2003 F150 SuperCrew 4.6L 2WD with 54k miles and 3.55 gears pulling 7x16 enclosed trailer at about 4500#.

I have been researching turbo and superchargers for several months. I see many people on here happy with Powerdyne, Procharger, Eaton, and many others. Most are mainly concerned with more top end HP and speed. I am just looking for better towing performance at low RPM.

If money were no object I would trade for an F250 diesel but...fuel and maintenance costs on top of the price for a truck in as good a shape as mine force me to look for other solutions.

Since this truck is my daily driver and I only tow a small percent of the time I think going with a twin screw supercharger such as the Kenne Bell or Whipple might be the most cost effective way to give me better low rpm torque/HP. If I understand the literature the twin screw starts boost as soon as soon as you come off idle and flattens from about 2000 rpm and up.

I can tow my trailer in OD at 60-63mph on flat ground. Anything more and it starts wanting to shift too much. When I turn off OD it then runs about 2500rpm at 65mph and my gas mileage goes from about 11 down to about 9. Above 70mph and I get 8.5mpg. I have a Diablo Predator and it seems to make no difference in mpg even though I do notice a little more power.

Can anyone tell me if I add the twin screw SC if it will for example allow me to tow at 70mph and stay in OD and get better mpg or is this a function of the transmission? I am not very knowledgeable regarding engine load vs. tranny load and shifting, etc. I think if I have more torque/HP I would be able to use less throttle which should keep it in OD longer but maybe I"m wrong.

Anyone have experience with Whipple or Kenne Bell?

Thanks

 

Well so much for twin screw SC on my '03 4.6.

Neither Whipple or Kenne Bell offer a kit for my truck. Very dissapointing.

Anyone know of another twin screw (Not Roots) type blower for 4.6L?

 

MOST COST EFFECTIVE?!!? Are you kidding? 5 grand plus the need for 91 octane on a daily driver is cost effective?!

Look, what you need are new gears. Swap in a set of 3.73s or even 4.10s and you'll discover the most cost effective way to get more low-end. With it being a 2WD you're only looking at around $1000 installed...if that.

 

Hey Monsta, thanks and it's funny my friend at work just told me the same thing. Makes sense to me.

Now at 65mph in OD I'm turning about 1750rpm or so and with OD off it goes up to 2600rpm. So as far as towing in OD at the same speed if I went from 3.55 to 3.73 gears I might be better off as far as mpg goes.

I spent yesterday looking at REAL modifications - 2006 F250 Super Duty 6.0L diesels!!! Wow what nice trucks, however they wanted $44k out the door and this is what the wife thinks of that

Thanks again

 

If you want a towing machine, and without the initial cost of a diesel, try a second hand V10 with 4:30's.

 

Meh...Forget it...

 

the v10 will probably be your best bet. if you look you can probably find a decent one pretty cheap considering how gas is going

 

Just got my info package from ProCharger. Looks like the best bet for my 2003 4.6. I found one for $3600 which is a lot cheaper than a new truck and would definately wake up my truck! They claim 50-65% more power.

I think this is the way I am going to go. With the intercooler I can run 8-9psi without worrying much about detonation. I have a Diablo Predator so I can adjust my A/F ratio and timing advance so I should be able to tune for 87 octane fuel when I'm not towing or running it hard around town.

I guess I should start another thread since this one is KB/Whipple...

 

No - I can rename it for you

Don't forget that a centrifugal supercharger won't have the off-idle torque that a Whipple or KB setup will.

But you should find it more than sufficient.

 

Thanks BigF350. Not too fast. Now HQ (wife) would rather use the $4k to get a 4x4 truck so I'm right back where I started

Right now I'm going to WV pulling my trailer with my slightly underpowered 4.6L F150 Screw 2WD. Maybe I'll get lucky and get caught in some snow and get stuck. That should put the decision back toward 4x4 instead of the Supercharger.

Then we will have to move this thread again to either - F150 4x4 with 5.4 OR F250 SD 4x4 with PSD

I honestly don't know at this point which way to go. I have been beating this thing to death. Maybe next week sitting their waiting for that big buck to come along something will come to me!

 

Big 350, could yamahonda use a supercharger setup off of a cobra 4.6 on his truck?

 

Nevermind! I forgot about this thread. I did trade for an '06 F250 CC Lariat FXR with 6.0 Powerstroke. I have NO problem pulling my little trailer now!!!