Im new to this forum so hopefully you guys havent been asked this too many times. I am really wanting the STS for my 8.1, ever since I saw TIEROD's truck after he put his on, but ive been quoted 2 prices and they were both over 10k, for install, tune etc.
when I first got my truck I was wanting to go with a Kenne bell, but didnt have the funds at the time, but now they stopped making SC's for the 8.1, and whipple is the only other one I like, but the few people that I've talked to(including whipple employees) have said the whipple wont work with the manual and the 8.1, which I dont understand why that matters, but anyways, so if you guys have any advice please let me have it. Sorry for the long thread!

 

Welcome!!

keep digging around on here, I'm sure you will find ways to make that thing a little stronger

 

Whipple wont work with manual gearbox? Never heard that one before. Have to think if you ditch the electronics, throw in some injectors....it shouldnt matter that its a manual or not. I figure i have about $5800 tied up in my blower / intercooler / injectors. Its a little better than $10k, unfortunately i have never felt an STS behind an 8.1L so i cant do a comparison. I know the whipple feels good and its giving me some good numbers and track performance. If you do it the right way its not really an all inclusive package though. You will want a little tuning knowledge and know how to turn a wrench or two unless you have the coin to sub that stuff out to a performance shop. Nice truck...welcome to the big block club. Good Luck!

 

The STS seems relatively simple to install. I decided to go with a front mount because i didnt want to worry about the filter getting moisture in it. I think it would be worth it to install it yourself and save the money a shop will charge. As for the supercharger, i dont know much about them but i dont see why a transmission would matter, i could be wrong though.
Here's a low front mount option from Trick, it allows you to keep your stock exhaust manifolds but keeps most of the heat out from under your engine bay.
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...ht=Which+turbo
Nelson and Synergy are also sponsors that carry turbo kits. Good Luck!

 

None of those front mount kits will fit an 8.1...

 

Really? I didnt know that.

 

The 8.1 is a big block

 

yea, unfortunately STS is the only one that makes a turbo for the 8.1 to my knowledge

 

the manual thing confused me too, maybe the guy just didnt feel like talking to me since he said no one has ever done a whipple on a manual 8.1, but you would think he would want the business?

 

Yeah, it doesn't really make sense. The Whipple is a nice option because it comes with the intercooler. Kenne Bell did not offer the intercooler. I saw a complete 8.1L intercooled charger on EBAY last month that went for $2400...hell of a good deal even if the blower needed a rebuild. The only bad thing about the Whipple is your only going to get about 6psi out of the 2.3L whipple kit. 496c.i. is just a little more than that compressor can effectively fill up. I just know if I could pulley this thing down to like 8 or 9psi i would be close to high 12's only problem is i would need a pulley about the size of a nickle to do it.