Anyone put a Radix Supercharger on their 6.0

YZRider · December 27, 2003

After pondering the options of upgrading to a diesel, I think I am going to put a Magnacharger on my 03 1500HD 4X4. Has anyone else done this? I would appreciate any feedback. I am doing it for pulling power. I haul a 7000lb trailer(enclosed snowmobile) in the mountains 4 or 5 times in the winter and most weekends in the foothills in the summer. After one pull with a headwind I just about made a hole in the floor, so I think the supercharger is probably the way to go. 30,000km on the truck, which has 4.10's and I believe the 4L80 tranny. I am told the truck has a very strong driveline and can handle the power increase OK, but would appreciate any comments from other users.

tbyrne · December 29, 2003

The Radix supercharger is the most popular that we carry for the 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 trucks. This system comes with everything you need for the install including programming. Boost is available from just off idle to redline so you'll have plenty of power normal driving and towing. Gains from the Radix are usually in the 130+ horsepower range which will make it feel like a completely diffrent truck with and without the trailer.

Let me know if you have any other questions about this system.

Tom

YZRider · December 30, 2003

Thanks for the reply. You say it will feel like a completely different truck, different good? I drive for 4-6 months of winter conditions, a lot of 4wd. Is it still going to be OK as far as daily driving. Do you know what the torque #'s are after the install. I drove a diesel with a similar trailer and although the horsepower of the diesel is no more than my gas truck, the diesel seems to pull the trailer a lot easier. Do these systems work well for -30 & -40C weather? Everything I have read seems pretty positive. Sorry I have so many questions, I expected to get more responses from people who had actually had one installed on a similar vehicle.

Thanks

tbyrne · December 30, 2003

I was checking out a dyno chart for the Radix today. The truck it was on also got a set of long tube headers and a catback at the same time so that added some extra horsepower. Torque increased by 150 ft-Lbs at 3200 RPMs. It then maintained a flat curve to 5,400 RPMs. I believe the torque numbers went from 210 at the rear wheels stock to about 345 with the mods. This will be fine on a daily driven truck in the winter. I've driven a few supercharged trucks in the snow. They pretty much drive like stock but are just much more responsive. Supercharged motors like cool/cold temps. You'll find that the truck has more power in the winter than it does in the summer.

My tow vehicle is a supercharged 8.1 Suburban. A little different than your truck but this will give you a good idea. The truck pulled my 10,000lb enclosed car hauler ok without the supercharger but the motor still had to work a little. It pulls much better after the supercharger went on. The truck doesn't have to work to move the same load and it hardly ever shifts out of overdrive. It would goto 3rd when climbing a hill without the supercharger.

Hope this helps,

Tom

Butch 02 Denali · December 30, 2003

I agree with Tom, I would also say the Radix is the best out there for our trucks. It looks almost factory when installed. As for dyno numbers, today, Wester's Garage is doing a Radix install on a 2003 with a 5.3. He is going to do a full dyno program development on it after the install and should have all the data in a few days. I will post the results when I get them! It's always nice to have numbers from someone other than the manufacturer. You probably have a 6.0 but the data will still be interesting.

Butch 02 Sierra Denali

YZRider · December 30, 2003

Thanks for responding guys. My truck actually has the 6.0 My old truck was a Z71 with a 5.3 and 4.10's that thing hauled a trailer like it wasn't even there. This new truck is a lot heavier truck and you can sure notice it when driving, it pulls OK but just doesn't seem to have the same "jam" as my old truck. Hopefully the supercharger is going to change that. I don't have anyting done to the truck other than 265 rubber. I like to keep it quiet. I have had headers, 3" exhaust systems and plenty of other upgrades on trucks over the years and have never really noticed big improvements. After doing a little surfing, I figure as do programming upgrades, headers, exhaust systems etc and get a slight improvement, I may as well spend a little more and get the S/C and be done with it. The prices I got from the GM and Ford dealers to upgrade to a diesel were over 3 times the price of the S/C and my truck is only 1 year old with 30,000km. I usually only keep them 2 years & 40-50,000k but that may have to change, as long as I don't have any problems. If I do I may just pull it off and put it back to stock. I already have a buyer for the S/C at half price when I am done with it (my son) Apparently Magnuson will reprogram the programmer for another truck if you swap it out, for about $300

Steve