Battle of the Boost

Turbo vs. Blower: Which One Is Best?

- Johnny Hunkins

If it’s time to add more horsepower to your hot rod, and you’ve decided that boost is the best option, you might have pondered whether mechanical supercharging is the right move, or if a turbo-charger that runs off of exhaust heat energy is best. You’ve come to the right place, because in our decades of building project cars, talking to engine builders, and documenting thousands of amazing cars up close, we’ve seen and heard it all.

The answer, however, isn’t a straightforward one, because your own mechanical and fabrication skills and how you intend to use your car will matter in some significant ways. Before we break down the turbo versus blower debate, let’s first examine the options we’re leaving on the table, namely more cubic inches, more rpm, and chemical supercharging, aka nitrous oxide.

Q Other Power-Adder Options