I know people have tried to post this many times-I think I have read every thread at least 3 times and yet they all disintegrate into something useless before it seems a real idea is evident from people who actually know what they are talking about. So I am hoping for some REAL world and user advice on a few different ideas.

So, here is what I have found-Turbo allows for more power later and I have read from threads that the GRedddy is quite reliable.

Chargers are easier to install and make boost from all rev points and the main problem is the shear pin on the pully and that the belts squeal and slip. Again GReddy is a descent one as is the PE.


Here is what I can't seem to nail down.

1) GReddy turbo kit requires a re-weld on the downpipe flange to fit onto the exhaust we have as Scion xBs (flange not aligned)-is this always the case?
2) Install on the turbo system is a three day affair (maybe more)
3) With the turbo you have to have the car tuned-that adds quite a bit of expense from what I have read on tuner websites
4) You can add an intercooler to the GReddy charger with improvising but it's easy on the turbo
5) How hard is the install on the supercharger? (how much work is there to do with the wiring on either kit and what pieces, etc do I have to remove to do it)
6) The turbo kits sometimes have problems with the turbo hitting the firewall-is this frequent and how bad is it (like could it crack the manifold after time)
7) at a 30% gain either way that seems like a huge gain so either way I am fine as they both start at that point so what is the best choice?

Thanks for reading this hella list of questions and please anybody with real world experience and knowledge(especially someone like blown xa who has done both) I could really use some help here.

I did my own springs and header form the DIY articles on here-how much harder is the install on either of these?

 

Ok from my personal experience and reading these threads, its alot easier to supercharge then turbo charge. Turbo charging requires alot more parts, time and maintenance than a super charger. If your looking for a slight power increase than go with the super charger. Then again, if you dont mind being under the hood of your car every other day than go turbo, which will in the long run produce more power.

After my turbo charging experience, i would have left my car N/A, just for the simple fact that its much more reliable that way and you don't have to worry so much about it. A super charger wont blow your engine a turbo can (very easily). Ive had a couple of head aches with my TT (Turbo Toyota's) kit, its built great, but the charge pipes don't fit perfectly and his customer service SUCKS!!

To get with your questions:
1.) yes, from what ive seen its always the case because the GReddy system is JDM.
2.) Turbo install could take you more than that, if its your first time. My mechanic was at it for about a week.
3.) Tuning is VERY VERY VERY important on a turbo as well as adding bigger injectors and a tuneable ECU.
4.) Ive seen people add the intercooler, so i guess you can
5.) This i dont know
6.) I was one of the ones that had problem with the turbo hitting the firewall, but it wasn't the turbo after all it was the downpipe smacking the front sway bar. I had to modify my downpipe (to clear the sway bar) and fix my exhaust to reach the new downpipe.
7.) These cars give off 89 WHP at OEM tune, my car gave off 171 WHP on a dyno-jet, which is probably HIGHLY optimistic, but on a true dyno it will still probably give 150 WHP, which is a 60 WHP gain.



Any other questions just let me know, thats what we are here for to help other not make the same mistakes we did.

 

wait a little while and chack on 365 motorworks turbo kit. this has been in development stages for around 3 months now i think, and is very close to going to the dyno. it comes with everything! bigger injecters, pre tune, fmic, all that, for 3,998. this is the kit i will be going with im sure unless another one that someones selling hasnt sold yet that is.

 

I just keep going back to the PE kit-no wiring-just bolt in stuff. That would be nice to not have to worry about that stuff. Good power too.

 

You have all my questions dead on, we're on the same page with the whole SC vs Boost debate. Its not that I wouldn't mind a little more ponys Hell the Mini Cooper is the same motor and look at all the cool things that can be done to them. Plus the xB has more room. I think the key is every thing in moderation, Hell with the Gas prices the way they are these days I won't ever see $.98 in my life again. (Old GSL-SE days ) but now the family is here and the new 4-DR 2008 M3 isn't even possible. I guess I'll have to spend the money a make the Box one hell of a sleeper, but the question as to which mod to choose is still the being asked.
Not to mention the realibility facture, which when you're not thinking about working on the car, its more like I've got to get to work or hell I'm late to pick the kid up from day care; rule the make up of the day going fast carries a huge price. I know BahBah. Just that you asked the perfect questions.

