Thoughts on super charging a 1988 K30 454, turbo 400

[57NAPCO]

Would a stock, 22,000 original mile truck/TBI engine hold up to a super charger? Would it even work? It’s just a thought at this point. Thoughts?
Thanks

[57NAPCO]

Just pokin’ around and found this....

https://www.procharger.com/truck-sup...74-street-kits

[b454rat]

Dunno why it wouldn't. 22k is barely broke in.

[mongocanfly]

Wouldnt you need to regap the rings?...just asking...

[57NAPCO]

I’ll be home working it. I welcome any and all comments.

The subject...

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Wouldnt you need to regap the rings?...just asking...

At higher cylinder pressures you need to regap the rings, but that depends on static+dynamic compression ratios.

A 8-1 static compression ratio should be good for 12-15 in most cases.

I would recommend adding a blower cam. The way they bring them really adds to the experience.

[57NAPCO]

This is probably the better way to go and ditch the TBI ?



http://vortecpro454.com/#xl_xr_page_engines

[rpmerf]

The engine should, but the TBI isn't going to be able to understand boost. You will need either aftermarket EFI or carb.

Don't really like the thought of modifying a 30+ year old vehicle with less than 1000 miles / year on it, but it's your truck. I really don't know the condition of it either, those could had been a hard 22k.

I guess the real question is - what is your goal?

[57NAPCO]

It’s just an occasional fun, run around truck.

I’ll never sell the truck and I’ve learned over the many years of truck ownership, enjoying your ride is the most important thing to me. I call it “putting a smile on your face”. I’m sure many will cringe at the thought of messing with a rust free, 100% original low mileage gem like this but these great trucks were dogs, now granted they were never meant to be fast but if you like the drug I call horse power, then you will likely understand.

...I will keep all the original parts and store them properly, just in case?

Originally Posted by rpmerf

The engine should, but the TBI isn't going to be able to understand boost. You will need either aftermarket EFI or carb.

Don't really like the thought of modifying a 30+ year old vehicle with less than 1000 miles / year on it, but it's your truck. I really don't know the condition of it either, those could had been a hard 22k.

I guess the real question is - what is your goal?

[mongocanfly]

Dont forget that with the big hp gains, that the entire drivetrain will need upgraded to withstand the higher hp....or you'll spend most of your time looking at broken parts...

[57NAPCO]

Yes, I figure that may happen. My other K30 has about 460 HP and I run it quite hard with no failure in the running gear....yet
Anyone who has owned one of these “bully” trucks knows how beefy they are underneath.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Dont forget that with the big hp gains, that the entire drivetrain will need upgraded to withstand the higher hp....or you'll spend most of your time looking at broken parts...

[rpmerf]

I think the biggest consideration for me would be spark / fuel. If you are trying to keep the stock TBI, I think you will be kind of limited in how far you can go. You could go to carb, or aftermarket EFI.

I've looked into this site before about TBI upgrades. https://harristuning.com/Tbi/recommended-454/

[weq92f]

.
I'd go with that crate motor ( or similar ) before dumping a bunch of cash into the supercharger setup for the low mile old tbi motor.

But if originality is important...YMMV

-klb

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Dont forget that with the big hp gains, that the entire drivetrain will need upgraded to withstand the higher hp....or you'll spend most of your time looking at broken parts...

its a 1ton 4x4 k30 truck its got the good stuff already . dana 60 front / dana 70 HD rear and th400 trans . but yes there is always a weak link someplace .

edelbrock just come out with boost upgrade for the pro flo 4 units . but they dont do roots style blowers and there pro flo 4 system . would need to be a bolt on the front belt drive unit or turbo .

and if i wanted boost i would do turbo its FREE hp in the end .

[mongocanfly]

Haha.....I can find the weak link in anything..!!

[Stepside Jim]

Speaking from experience, I personally love my truck waaaay better with a blower on it.

I drove it one year (2000 miles), no blower, no big excitement.

Now I've driven it 4 years (6000 miles) with blower, big smile every drive.

Vehicle info...1957 Chevy truck, 396, Weiand 177 series street blower. I will usually get 5 to 6 pounds boost. Once boost goes past 0 the exhaust tone changes and the pull is very obvious.

Instant power, for the most part it is a bolt on situation.

I run a Holley 850 set up for a blower.

Mine also fits under the hood, always fun watching peoples reaction when opening the hood

[weq92f]

^^^^^^^^^

-klb

['63GENIII]

My uncle ran a Pro Charger type blower on his '92 - '93 C3500 expended cab dually. I cannot remember if it was carb or FI but he said it pulled better than any truck that he had ever had. He did get rid of it BC he couldn't get it smogged. For the couple of years that he ran it though he was really liking that blower.

It was a stock 7.4 as well.

[Greasey Harley]

Originally Posted by 57NAPCO

Would a stock, 22,000 original mile truck/TBI engine hold up to a super charger? Would it even work? It’s just a thought at this point. Thoughts?
Thanks

My thoughts:
Yes, DO IT! Do it NOW!
What are you waiting for?
That thing would be freakin' Awesome!!!!
Seriously, bust out the gold card and start ordering parts. You can't afford not to do this.

You asked :-)
-Russ

[DieselSJ]

Low compression stock engine is a great starting point. Upgrade the cam. Install later Vortec fuel pumps. TBI injectors work fine all the way up past 60psi of fuel pressure so they can support a lot of horsepower. Get ECU modified by DynamicEFI and you then have a laptop tunable factory ECU that will support a boosted engine. Don't forget to update the MAP sensor with one that supports boost.

[Ryan Hubbard]

Whipple had a system for these engines that used the factory TBI and worked well. I know someone that had over 200k miles out the factory engine and the 4L80E trans.