There's no question about...
There's no question about it: LS engines love boost. Put any sort of super- or turbocharger on a Gen III or IV GM small-block, and the fantastic factory output you once had will look like a joke compared to the tire-abusing, smash-you-in-your-seat acceleration newly available at a gentle flick of the right foot.
We're not about to discuss the relative merits of the various forms of forced induction available on the market in this particular story, but we are here to check out one new option for owners of perhaps the most critically-acclaimed GM car on the market today: ProCharger's new HO Intercooled Supercharger System for the 2008 Pontiac G8.
ATI ProCharger has been in the centrifugal supercharger business for quite a while, and offers kits for many late-model EFI GMs. As applied to the G8, the company claims the factory rating of 361 hp will jump to over 540-horses with the kit's 7 psi of boost, all on premium unleaded. And if that's not enough, never fear: higher boost and power levels for modified engines are available with ProCharger's HO Intercooled Tuner Kit (which omits tuning and fuel system upgrades), if that's your gig.
This past summer, ProCharger flew three knowledgeable and friendly company reps to New Jersey to complete the installation of an early production kit on our subject car, a black-on-black, stock-as-a-rock G8 GT that, like all GT models, backs its 6.0L Gen IV V-8 with a six-speed automatic. (As to the LS3-powered, M6-equipped G8 GXP, a kit is in the planning stages for it as well.) The well-known shop of Cartek, conveniently located mere blocks from exit 137 of the Garden State Parkway, served as the install and dyno test facility. Check out the photo captions for a step-by-step walk-through of the installation, as well as the really important stuff-dyno results!
The G8 GT's L76 mill-with...
The G8 GT's L76 mill-with its rectangular-port heads, 10.4:1 compression, and Active Fuel Management-is an admirable package from the factory, save perhaps for its love-it-or-leave-it engine cover. As you can see, car owner Mike Ficacci has already tossed that unsightly hunk of plastic, but that's the sole mod under the hood of this Poncho. Ah, but not for long... (insert evil laugh here.)
Hunkered down on Cartek's...
Hunkered down on Cartek's dyno, this bad black Pontiac put out an SAE-corrected 303.4 horsepower and 331.6 lb-ft. That's a healthy starting point, and also noteworthy is the fact that all pulls with this car were made in 4th gear, which is actually a 1.15 ratio (both 5th and 6th are overdrives; there is no 1:1 in the 6L80E automatic). This is worth mentioning since it means all dyno readings are, in theory, slightly lower than they would be were the L76 pushing through a "direct drive" gear, such as 3rd in our friend the 4L60E. It does not prevent an apples-to-apples before-and-after comparison, however. Also, in order to strap the G8 to the dyno, the large plastic front underguard had to come off, so note that it has already been removed once the install gets started.
ProCharger's HO Intercooled...
ProCharger's HO Intercooled supercharger system for the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT (kits for 2009 models are coming very soon) retails for $6,695 MsRP. ProCharger takes pride in this kit being designed and manufactured in the u.s. of A. It utilizes the proven P-1sC-1 head unit, which gets a dedicated supercharger drive system with an adjustable tensioner. A 2-core air-to-air intercooler is standard. Currently considered 49-state legal, CARB certification is currently being sought on this system as well as for ProCharger's other kits for ls-powered GMs. A Tuner Kit is also available that omits tuning and fuel injectors-this will save about $700 off of MsRP. (Photo courtesy of ProCharger)
The install starts off basic...
The install starts off basic and, let's face it, pretty boring: The intake assembly comes off via a few band clamps and the usual paraphernalia; avid DIY'ers can tackle this step either asleep or after having been subjected to a stupor-inducing dose of the latest romantic comedy courtesy of the Misses. None of this snorkeled-and-silenced stock system will be reused, save for the MAF.
Now things start to get a...
Now things start to get a bit more interesting, as the front fascia must come off. Fortunately, this is no big deal and just takes a bit of patience and meticulous work undoing all the appropriate screws, clips, and wires, then it pops right off. Your run-of-the-mill bumper-hugging Styrofoam piece (for lack of a better term) is then revealed, which just slides off easily, leaving a naked bumper to work with.
The bumper itself must come...
The bumper itself must come off. Fret not, it's going back on-but the black plastic thing attached to the back of it must go, and the only way to accomplish this is to take the bumper off to get at the backside of it. Believe it or not, this "thing" we speak of is the washer fluid reservoir. Think ProCharger cares not for the cleanliness of your windshield? Think again: a new reservoir will be provided momentarily.