I know that there has been muliple threads in the past about who has the better supercharger, Whipple or Radix. There is the comparison of the roots type to the twin screw type, the fact that the Radix is intercooled and the Whipple is not, (At least on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0s for now), etc. However in these threads, I have not found a real concise discussion of how these two treat the computer. I know that the Radix comes with a programmer and a set of parameters to change the stock computer to operate with the SC. Also the Whipple comes with a replacement computer. The question I have is how does this affect the ability to program for additional engine mods? Presumable the Radix programming mods can be tweaked to account for other changes such as a new cam, bigger injectors etc. Is this correct? What is the situation with the Whipple computer? If it can't be reprogrammed the choice between the two is a no brainer, assuming that the SC isn't going to be your only engine mod.

 

You can update the tune for a Radix blower. Get LS1 edit, or do a mail order tune and that can be made to account for the s-chgr and any future changes. Most of the mail order guys will update your tune for you for a very small, if not free, charge.

Don't know if Magna would send you an updated tune for the superchips programmer, or not. Never even thought of considering them, due to the lame *** tune they send with the blower to begin with.

 

Your best bet is to purchase and learn LS1edit. The Whipple computer is a mystery box as to what goes on inside there. With the Radix/ superchips programmer and edit you could at least be able to figure out what modifications to the computer were done. I think the programmer comes with the Radix tune and that is it. i.e. you cannot tune any more with the Superchips other than stock tune and Radix tune -i think

Speaking of this, can someone with a Radix tell me if the Main VE table is changed any from stock...please I am very interested. thanks

 

If you have a stock edit file, I can send you an unchanged Radix file and you can compare? But we have different motors.

 

Didn't you save your file when you first got edit? Oh, or are you saying you saved that first file as it was with the Radix tune in it already?

 

Yeah, I just got edit yesterday. I have a copy of the Radix tune. Still need to get it back to stock and copy it. Going to tomorrow.

 

allright, Thanks man

 

Well, the two systems treat the computer totally different. You have the right idea on the Radix - it ships with a handheld that uploads new data to the trucks PCM. The whipple on the other hand is completely different. To call it a computer would be incorrect in my opinion, I'd call it a computer modifyer. It plugs into several different PCM sensors, and changes the readings the PCM gets. It also senses WOT conditions, and adds fuel with 2 seperate injectors into the intake. The Radix does it correct by shipping with 8 larger fuel injectors and uploads a tune for the PCM to correctly work with the big injectors. The whipple device (not a computer) turns on and off two new injectors to compensate for the 8 factory size injectors. Since the whipple unit functions on its own program, changing the factory tune will severely throw off its usefullness. Its designed to allow the stock injectors to flow to their max, and add the rest of the necessary fuel on its own. Comparing the two directly, the Radix wins hands down by a big margin. Couple that with an intercooler, and its a no brainer for the Radix. the whipple may have a better blower, but the rest of the kit stinks. You'll make much more power with a stock Radix than a stock Whipple.

If you were to remove the whipple electronics, buy larger injectors, rig up a good intercooler, and add a custom tune, then the whipple could compete and probably win. Otherwise the whipple efficiency is all hot air.

 

Thanks BigTex.

Man thats not even a choice. Even if whipple came out with a intercooler it wouldn't matter. My engine, my tune. A few more questions if you please. How do the Radix injectors compare to say the 8.1L injectors? Smaller, larger, the same? What would I want to do if I wanted to do more than just a straight bolt on of the Radix? Could I change say the heads to get more flow? If I did that could I go to a smaller pulley? I heard that anything that gave you higher flow would drop the boost psi so you could go to a smaller pulley to keep the same psi. What would I need to as far a cam to get more out of the Radix? And if I did all that would the Radix supplied injectors be enough or would I need to go larger?

Thanks also to Ryan, although I noticed that you went the hard route.

 

no prob. BigTex is very knowledgeable, but a computer modifier is not what it does on the newer kits. On the older heat probe kits it was a computer modifier (altering signals to the pcm such as coolant temp. to decrease timing under boost) On new kits it is simply a PCM reader that looks at pcm conditions and uses those conditions to opperate blower functions such as the auxilary injectors and also good things like boost blowoff if things get lean.

Truth be told from a diehard twin screw fan -The Radix is a much better "kit". Whipple needed to come out with an intercooled kit using eight larger injectors like last year Have you seen the new F-150 Whipple kit though

Yes my route was difficult; however, I'll gladly put it up against ANY Radix kit