whats a supercharger like on a petrol 80s

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Dec 3, 2010
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Cairns (Q.L.D)
i have been thinking about getting a supercharger for more power and grunt but i dont even no a price range is for one or if it would even be worth it anyone got an idear or better suggestions to give me more power on the cheaper side? CHEERS!
 
Some like them some don't.:meh: Those of us in the desert have found that cooling becomes a big issue on supercharged rigs due to the fan modifications.:eek:
 
Those of us that have been passed by a supercharged 80 on the highway doing 80 or 90mph or who knows what....while going up a long, steep grade and having to listen to the beautiful roar of said supercharged 80's exhaust can tell you that we are jealous.
 
Land cruisers need all the help they can get.....especially when your above 7,000 ft elv.
So you have two choices if you want to stay toyota loyal.... Turbo or supercharged
Turbos great if you can afford it.Supercharged is the most economical.And now the heat issue has solved.
CDan has all the parts you need. Thanks to CDan, toolsrus,landtank they have all the leg work in fixing the issue. Cheers my .02
 
Superchargers are around US$3600, I think.
American Toyota (vendor on this forum) is where I got mine and would recommend them if you can't find any in AUS.
It's the cheapest and easiest way to gain a big power boost. Takes a day or two to install yourself. Nothing too difficult.

If you can find a used Safari Turbo kit in AUS, that would be ideal.
 
I would think a turbo set up would be much cheaper than supercharging. Refurbished turbos can be bought for less than $500, and in total the job is probably $1000 for all the parts and then the cost of an upgraded exhaust. There are several build threads for turbos on here adn the power gains are impressive. I think somebody did a 2fe with cam and flat top pistons to lower compression for his turbo build. The dyno numbers were something like 244hp and 414 lbs/ft at the rear wheel. Really impressive power jump, especially when you consider the 30% loss of power from the auto trans and transfer case. That puts his flywheel numbers in the range of 375hp and 540 lbs/ft, that's 2 1/2 times the power over stock.
 
I had a 8-71 supercharger on a GM 454 V8, that was the most fun I ever had in my life... I also have a GM 3.8L V6 with a factory supercharger (1997 Grand Prix GTP), and that is a great engine with 225,000 miles on it. I like superchargers (they are a great bang for the buck) but like mentioned previously, make sure you don't skimp on cooling. :)
 
Supercharged and no regrets!
 
when i think about what i'll do when it comes time to rebuild/replace the drivetrain on my fj80, i think of two very different options:

the first idea is to do a top to bottom rebuild and set it up to run a nice turbo like a gt35 and interkewler. the problem with this plan is that its very pricey and im not sure i could ever fully utilize a turbo on a 3FE. i know this and i still dream of my engine bay looking like a 10 second supra's. is that crazy?

i think the best plan so far is to swap a chevy motor into it. but not the big vortec you're thinking of, i want the LL8 4.2 liter six and the 4l60 trans. better fuel economy (33% better vehicle vs. vehicle), probably 300 lb weight savings, nearly twice the hp and 57 lb/ft more torque, theyre plentiful and even have aftermarket support.

i know, i know, its not toyota and probably isnt nearly as bulletproof as my trusty 3FE, but GM knows how to design and build great engines. i would be proud to have a nice modern engine with toyota's best carrying it. my question to Ih8mud is this: which is cheaper? which is smarter?
 
thanks guys thats pretty much cleared it up! so when i get sum cash together im getting one....... ha if the handbreak lets me!!!!
 
Some like them some don't.:meh: Those of us in the desert have found that cooling becomes a big issue on supercharged rigs due to the fan modifications.:eek:

could u please share more info about this? I was planning to SC my expedition rig for desert trips but u confirm me that cooling can be a considerable issue. Which kind of temp do u have in arizona?
However if I have to rebuild my 1FZ and then install a supercharger for same money I'll probably go for a GM swap (LY6 and 6L80E) or tundra 5.7 but this is hard to find here and they have lots of tranny's problems. I'm not very convinced about a turbo for desert trips
 
I supercharged mine and have NO cooling issues. Even with big 10 inch LightForce lights blocking airflow. The SuperCharger does makes a noticeable difference though.