That 365 motorworks kit really look like it my be a buy and drop in solution, My question is How big is big when you go Turbo? (Because like the mini or the SRT-4 they all had to start somewhere because they have stock Turbo systems).

Just my .02s

 

I am completely in the same situation. I have to make it to work, have to make it to pick up my daughter at school and I rarely feel like working on my car everyday (heck, even every weekend).

Small turbo system with no need to tune or change anything other than throw a turbo on and let the car have some extra air.

The VW 2.0 aba motor was so cool that way-the turbo and manifold from the TDi fit right on, gave some boost and nothing else needed to be done. Just get some one to weld a fitting downpipe, make some tubing to get from the turbo to the throttle body and you were done.

 

Greddy kit is pre-tuned already. it takes me the same time to install that kit as a supercharger. And the Greddy turbo is matainance free. Only think i do is lube the blow-off valve.
On the contrary to what sombody else said... u will have ur hood up every other day with the supercharger checking the belt and tension, it's a headache. Greddy turbo all ya got to do is change ur oil.

 

1) GReddy turbo kit requires a re-weld on the downpipe flange to fit onto the exhaust we have as Scion xBs (flange not aligned)-is this always the case?

Yes, the kit was designed for the Japanese version of the xB
2) Install on the turbo system is a three day affair (maybe more)

it takes maybe 8 hours to install the Greddy kit, minus the exhaust modification ( factory exhaust flange has to be cut, rotated then re-installed and held into position and tack-welded, remove exhaust and fully weld, then die-grid bolt holes longer apart)
3) With the turbo you have to have the car tuned-that adds quite a bit of expense from what I have read on tuner websites
Greddy kit is pre-tuned for wastegate boost and factory injectors.
4) You can add an intercooler to the GReddy charger with improvising but it's easy on the turbo
The intercooler upgrade is a good thing to do at the same time when adding larger injectors, boost controller, and re-tune
5) How hard is the install on the supercharger? (how much work is there to do with the wiring on either kit and what pieces, etc do I have to remove to do it)

The Blitz charger i have to actually wire up ecu, the Greddy supercharger and Turbo come with plug-and-play harness, it litteraly takes 5 minutes to hook up e-manage,, the Power Enterprises from what I know has not engine management, it comes with a fuel pump and injectors.
6) The turbo kits sometimes have problems with the turbo hitting the firewall-is this frequent and how bad is it (like could it crack the manifold after time)

Purchase a cheap engine damper shock, then u can upgrade it like i did and replace it with a giant turnbuckle to adjust motor away from fire-wall
7) at a 30% gain either way that seems like a huge gain so either way I am fine as they both start at that point so what is the best choice?

Out of the box the Greddy Turbo, Supercharger, and Blitz charger all put out similar power, but the Greddy turbo believe it or not will put out 10 ft. lbs more torque. The PE charger seems to put a tad more power but lacks in torque.

The Greddy Turbo is easy to upgrade, with the supercharger kits u are stuck with that power unless u add nitrous

 

Daily driver here so the GReddy turbo isn't right for me between the exhuast re-weld and the possibility of the turbo hitting if I don't get a dampner.

Blitz charger I haven't heard as being the best for quite a few reasons and the re-wire isn't happening either.

GReddy charger or Power enterprises?????

But then I have heard about the shear pin and the squealing and slipping belts from the GReddy so not really liking the sounds of that either.

Power Enterprises as long as I can get one sounds good (although a bit more pricey) but no one seems to know much first hand about them on an XB

 

I put the Greddy charger on in about 6 hours. Would have been less if I wouldn't have kept misplacing tools and had hands the size of a 4 year olds. HINT: remove passenger headlight, makes it ALOT easier. ANd no need to remove radiator or brace like instructions say. The wiring on the Greddy is plug and play, VERY easy. I did have an issue with the crank pin, but think it's under control. Just can't use a Perrin or other aluminum pulley. Have to stick with the stock one. But with the Greddy charger, Ganador exhaust, Megan header, Fidanza flywheel, and ACT clutch as my mods, I can whoop my wifes a$$ in her '08 xB. Plus the whine sounds awesome.

