Don't yell at me too quick for asking a question that has probably already been asked a million times.

What I am asking is for stock trucks with a turbo or stock trucks with Radix. Reason why I want to know this is because I am picking up an 06 CC GMC this week and I am trying to figure out which route to go. (just like everyone else) It will always be a daily driver. I just like to have something a little different than everyone else.

I want to hear from people who have basically the turbo or the Radix without a lot of other mods. Since this is one of the first mods I plan on doing I want to know what the drive is going to be like with this being the only mod. (I figure that a stall will get me up into the powerband of a turbo quicker, but I am only looking at what a stock truck can do)

Also if I am going to go SC I can upgrade the exhaust and headers first, but if I am going turbo I don't want to do that. So I am trying to figure things out before diving in on mods for this truck.

I have never driven a turbo truck, so I have no idea what it feels like.

I owned an 03 Lightning so I can appreciate the low end torque and whine of the roots SC. I can also understand how they 'wake up' with a tune and a pulley.

I have no issues about doing either one, or against either one. I do like the turbo idea just because it seems a little different to me.

It is probably going to come down to buying a used one, so it might be whatever is available at the time when I am ready.

So in closing--- Owners of turbos or radix's who remember what it was like driving their trucks when they only had this for the mod please chime in and help me out.

Sorry for such a long post. Hope I don't get the "use the search button" comment too much.
Thanks everyone!
Dan

 

In my opinion, the turbo never gets old. There's nothing like getting sucked back into the seat while sounding like a jet. I dont have a lot of experience with a superchargers, but i can say that I love my STS more then what i have experienced with them.

But, I don't think you will get the most out of it without a few mods. (i.e. a higher stall)

 

I understand that it won't be at full potential. But neither of them are if you are doing them on stock vehicles.

Did you do all your mods at the same time?

Thanks for the input.

 

You have a lot of reading to do, and there is a lot of good info on this one site.
As I see it-
Turbo is faster, makes more hp and is easier to upgrade.
SC gives excellent all time power, expecially in lower rpms and some kits (Magnacharger) come complete with everything needed.

If I was building a large bore torque monster I would definately go Turbo but on a smaller engine like my 5.3 in a heavy truck the SC does great.

 

I love my Turbo set up, i think turbos are perfect for daily drivers for a few reasons:

1) Boost only there when you want/need it, drive it easy and no boost but, get on it and in comes the power.

2) Easier on drivetrain since you are not boosting all the time.

3) Better MPG when driving it easy because you are not boosting all the time so, less fuel is needed. I can drive my truck all over town and never get into the boost if i don't want to.

4) Never gets old, SC boosts pretty much all the time so you get max power all the time. Turbo boosts only when you want it to so, you can really "feel" the power everytime you open it up!

5) Adjustability and upgradiblity, the Turbo's boost is super easy to adjust and has more room to grow with future mods.

6) Nothing sounds better then Turbo whine and a blow off valve!!!

These are just my opinions... :-)

 

Thanks Trevor and Lord Aries.

Trevor- I have to pull myself away from this site. I get sucked in and end up reading a couple hours every night. There is tons of info out there.

Lord- I know that my Lightning wouldn't actually go into boost unless it was under load. (idling or easy starts wouldn't go into boost) So it was like you are saying, you could drive around town and not get into boost if you didn't want. I don't know if the Radix is like that or not.

 

the radix is like that as well. there is a bypass that doesnt go into boost until a certain rpm. ive got a radix, but that was because i want to be able to jump in it and drive! no hassle, worries, etc.

 

yeh, just like your lightning. A stock radix kit, which is what you are shopping, will certainly only get into boost when you want it to. The radix is famous not just for it's low end TQ but everything is in the box. I agree with trev for the most part.

 

Laynlow- What worries would you have with a turbo that you don't have with a radix?

 

The number one criterion IMO is where you live with your vehicle RPM-wise. If you like flooring it a lot and spend a lot of time north of 3000 RPM, then a turbo is definitely for you. If you rarely go above 4000 RPM and want your power off-idle or in the low ranges, then a turbo is a waste and you should get a roots-style supercharger.

Regarding Aries' points 1-4, that's BS. If you're a monkey and can't stop from flooring it then yes, a blower will always be boosting. However, when somebody got into the passenger seat of my Radixed Avalanche, they didn't know I had a blower unless I wanted them to know. I could modulate the throttle no problem to get the response I wanted.