Does anyone make a supercharger for 7.3 diesels? Check out this site for marine diesels. I know its a 6.5 engine, but its the princeable and idea behind it. Just think, A supercharger for instant throttle response and low end power coupled to a turbo for high end power and speed. VW is already producing this combo.
http://www.marinedieselusa.com/marin...rcharging.html

 

I don't know of anyone making a supercharger kit for a 7.3L diesel but it wouldn't be terribly hard to mount a centrifigal unit. You would want some way of disconecting the supercharger once the turbo is spun up as the turbo will be much more efficent than the supercharger. In reality, on a big low boost diesel like the IDI's it really wouldn't be worth it. The turbo lag is very minimal. If you were building a complete system, not adding the supercharger to an existing turbo IDI you could use a much larger, more efficent but slower spooling turbine rotor (look at the one's used in light aircraft) because you wouldn't have to worry about lag with the supercharger in place. In theory, this would allow you to be quicker off the line (no lag), and more efficent once underway (larger turbine rotor). This is the idea behind the VW I belive - I suspect we will see the same technology from the factories on diesel trucks eventually.

 

Thanks BIKEPILOT, What about a supercharger instead of a turbo? Advantage or disadvantage.

 

Disadvantage imo. Assuming you are running the same amount of boost, the supercharged truck will be very slightly quicker off the line, but will run higher intake air tempatures (normally) and suffer more effiency loss. This means that the supercharged truck will not make as much hp with the same boost and all else equal and will run higher egt's and get worse fuel economy. Of course there are things you can do to compensate, like a bigger intercooler etc, but a supercharger will still be less efficent than a well designed turbo system because of the parasitic loss. It simply takes more hp from the motor to produce a given level of boost via supercharger than it does with a turbo charger.

If we assume that the primary function of a truck is towing and carrying heavy stuff, not stop light drag races, then a turbo seems a much superior option. If your driving were exclusively 0-60 runs a supercharger might be better, but even then its iffy.

of course a well engineerd combo of the two like the VW gasser would in theory be better than either alone from both a performance and effecency standpoint (though perhaps not initial cost).

 

WOW! Very good answer. Thanks again BIKEPILOT.

 

i have a 7.3 idi that i will soon be playing w/ a super on it main reason i can get a super for 50 bucks and a turbo for 2500 this is a 3k truck so you figure it out

 

Thats part of my dilema mhannink. Do I really want to invest $2000+ in this truck or get a newer one with that much power stock(powerstroke). Do you have any more info on the supercharger? 50 bucks?

 

Toyota just came out with a car that has both, the super charger runs till 2400 rpms then quits and the turbo takes over. sry I dunno anything about application to the 7.3 I'm just learning myself. but it sounds like your thinking is on the right track, not far behind car engineers.

 

lol i knew you would wondere where im getting a blower for 50 dollars well the truth is idk the exact price but its 100 or so maybe 50 if i buy 2 these blowers where never meant for automotive applications they are industrial blower and will take alot of work to make use on the truck but i think i can do it looking at it i think its possible which is why i want 2 so that i can play w/ it some if you want to try this your self go around to junkyards that take industrial stuff one this is the normal application for these roots style belt driven blowers 2 these things can end up be practicaly new sometimes the guy near me sells the stuff cheap(and old portege guy) so it maybe more in your area but still cheaper then a new one made for your engine another thought of a place to look is a truck junkyard look for an old detroit 2 stroke course if i came across the right one in there i would just put the whole motor in instead lol but those are the places to look for a blower it will take alot of fabrication skills however and not to punch my own hero card but im very good at welding and am very creative pluse i over build everything so it will be strong anyways if you or anyone has more questions just ask

 

you know ive heard of that one too and thought that was pretty slick

 

If you what the best of both worlds why not get two small turbos. That way they will spool up quick and also give you the CFM and boost you need at high RPM.

 

first to try to fit 2 small turbos would be hard second they cannot move enough air small turbos when used in twins is to lit up fast and provide boost to keep egts down and too get the big one moving so it can take over the small one is for pressure and reduce lag big ones move massive amounts of air and lower pressures but spool slowly

 

I have an 86 truck, an ATS turbo removed from my last blown reman engine, a box of rebuilt injectors to swap in, a IP to change and all the accesories to install on a 6.9 setting on a pallet plus install it in the truck.
I and two other mechanics are going to start on it at 8:30 tomorrow morning.

I plan to drive it home before 5 tomorrow night.

There is something to be said for the amount of engineering that the 2000 dollars for a turbo system will buy for you.

The ATS system will put out 15 plus PSI at 3000 RPM. The IDI motor will not handle any more boost and be reliable.

Why spend days and a pile of money fabricating something that may not work half as well?

I have AC on my truck, between the power steering pump, AC pump, alternator, and vacuum pump I don't know where you are going to find room for for two superchargers.
It is not going to be any easier to find room for two superchargers than two turbos would be to find room for.

Changed my mind, it is going to be harder to find room for two superchargers, they have to be belt driven. The turbos can set anywhere as long as it is above the oil pan.
In fact I was reading about a turbo that went under the truck a while back, used an oil pump to return oil to the pan.

 

well im only useing one super i want to so i can have parts and so on 2 would not fit and would not be effective as for the turbo system yes it would be better but i have a 3k truck and a 2k system on a truck i don't want to keep doesn't seem worth it i know why put the super well its mostly cuz its cheap and i want the challenge i think outside the box and i can fabricate almost anything so it sounds fun to me but yes i would agree that a turbo would be better just not for the amount of money i have