What to know about owning a supercharged car

Support my Channel here! / dannyjohnson
Purchase widebands here: Disclaimer, I am an amazon affiliate and may receive a commission for providing the link, but the price is the same for you.
AEM Failsafe 30-4910 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
AEM Failsafe 30-4900 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
AEM Failsafe 30-4911 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
If you want a cheap way to read volts, check this out www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
This is a quick video I wanted to make about some advice I would give to any of my viewers or friends who are considering buying a supercharged car, or already own one
Wideband install
• Wideband Install : APS...
More on wideband numbers
• What numbers are norma...
Fuel pressure gauge install
• How to install a fuel ...
Ignition timing
• How ignition timing works
Wideband bung
• QUICK TIP: What is a w...

[@bleu_chzst924]

Another superb video. Your not boring at all man i love your videos. Keep it up mr johnson💪

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Bleu_chzst Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@phelinephrenzy2358]

Thanks Danny J.!! Just got my 1st modified car w a supercharger. This video is very informative and to the point. You're not talking at a level of mechanical-ese, that the novice (like me!!) could not understand. Again, thank you, and my 99 Mustang thanks you, too!!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

PhelinePhrenzy Very cool! Enjoy!!

[@kc96lsc]

Danny, I'm new to supercharging and your videos are great. Not to much flash (which is good) but you make your points very well and you do a great job of looking into the camera. You make it feel like you're talking directly to me. I will definitely be watching more of your videos. I'm doing a 2.1L KB into a 98 Lincoln Mark VIII along with all the other good mods. Thanks for your time and effort. :-)

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Thanks, I appreciate the comment. It should be pretty similar. It might be helpful to see my video on the supercharger removal. Here it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5bXonhulNiJaqs

[@funcars_]

Sooo much I didn’t know about a supercharged vehicle!! Thank you for the knowledge!!

[@larspulena]

This video was great! Thanks for all the awesome info!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Wayne Rupp I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@itslouiemoo8018]

Awesome video very informative keep them up. One thing I love about my cobra, back a few months ago with the weather in N.Y. being so damn cold I drove up to P.A. 150 miles away and I swear the temperature gauge did not move off of the C for the whole entire ride. I couldn't have asked for a better highway drive.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

That’s really neat. Yeah, they really are great cars-especially the more I learn about German cars and their problems and expenses

[@FindShindoHere]

Haha I did just get a supercharged car and thank God I decided to watch your video because I was running apparently very lean and could have screwed this whole situation up so thank you very much. Now if I could only figure out how to add/change these fluids...

[@Nitroxdude]

Dude this information is priceless ! Thanks so much for making this video !

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Very informative video. Great things to know. Thanks

[@sallamantia2143]

Very good info

[@greghoare9269]

Great video very informative. Thinking about getting a new exhaust will definitely need to get a tuneup for my

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Thanks for watching. If you need a hand on the exhaust install, see my videos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4a5gKeioZatmrM

[@kennethdurbin3385]

Lots of heat. I drove an hour back from a car show Saturday. Went back in the garage 3hrs later to look at the engine and see if my new aluminum coolant tanks were good to go and the blower was still hot. Yeah I did run it a bit hard a few times, steady 75-80mph cause a rain storm was approaching. I need to get a wideband and see how everything is in real time.

[@Termnd_WAo]

Great Video Man.. You explain all in great Detail. Quick ? Do you have your own shop and if so where are you located? Keep up the great Vids. Thanks Man..

[@chiragsinghyadav]

Very nicely explained. Thanks. Subbed :)

[@tomkjr1]

Great information Dan, thanks!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

No problem. Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it

[@gsdfan8455]

Recently bought an '04 cobra and it has the air fuel gauge. It sits at 14.3 At idle, but I never looked at it under full throttle. Will now, thanks dude, another informative video.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

GSD fan Il glad you enjoyed the video. I have lots of terminator videos on the channel, so watch on!

[@gsdfan8455]

Danny Johnson already started down the rabbit hole, and you have earned a new subscriber.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

GSD fan Welcome aboard. 🚢

[@artstoker172]

Thank you for your help. GOD BLESS

[@ashradeo7634]

see now this is a good video. Thanks

[@armaggedon4christ]

This is really good info, I was tossing up how to deal with heat in my upcoming build its definitally going a way that most dont and heat would be an issue...Ill just have to mix running E85 and running rich...making power wont be hard with a 20psi or so V8, also may run water methanol...but I really dont want to rely on Water meth.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Hein-Motorsports Designs I don’t hear of many meth kits working properly. I have 2 friends who have kits on the cars and both don’t work

[@armaggedon4christ]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage yeah I had a good friend tell me that WM is great as long as its not whats keeping your engine running.