The PE kit is no longer available stateside unless you know some one with Japan connections. Something to do with Rotrex's distribution rules. So getting one may become a feat. Plus, if something goes wrong with it, you have to figure out how to get it fixed or replaced.

 

How long have you had your charger on? ANY problems?

 

i too just bought a greddy s/c any thing i should look for and when installing other then taking headlight out any other easy things to know?? thanks

ps is it better on gas??

 

i too just bought a greddy s/c any thing i should look for and when installing other then taking headlight out any other easy things to know?? thanks

ps is it better on gas??

 

Keep me posted on how it goes-I am hoping very soon for the same addition to my little buddy.

 

I had / have the greddy supercharger.

For question 4, there is no way that I know of to add an intercooler to the Greddy supercharger. It's a roots-type and sits directly on top of a cast manifold that independently routes to each cylinder. You would need a complete new, custom manifold, and BTW the manifold is the only thing the blower is physically mounted to, so you'd need new blower mounts as well.

You're also stuck with a 30% increase since no one to date has put out a higher pound pulley for the kit. Greddy does not make a kit for the 06 box, turbo or s/c. You will NEED to rewire the harness or buy one from Boomslang if you have a 2006 or 2007 xB and are plannign on using eManage.

From my personal experience, you only need to get under the hood and adjust the belt tensioner when the weather changes 20 degrees or more.

If you follow directions, it's a 6-8 hour install. The only key things to note are to grind the corner off of the blower where Greddy says to in order to clear the radiator hoses, and removing the passenger headlight and brace behind the grill does make things much easier. You will need to swap alternator pulleys, a 90 ft lb impact wrench and leather gloves make this much easier. The hardest bolt in the whole process will be the alternator lower pivot bolt, it is way overtorqued at the factory.

Like blown_xA, I have thrown a connecting rod after installing the supercharger. I was not racing or running nitrous. The dealer assessment was hydrolock through the cold air intake. However, given it was a dry road, I believe it was in internal head gasket leak that flooded and locked the cylinder. I'm not sure if the charger was a contributing factor or if I just had a bad head.

If you are going boosted, have a backup plan, friend or family who can do an engine repair or swap. I actually bought a used xB engine w/ 21k miles on it and left it sitting in storage until my engine blew. Swapping the engine will take 15 - 20 hours in a personal garage. I'll be buying another spare next week; they run from $250 - 700 for a complete engine used.

 

I just can't believe that there is enough problems to warrant having a spare motor with lower boosts like the GRedddy S/C

 

I'm probably in the minority. In the mid-Atlantic area, there are plenty of other boxes running around with the Greddy, Blitz, or PE kit, as well as the Greddy turbo and I've only heard of one other failure, though that was at the track and with nitrous as well.

I may have had a defect in the block, warped head, etc. It ran fine with the s/c for 16k miles, so I don't think it was the charger. I have found four other cases here on Scionlife where someone broke a rod, none of them were supercharged or turboed. Most the dealer blamed on the intake even though one guy had an SRI and another with a CAI had it break on a clear, sunny day.

All I was saying is there may be issues that pop up when you add aftermarket parts, so have a plan to deal with them if something happens. Since I've already had one engine failure, it seemed like a smart thing to grab a spare, especially when it's only $250.

 

how in god's green earth is the engine in a mini cooper the SAME as what's in a japan-built econobox?

 

I think he is just refering to the twincam 1.6-liter engine part,
though the Mini being built for performance, is quite different, he is just saying that this size displacement can make power.. but you know that!! with that power house xA!!

 

then we could argue that a Honda goldwing has the same engine as our cars because it's a 1.6L too (or is it 1.5?)

even though it's a flat-6