A supercharger is a belt-driven air compressor that provides forced induction power in automotive, aviation, and marine internal-combustion engines. Although there are different types of superchargers used in automotive applications, all superchargers can produce more power by improving the supporting hardware, or increasing the supercharger's workload. Note that you need to pay attention to the efficiency map of your supercharger, because there are diminishing returns when seeking greater power from a supercharger.
Replace the pulley on your centrifugal supercharger with one with a larger diameter. Pulley upgrades improve a supercharger's power output by spinning the supercharger at a higher velocity, thus increasing boost pressure. This means the supercharger is working harder, and it will increase supercharger wear as well as generate additional heat. Pulley upgrades specifically designed for the supercharger in your vehicle are available from a wide variety of manufacturers.
Most factory supercharged vehicles set the air compressor to a low boost point to help ensure long engine and compressor life. The superchargers in these applications can produce more boost as there is unused overhead in the compressor's efficiency map. For these vehicles a pulley upgrade is an effective means to increase power. If you are looking to upgrade your aftermarket supercharger, contact the manufacturer of your supercharger kit to determine whether a pulley upgrade is possible, or whether the upgrade will require improving other aspects of the kit such fuel injectors.
Replace the fuel injectors and engine programming. By increasing the amount of fuel, revised engine programming can maximize the power from the supercharger air intake, and thus increase power. Many manufacturers such as General Motors even offer factory fueling and programming upgrade packages that, if installed by a dealer, will not affect your factory warranty. Contact your dealership to see whether there is a factory upgrade available for your vehicle.
Install an intercooler if your supercharger kit is not intercooled. Intercoolers enable the air charge from the supercharger to cool prior to entry into the engine. As the engine operates, heat soak causes the intake air temperatures (IAT) to rise, thus robbing power. An air-to-air intercooler or air-to-water aftercooler will cool the intake charge, thus increasing power while keeping the IAT in check. Note that high IATs are potentially damaging to your engine, so an intercooler setup will promote engine longevity.
Replace your supercharger with a revised unit. Superchargers, like turbochargers, can be replaced with larger units to provide more power. Although the power curve will be altered (less power at low speeds, for instance) maximum power can be increased. If your vehicle has come equipped from the factory with a supercharger, there may be a variety of factory replacement and aftermarket units that will replace the compressor while retaining the engine programming, fuel parts, and air flow intake and sensors.