[@ryanbrito1653]

I wish I had seen this video earlier because I think I melted a piston or two on my 04 cobra running it lean. dammit 4th to 5th wot pull got me. now I have some distinctive piston slap that does go away once warm. Now doing homework on what I want to do when eventually I do a rebuild. Any suggestions would be appreciated. 40,000 miles 2.8 upper boost a pump with tune California car. Thanks R. Brito

[@umakemerandy3669]

Thank you

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Welcome!

[@fabguy44]

Just watched your great video. Also this is my first Supercharged car. I am on my 3rd oil pressure sensor since 2017 miles at about 50,000 and one wiring harness replacement at that time. P0520 code. I own a 2010 Mopar `10 Special Edition #48 of 500 with about 70,000. No racing just show it and not a daily driver but it is driven .When I bought the car in 2015 the Magnuson Supercharger was already installed with a Diablo custom tune designed for this 5.7 Hemi. The car runs great with no other issues I`m aware of. I`ve been told that the supercharger has nothing to do with issue. Still I`m told it`s most likely an electrical issue that hasn`t been diagnosed. Any ideas are appreciated.

[@RA-zk4gg]

Whats the max air temp for a supercharger to run? Can i still do wot if air temp is at 136f?

[@roberthill7335]

2004 Lightning here. Have a +2 lower pulley, but a slightly larger upper that takes one of those away. So nine pounds total. Only found out yesterday that two of the factory four cats are gone, didn't know this. I bought it from the original owner and he had a Borla cat back installed. Guess whoever did the install removed the two back cats. Many intake mods done by myself. I am still running the factory tune and have not noticed anything untoward happening. Do have a SCT X4 coming, along with a Punisher valve body. No extra gauges at this time, but a wide band and fuel pressure are something I'd like to have added. I understand the SCT X4 has some gauge read out functions though. I do have access to 93 octane here in Oklahoma City, and use that more often than not, even though it's frikkin expensive.

[@roberthill7335]

BTW, I drive an old 98 V-6 Ford Ranger as a daily, so the Lightning can stay in a garage with a cover over it. Lightning only has 66,500 miles on it at 15 years old.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

You’re pretty close to stock on psi numbers, but I would strongly suggest a wideband since you have mods and a stock tune

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGfXhXVri5ych7M

[@johnboy5632]

Great information man than you. I'm thinking about installing a super charger to my 08 infiniti g37 coupe. Any thoughts on that? Would a appreciate it. Thanks

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

John Kuwae I have a g35 (similar), and it’s a great engine! It’s basically what they have made the GTR to be. I would look first for a positive displacement supercharger, then a turbo, and finally my last choice would be a centrifugal supercharger

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

This is a good video I made that you can reference kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaK8gWqPfMahj8k

[@johnboy5632]

Thanks for the reply. I definitely need to do some research on these different setups. I like the stillen super charger they make specifically for the g37's. And yes. The G35 and G37's are basically baby GTR s. I love that. It is a solid motor. I'm enjoying it. My current motor has 180k. I'm gonna have to get a fresher younger motor if I'm gonna do a super charged setup.

[@stevegiunta8532]

Danny I have a 2001 cobra did the front caliper say cobra on it when it was new because my dose not say cobra on them

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yes. It may have been replaced with a mach 1 caliper at some point

[@artstoker172]

Recently purchased a 03 Cobra, how do I know if the alternator is adequate, can't tell if it is stock or not. Great job on the videos.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

You should be able to tell by looking at it, or finding a marking on it. Here’s my video on replacing it. I also have videos upgrading to the big three wire upgrade for bigger output ones kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIHWnGaQaJ6dbNU

[@ilsl04]

whatever alternator you have is not adequate when owning a cobra 😂🤣😂

[@jerryharris7542]

So how is the killer chiller come into effect? I'm considering coming up from a Steig stage V, to a lower Kennebell

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Killer chiller is hooked to your car’s Air conditioning system, which will cool the fluid for the supercharger coolant system. This will drop air intake temperature (charge temp) which would help with power since the terminator doesn’t have knock sensors and pulls ignition timing from heat sensors (intake air temp 2 also known as iat2). Therefore, advancing ignition timing to make more horsepower, but the danger still lies in how hot the engine will be running in the heat, even with cooler air

[@BULLDOGHOTSHOT1]

Thank you! You're info is awesome, do you think a centri will make a lot less heat? Vortechs website says so... But they are also promoting their own product xD and would you consider a centri? :) They also said its able to keep it's fuel and timing tune the same way a NA could out at the track... unlike a roots blower

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Adam it might make a little less since the head unit isn’t bolted directly to the engine, but those blowers take time to get up and going. You see better peak numbers but they are a slouch until top end

