a wheelin enviornment over the past 10 years Ive never met anyone that has had or talked positively about turbo charging any offroad rig. Ive supercharged some of my other vehicles, the technology is there now and everything is much more refined but I just cant imagine turbos working well, especially when you gonna be wheelin which usually = mud and debris that can effect the turbo, lines, and intercooler... all bad when IMO...

I agree with the manifolds in a offroading setting, headers give you better power gains but have their weak side of too much pressure and not enough gasket, though I doubt it would be an issue to replace it... the money that co want for either the manifolds or the headers is astronomical and I refuse to spend that much for little gains... just because I own a hummer doesn't mean I like to throw money away... Ive had custom SS true dual exhaust on some of my other rigs and spend less on those setups than just one component for the H3... rediculous.

Do NOT get a throttle body spacer they dont do anything... the only reason to get one is for fitment issues as far as your intake goes in other makes and model vehicles... There's plenty of other info out there on exhaust and intakes... you just gotta search for it

 

Dagkana,

I realize now theres a lot more to consider as far as the "turbocharger vs supercharger" is concerned. I like how you look at the whole perspective from an "offroad stance". Is it possible to have a custom mantifold made for cheaper than another online retail store? Or is that reaching? Personally with either a turbocharger or supercharger i wouldnt care about the manifold if it wouldn't do damage to it without upgrading. I took Tonyg41's advice (i think it was him at least) and searched for used turbos. No such luck. However i did look at a store on ebay that makes what looked like "generalized turbo kits". The whole kit for every model/make all looked similar. I was interested in the stage 2 product. They had a very high feedback from i think 5,000 customers so i was considering it. Going to talk to a mechanic from my home town this weekend. I'll try and post a link for you all to tell if it's a good buy or not. Should be up by this evening or tomorrow. Would you re ommend used superchargers or only new ones?

 

Dag is very right about the turbocharger lag in a offroad setting because your rpms will dip and jump as you move along so the turbo may not get the spin up. I was thinking in a on road commute situation. To max the performance of which ever way you go dag is right you can upgrade alot of other parts first then put a charger on it.You can just put a charger and get a big boost but it's not the most out of your system. It all comes down to budgets and what your goals are. On side note are you from jersey just cause way your names set up I was curious

 

I'd supercharge over turbocharging for off-road use, as has already been mentioned. I can't recommend used, so if you don't want to drop 5k, try the intake, exhaust, tune route first.

Or you could always trade it in for an Alpha.....