Project Blue Bomber: Part 2 - 2011 Chevy Silverado
| project Blue Bomber Part 2 2011 Chevy Silverado silverado On Dyno
We have touted the huge benefits of engine supercharging in the pages of Truckin for years. With so much gain from so little installation time, forced induction adds the power to play and the torque for towing, all encompassed in one tidy package. As you have undoubtedly seen, we have kept a firm finger on the pumping pulse of every new supercharging system ever released for the fullsize truck and SUV market. For each of the many engine series and their changes, the need for newly designed systems seems to have no end in sight. It’s a subject matter we are excited and passionate about, and we want you to be just as excited. Superchargers have become the go-to method for big power, MPG, and reliability.
Edelbrock has released its radically different E-Force supercharger systems for 2007 to 2012 GM trucks utilizing Eaton’s new Gen VI TVS rotors. Featuring a four-lobe design with a full 160 degrees of twist for maximum flow, minimum heat, and quiet operation, the systems are backed with the reliability for which Eaton is known. The Edelbrock supercharger housing itself is integrated into the intake manifold for a seamless design with minimal components, eliminating the possibility of vacuum leaks between gasket surfaces. The supercharger is inverted, expelling the air upward, to force air pressure to build in the plenum before being drawn down through each of the two intercooler cores. After passing through the intercooler cores, air travels through 12-inch long runners, which route underneath the supercharger housing to the cylinder head ports. This air path to the cylinders is what separates Edelbrock from the rest of the systems on the market. With such long runners, the torque curve and power delivery down low is maximized without harshly affecting the top end rush. The upper plenum area is enclosed by a top cover that has been designed to provide an appealing and distinctive underhood appearance, while maintaining a compact package that can fit under the stock hood and cowl of the newer GM trucks. The Edelbrock supercharger (PN: 1578, $6,959.87) provides neck-snapping performance that is also 50-state emissions legal, and can be had with an optional 5-year/ 100,000-mile warranty so there are no worries when installing it on a brand-new vehicle such as our 2011 Silverado with 5,000 miles on the odometer.
| Edelbrock shipped its E-Force kit with everything Stillen needed to supercharge Project Blue Bomber. Luckily, our newer truck did not require a fuel pump replacement, as some models do, so our installation may differ slightly from yours depending on your Silverado’s year of manufacture.
One caveat to the warranty is the system’s installation is only to be handled by an authorized, ASE-certified Edelbrock dealer and service center, or a dealer service center for the vehicle manufacturer. We saw no need to head back to the local Chevy dealer we purchased the truck from. Instead, we pointed the Silverado into Stillen’s fully supported service bay for our Edelbrock makeover. The Stillen Service Department operates as an installation service center and vehicle assembly center for all of its customer vehicles. Their Master Technicians are fully trained to install the products Stillen manufactures and distributes, including our Edelbrock E-Force supercharger kit. The professional service staff is widely known for their expertise and quality of work, as we have witnessed the many customers that ship their vehicles directly to Stillen from out of state to make sure they are getting the very best in quality technical services. Boasting six bays, four lifts, a DynoJet dyno, and a four-wheel laser alignment rack, we expect only quality work to come out of Stillen’s service center.
