Safe to add a Supercharger to an used silverado??

[chanswork]

Hello,

 

I was wondering if it was safe to add a supercharger to a 5.3 liter silverado with 70,000 miles on it? I read most places recommend putting superchargers onto new engines and wasn't sure if it was ok to put it onto a used engine with 70,000 miles. any helpful information would be appreciated. thanks.

[Mark_in_Tulsa]

Hello,

 

I was wondering if it was safe to add a supercharger to a 5.3 liter silverado with 70,000 miles on it?  I read most places recommend putting superchargers onto new engines and wasn't sure if it was ok to put it onto a used engine with 70,000 miles.  any helpful information would be appreciated.  thanks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Well a compression test would be a good idea first. But still, the motor will most likely take it, it's the tranny that won't. You will have to rebuild, and or beef it up a bit.

[Machine]

I wouldn't for fear of faster failures. 70K is a well seasoned motor... My 02 Escalade had a whipple SC on it, and the desire / fun to run the $hit out of it would easily retire an engine with 70K.

[Rolandd]

Don't you usually want to lower the compression to compensate for what the supercharger will produce? If you are going to the bother and expense of this kind of mod, I would at least budget a new engine. You may get the kinks worked out of the system to get it running well on the old engine but once you are running well I would guess that you will wear out the bottom end fast.

[tbyrne]

70k miles really isn't that much now. At one time, cars and trucks were usually ready for the scrape pipe by 100k but not anymore. We have alot of customers that bolt superchargers on motors that have 70-80+k miles. It really depends on the condition of the motor.

 

I've seen vehicles that were beat at 50k and then others they almost looked new at 100k. The Magnuson supercharger produces 5-6# of boost. They designed this to be safe to bolt onto a stock motor with no other mods required.

[B3AST]

i dont think 70k is bad

[svensk]

lmao...70k that motor just got broken in! These things go well over 200k without the need for a rebuild.

The tranny on the other hand like someone said... I would look for a aftermarket "built" 4l60e.

[tbyrne]

Or at least add a shift kit to extend the transmission life.

 

We installed a Radix supercharger on a 5.3 Suburban last year. That truck goes back and forth from MA to the southern states a few times a year. The owner drives "normal" but he does like the extra power for passing, merging onto the highway and getting the jump on someone that thinks their going to take down the big Suburban when the light changes. He drove about 25k miles since the Radix went on and everything is good.

 

Alot of wide open throttle use (maybe weekly trips to the track or street racing) can help shorten the life of the tranny.

[chanswork]

thanks everybody for their feedback. I think I'm going to wait on the supercharger. I don't want to shorten the life of my 2003 silverado. I'm not really too knowledgeable about the mechanics of the vehicle, so it's probably best if I just put a supercharger on my next new vehicle.....2007 Denali with 6.2 motor :o)

 

This site is great, thanks to all the enthusiast who share their knowledge and recommendations.