The Novi 1000 kit for 5.0s...
The Novi 1000 kit for 5.0s is relatively new and retails for around $2,000. As delivered it will build 70 hp via 5-6 pounds of boost, but it can easily spin into the 8-12 pound range with the right supporting hardware. Those extra costs will start to approach the bill for the better-performing Novi 2000 system, however, so think long and hard before laying out the green. If you can delay your need for supercharger gratification, you'll likely be better off saving the extra $1,200-$1,400 for the Novi 2000.
With our two feature cars sporting entry-level supercharger kits from Vortech and Paxton, we figured the subject was worth a review. Michael Koehnen's ride sports a Vortech A-Trim blower, which first hit the scene back in 1991 and comes set to deliver 5-6 pounds of boost. Vortech's own testing has shown horsepower increases on the order of 60-70 at the rear wheels-certainly enough to put a big smile on your face.
It's tough to look at the A-Trim without touching on the next blower up the Vortech food chain, the S-Trim. This longtime favorite can be purchased for around $3,000 and provides a significant horsepower boost over the A-trim. Looking back to a test done several years ago by our former sister mag Super Ford, the S-Trim kit provided an impressive 116-horse kick at the rear wheels of a stock '93 LX. Thus the S-Trim actually provides significantly more bang for the buck-the extra grand in cost netting in the range of 50 additional horses. It's important to note the A-Trim can be upgraded to S-Trim specifications, though you'll end up spending about 500 bones more than if you'd gone straight for the S-Trim to begin with.
But, for enthusiasts who already have an A-Trim, or who can't resist the temptingly low price, it's nice to know the entry-level piece won't be completely obsolete when the need for speed continues to grow. The blower upgrade itself runs $697, while the H.O. upgrade kit PN 8C101-001 costs another $845 (which includes a T-Rex fuel pump, an MSD BTM, an aluminum discharge tube with bypass valve, and an eight-rib drive assembly that develops 8-10 pounds of boost).
We had guessed the heavy-hitting...
We had guessed the heavy-hitting S-Trim might be Vortech's best-selling supercharger in the 5.0 ranks, but we were wrong. All these years after its introduction, the A-Trim remains Vortech's most popular-no doubt a product of an attractive price point around $1,900.
Over on the Paxton side of the fence, the ball-drive blower seen on Michael Pamintuan's GT is still available, though now wearing the SN2000 moniker due to improved bearings, seals, and output shaft. In general, though, Paxton is de-emphasizing the ball drives in favor of its gear-driven Novi series. As for entry-level supercharger kits, both the SN2000 and the Novi 1000 fall into the category and can be had for about $2,000. Paxton main man David Adams explained either will make in the neighborhood of 5-6 pounds of boost and should bring roughly 70 extra horses to the party. Unfortunately, we don't have our own dyno tests to add to the discussion, as the early ball-drive tests occurred before chassis dynos became commonplace.
David notes that the ball drive is fairly well maxed at the 5-6 pound boost range, as spinning it much faster can lead to reduced durability. However, if you know you'll be satisfied with the power level this unit provides, you'll appreciate the ball drive's easy installation (self-contained, no external oiling), quiet operation, and low-end boost characteristics. On the other hand, David makes no bones about recommending any 5.0 owner step up to the Novi 2000, believing it's "the last supercharger you'll ever need to buy." As with the Vortech S-Trim, the Novi 2000 likely represents better value than either of Paxton's entry-level units. For $3,200-$3,400, the Novi 2000 kit delivers 110 rear-wheel ponies in a streetable 8-10 pound boost configuration, but can be made to pump up to 25-30 psi. The kit includes lots of race-worthy hardware as well, so consider it a system you'll likely never outgrow.