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Adam kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaK8gWqPfMahj8k

[@BULLDOGHOTSHOT1]

Danny Johnson thank you! Subscribed btw

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Adam Welcome aboard 🚢

[@vincemacias6034]

Great video! Is there a permanent fix for spark plug coming out the head. I have not had good luck with Helicoils with previous mustangs.I am wary as I look for a 03-04 cobra that could have had the spark plugs treads ruined. Considering how hot terminators run, I am concerned about tread inserts in a superchargered car.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The only fix is to hopefully keep the plugs torqued correctly. On the terminator, it’s best to have the 2004 (and some late 2003s) with the 9 thread heads. The reason they blow out is from being loose

[@vincemacias6034]

Yes I read in 04 they redesigned the treads to help the spark plug from coming loose. I’ll keep that in mind as I look for a terminator. Thank you.

[@paulgordo7505]

No issues with mine original owner early 03, easy to use torque wrench during installation, 87 K miles

[@roberthill7335]

Don't know about the stangs, but Lightning's had four thread heads the first four years. And yeah, they were more prone to throwing out plugs than the last two years, 03 and 04, which doubled the plug threads to 8. @@paulgordo7505

[@enriquetrevino7815]

@@paulgordo7505did u make big power with the 4 thread heads ?

[@nathancraig5607]

I'm interested in trying to buy one of these cobras but the insurance companies want you to have all these different coverages what is a good insurance company to get

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

If you have the option to drive a cheap car and keep the cobra in a locked garage you can get collector car insurance for $25-$30 per month with full coverage (may vary with age)

[@5564EVR]

Vehicle type, age and driving record will have a lot to do with it. I have USAA and full coverage is $55 a month for my 04 Cobra, $45 a month for my 06 GT and $50 a month for my 13 F150 SuperCrew 5.0. All have full coverage.

[@turbotommy9006]

Hi Dan what would be good head gaskets 04 Mustang GT forged internals turbo

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

cometic mls multi level steel ones have been spoken highly of as well as factory or even felpro. I would look into any of these but consider changing from head bolts to arp head studs. Also make sure the thickness of the gasket does not effect your build- can even change compression ratio if I remember correctly

[@Wretched2JZ]

Wow good to know so octane booster does absolutely nothing performance wise, unless tuned for it.

[@stevenroberts7640]

I am the original owner of a 2004 Cobra vert. It has 7,125 miles. Garage kept since new. Everything under the hood is original except for the battery and supercharger belt. How concerned should I be about the hoses, fluids ( not oil) accessory belt, injectors, etc? Thanks

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Steven Roberts Is regularly run it will be better than only sitting. Examine hoses for signs of cracks.

[@stevenroberts7640]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage Thanks for the reply. I guess I didnt explain well. The mileage has been spread out since new @ 400-500 miles per year. I dont see any cracks in the hoses anywhere. I know its impossible to say for sure, but should I be real concerned about the accessory drive belt you think? It looks fine but it is the original belt. I replaced the supercharger belt, but the other one is really hard to get to. Best Cobra videos on You tube!

[@adamra187]

Watch the belt tension, Boost gauge is mandatory. Have extra belts and spark plugs at all times. If you can, set the check engine light to flash with knock. Heat is a real bitch. I have an aftercooler and even with that I do run into issues with heat. The whine of the MP62 at 10 Psi @ 8600 RPM is worth the extra maintenance at least to me. I would imagine your average person not really too happy with bills from a mechanic.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Very good input

[@blake102989]

I got a 94 cobra with a Paxton sn93 from a buddy recently and the sn93 belt is off of it because he said it needs rebuilt so I took it off and just pretty much made it cold air intake for time being and it says it's running very lean but the gauge is just lights that go back and forth instead of numbers. Could they retune it to get it right until I can afford the supercharger rebuild or will it not be right until it gets done?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

If should be running very rich without the supercharger. That’s odd it’s running lean. Without a number I can’t really say, but 13 and under is good for n/a and 11.2 or slightly lower is what you want for boost. I’d get a properly working wideband

[@blake102989]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage sorry I just saw your reply because it never alerted me. It had been sitting for a while though and I believe it was just build up in it because It runs much better now but the f-a ratio gauge still looks like a damn light show going back and forth. I've been debating on weather to sell the sn93 or get it rebuilt since it will b much cheaper than buying a new set up or just getting it tuned to run without it since it runs high at idle due to it not being hooked up.

[@enriquetrevino7815]

Is the 4 thread cobras something to worry about when making big power ? Like somewhere around 600-700rwhp

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The 4 thread heads should hold up just the same with higher horsepower, unless they have been compromised by being over-tightened or left too loose. There are lots of good 4 thread head cobras running around.