I would have prefered a turbo system but there are no CARB certified California State legal systems out there except for Mot's $7k Safari setup... I believe it is the last "new" kit in the US and I think Safari in AUS stopped making that kit.

The things I did to maximize the cooling system;
1 - Installed a brass Toyota radiator from an early 80 series. (it's way better than the plastic/aluminum later ones)
2 - Flush cooling system and use Toyota red coolant & install a new thermostat.
3 - Install a Toyota Blue Hub fan clutch with 10,000 CST oil
4 - Install functional hood vents. (I used a Jeep Grandcherokee 5.9L louvered vents & Jeep white paint matches Toyota white almost exactly)
5 - Install an Auxilary fan

Others have install a 4Runner 3.0L unringed fan for good results but I just used the supplied TRD ringed fan and have had no issues.

You could also do a custom top mount intercooler with a Subaru WRX scoop like was done by a LX450 owner and Mud member in Utah. Unfortunatly I can't remember his screen name right now though.
 
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I supercharged mine and have NO cooling issues. Even with big 10 inch LightForce lights blocking airflow. The SuperCharger does makes a noticeable difference though.

I've rode in said 80. The thing is bad to the bone. We have short on ramps and fast flowing traffic here in SD. This 6500lbs(??) rig had no problem getting up to speed. I plan on doing a SC. My .02...
 
could u please share more info about this? I was planning to SC my expedition rig for desert trips but u confirm me that cooling can be a considerable issue. Which kind of temp do u have in arizona?
However if I have to rebuild my 1FZ and then install a supercharger for same money I'll probably go for a GM swap (LY6 and 6L80E) or tundra 5.7 but this is hard to find here and they have lots of tranny's problems. I'm not very convinced about a turbo for desert trips

Summer temps in the lower deserts are rarely below 100 and often exceed 110. Pavement temps can exceed 150.:crybaby::mad: Even unmodified 80s struggle to keep the AC running properly at idle on the hottest days.:steer::skull:

As noted before, my brother's done considerable research and experimentation on fan clutches. Mine is running 20k fluid which makes a huge difference.:cool: Even with the mods, the SC rigs run hotter. Personally, I wouldn't run a SC in this climate.:meh: I'm pretty happy with the 80 the way it was designed.:cheers:
 
thanks guys thats pretty much cleared it up! so when i get sum cash together im getting one....... ha if the handbreak lets me!!!!

Better move quick if you want one. The most recent production run by TRD was almost 2 years ago and at the time they said it would be the last one as they didn't think there would be enough of a demand for another run. Last I heard there were only a few left.
 
Summer temps in the lower deserts are rarely below 100 and often exceed 110. Pavement temps can exceed 150.:crybaby::mad: Even unmodified 80s struggle to keep the AC running properly at idle on the hottest days.:steer::skull:

As noted before, my brother's done considerable research and experimentation on fan clutches. Mine is running 20k fluid which makes a huge difference.:cool: Even with the mods, the SC rigs run hotter. Personally, I wouldn't run a SC in this climate.:meh: I'm pretty happy with the 80 the way it was designed.:cheers:

Bruzer69 is in Cairns where the temps are between 60 and 90 degrees F year round.

He should be fine with a SC'd 80 up in in Queensland as long as the cooling system is tip top.
 
I have had a SC 80 now I have a 80 without and if I want more power it will be a V8 not a SC. A SC is more then one without but not up to V8 power.

It sounds like the superchargers that are commonly fitted to these engines develop pretty low boost. Has anyone ever toyed with using smaller supercharger pulleys to drive the SC faster to produce more boost? If done well, this could make the I6 keep right up with the V8's.
 
It sounds like the superchargers that are commonly fitted to these engines develop pretty low boost. Has anyone ever toyed with using smaller supercharger pulleys to drive the SC faster to produce more boost? If done well, this could make the I6 keep right up with the V8's.

Yes, the most boost you will see is 6psi with the stock pulley. Some people on Mud have experimented with smaller pulleys and got some more boost out of it.

However, a smaller pulley equals more heat from the delta change from the compression of more air. I would think you would need some sort of intercooler before getting to carried away with changing pulley sizes to minimize any ill effects.
 

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