To Supercharge or Not to Supercharge (1 Viewer)

[Idaho Savage]

I have an opportunity to score a Magnuson SC at a decentish price. I've read everything I can find around these parts and I'm still on the fence. So I was hoping to leverage some of the experience and expertise around these parts to try and decide. I'm a big believer in "just because you can doesn't mean you should."

Vehicle:
1996 LX450 w 98k on the clock.
3" Icon/Dobinson lift, 35's and stock gears.
Bumpers, sliders, skids. Not light.
I've baselines the vehicle since purchase, replaced pulleys and belts, tune up, diff and t case fluids.
Note that when I bought it, scan gauge showed it running hot (~210* working hard on highway). Replaced fan clutch with blue mod and it's now 180-190 but I don't know how long that fan clutch had been out.

Use Case:
I live in the Rockies at 6k' feet.
Temps can be down to negatives, generally in the 90's in the summer.
It is not my DD but I do enjoy driving it around periodically. Lots of highway driving where I live.
Primary use is hunting, camping and BLM/FS road driving. Some wheeling but very little.
I periodically tow a raft or a small camping trailer.
Most importantly, lots of remote spots where reliability is paramount.

The Why:
We know these are very reliable motors that are also generally underpowered. Living in the Rockies exacerbates it. Lots of ups and downs! Towing even my 14' fishing raft only makes it worse. I'm hoping a SC will help alleviate some of those aspects where I really feel undergunned.

So that's about it.... Looking forward to hearing from y'all about the pros and cons given my use case.

 

[bj70bc]

do it, theres only upside as far as i see it
some will say its better to turbo....

 

[efjayatee]

Is the SC New? If the price is right....why not. The SC will def make the driving experience more enjoyable, especially on inclines.
Con: 91 octane, more stress to your engine
Pro: Cool factor, the obvious (HP and torque)

 

[efjayatee]

do it, theres only upside as far as i see it
some will say its better to turbo....

But can't go wrong with either. Since you are on the fence, try reaching out to MUD members that is running SC and Turbos. Get their feedbacks to help determined what fits your bill.
A MUD member (dirty koala) has ran both SC and a turbo on his same rig. Maybe reach out to him.

 

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Do it. I’ve been running my SC for the last 130,000 miles. It really shines at altitude. Not going to lie, it’s fun to be able to pass a buddy on the hwy in a 100 in an 80, at 9,000’.

 

[Idaho Savage]

Do it. I’ve been running my SC for the last 130,000 miles. It really shines at altitude. Not going to lie, it’s fun to be able to pass a buddy on the hwy in a 100 in an 80, at 9,000’.

Can I ask what you did outside of the Magnuson kit (i.e. LandTank components) AND if you've had any SC related failures or breakdowns along the way of those 130k?

 

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Can I ask what you did outside of the Magnuson kit (i.e. LandTank components) AND if you've had any SC related failures or breakdowns along the way of those 130k?

Before I installed the SC, I baselined everything: head gasket, PHH, cooling, radiator, hoses, etc...and still running the blue fan clutch. I just crossed 250,000 total miles on the 1FZ-FE, without any issues. In the last couple of years, I added a snorkel to feed air into the SC and running 35's without a regear -- but I do have Slee's speedo correction gear for the transmission shift points. I may regear and go with a red fan clutch this year.

Before the SC and on 33s, I could only manage 25mph heading Eastbound Vail Pass, heading home to Denver. Now, i can at least, go the flow of traffic.

 

[Malleus]

Holy investment, Batman!

That's a lot of beer!

 

[CharlieS]

I had a TRD supercharger on a former 80, and it is the best upgrade. Wish I could get one for a deal now.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I'm a big believer in "just because you can doesn't mean you should."

Lies!!

If you can, you always should!
If you can't, you probably still should!




Here, hold my beer!

 

[COS80]

I love my supercharger, and I'm also above 6kft. For altitude, a turbo is almost certainly better, but if the choice SC or NA, then the only answer is SC.

 

[Idaho Savage]

Before I installed the SC, I baselined everything: head gasket, PHH, cooling, radiator, hoses, etc...and still running the blue fan clutch. I just crossed 250,000 total miles on the 1FZ-FE, without any issues. In the last couple of years, I added a snorkel to feed air into the SC and running 35's without a regear -- but I do have Slee's speedo correction gear for the transmission shift points. I may regear and go with a red fan clutch this year.

Before the SC and on 33s, I could only manage 25mph heading Eastbound Vail Pass, heading home to Denver. Now, i can at least, go the flow of traffic.

This is super helpful. I'm thinking that I should do the HG, given that it was overheating when I took ownership. Seems like if I don't, it'll come back to get me....

 

[Idaho Savage]

Lies!!

If you can, you always should!
If you can't, you probably still should!




Here, hold my beer!

Trust me, I'm a reformed "why not" guy.