[@enriquetrevino7815]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage awesome that’s good to know, I’m looking to buy an 03’ made in April and it has the AG head on passenger side and DA head on the driver side I’m guessing that’s the replacement tsb head. It has 138k miles and has me worried a little bit. Thanks for the response I really appreciate it. I’ve been watching all your vids about the terminators 👍

[@yannyfrag]

Hey Danny great video. Question? I been noticing when I do a cold start the car take exactly 7 min to go to normal idle from 1500rpm that starts at. What could it be?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The rpm usually hangs a bit high on startup while the car is in open loop, but then should go into closed loop and be taking info from the sensors (o2, MAF, ambient air, etc). 7 min is a long time. Is it a factory tune or aftermarket? Any mods?

[@yannyfrag]

Danny Johnson, previous owner said it was tune before using sct xcal2. MODs are Mac LT, Mac X mid pipe catted off road and borla stingers catback, 2.8 upper pulley, 4:10 gears, JLT CAI, afco dual pass heat exchanger

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

If it just started doing it out of nowhere, it could be a sensor failing- check the iac (idle air control) valve that is near the throttle body. It is a baby throttle body that opens and closes to help the car idle smoothly. Maybe even unplug it when the car is doing that and see if it changes the idle. Other than that, it could be a vacuum leak

[@yannyfrag]

Danny Johnson It only does it at cold starts after that it don't happen anymore. I'll check the iac to see if is dirty. When I bought it 4 month ago it wasn't doing that. Thank you for your help

[@yannyfrag]

I disconnected the iac sensor like you told me and the car shut off. I did it at cold star when RPM was high and taking long to go to 900 rpm

[@marcozr3138]

I just wana know roots vs ts i heard with roots the power comes in more lower rpm while twin screw or tvs you have to put your foot more into it is that true cause i have a manual mustang i dont usually give it full throttle on second 3rd gear im wondering which supercharger is better for me

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

marco zr tvs has been known to make more torque, but either are great blowers at this stage whipple gen 5 3.0L or TVS 2.65L. Whipple has the overall advantage

[@marcozr3138]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage im thinking of a roush or an edelbrock blower are there any differences in the two of em

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

marco zr Both of those should be the eaton tvs rotorpack

[@amazeddude1780]

A small question/observation; my understanding is that octane ratings are a measure of a fuel's resistance to knocking. There is no power associated with octane. By that I mean if you were to run an engine on a dyno with 87 octane and then with 97 octane, the readings would be essentially identical. Having fuel with a high octane won't subtract power, the point I think you were making is that unless you change your state of tune to take advantage of the fuel's anti-knock properties, you are not going to get the benefits of advanced timing and other tweaks. You're just wasting money on a fuel you are not using to full advantage.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

amazed dude The only way a higher octane is worthwhile is if you are also advancing ignition timing and adding boost. Those conditions will pre-ignite a lower octane fuel. It’s about being able to push the fuel the farthest without it igniting to make more power

[@blazenalder6186]

Love the videos! Could a meth kit fix the fuel pre-ignition?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

it’s supposed to, but I’ve heard of a lot of trouble with the kits working properly. I’ve had a few people say they couldn’t get it to work right at least

[@ikg2004]

Do you have a video for Pro Chargers?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Jose Gutierrez No, only positive displacement

[@leonwilliams3398]

Hi Danny, I just dyno my 2010 Roush 427r it made good HP but they said it is running rich 393.09 HP

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Mine is also way too rich. Pegging 9.9

[@leonwilliams3398]

Looking at my dyno sheet 10.2

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yeah, a bit rich for sure. But probably safer that way

[@leonwilliams3398]

I’m a go to a smaller pulley a cold air intake put a tune on the car and some cold or spark plugs what Range should I be looking for

[@jerryharris7542]

What will recommend, Toroco or Boostane?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I’ve only used torco, so I can only speak from experience on it. It works well and turned my o2 sensors orange on one can lol

[@kingfratetrain7634]

Bru that thang sounds like a hellcat

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The Terminator was pretty much the first Hellcat. First factory supercharged V8 from Ford

[@speedfiend925]

Would it be unfair to say that a Supercharged car has way more maintenance than NA car? It sounds like a lot maintenance and worry to keep this kind of vehicle on the road or maybe I am overstating what you are saying in this video.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yes, it’s fair to say more maintenance. There isn’t too much more maintenance itself (supercharger oil is once every 50k-100k miles and only an ounce or 2, extra belt etc) but I would more say it has more moving parts and components that could potentially fail.

[@OdySlim]

Lean is mean

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

👏🏼👏🏼