Verdict on 2.3 vs 2.65 for Cobra

MG0h3

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I never had an Eaton car or any 2.3 so I can’t compare; my car came with a 2.9 Whipple at 15psi on 91.

590/540 at AED. These numbers were at sea level with a 3.75 upper.

Def wouldn’t call it sluggish. Also note I’m at 3800 elevation so I was running a 3.5 upper to make 15 which would be 18psi at sea level so maybe the torque came in sooner.

315/30 MT drag radials would struggle in second.


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PC03GT

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I never had an Eaton car or any 2.3 so I can’t compare; my car came with a 2.9 Whipple at 15psi on 91.

590/540 at AED. These numbers were at sea level with a 3.75 upper.

Def wouldn’t call it sluggish. Also note I’m at 3800 elevation so I was running a 3.5 upper to make 15 which would be 18psi at sea level so maybe the torque came in sooner.

315/30 MT drag radials would struggle in second.


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What gen 2.9??
 

ATS

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FYI, the 2.9 Whipple doesn't feel sluggish at low boost. At least the gen 4 doesn't. My buddy just went from a 2.3 at 17psi to a 2.9 at 18psi and he didn't notice any loss down low. I went from an eaton to the 2.9 so it was all faster for me.

At least the gen 4 doesn’t”***

I think that may be the key right there. Selecting a blower is a tough decision to make when you see one person saying that a 2.9 is terrible at 17lbs of boost and it lags horribly and even though you’ll make big hp, it won’t feel that way.. and then you see another person post, with equal conviction, that a 2.9 doesn’t feel sluggish at all at that boost level and it’s actually a blast

But thanks to your comment, and the following insightful post by @NateDogg on a different thread, I think at least some of this debate could be resolved by clarifying what generation of supercharger we are talking about.
 

ATS

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Nate’s comment:

“I didn't read the entire thread, but I've had both blowers on multiple cars and my opinion falls in line with what everyone else is saying.

2.3 TVS is a blast and the removable inlet is very sweet. You don't realize how sweet until you are removing an entire blower multiple times a year for random stuff.
With that being said... the gen 3+ 2.9 is leaps and bounds better than the smaller 2.3 TVS. I currently have a gen 4 2.9 on pump gas and (although I haven't had it dyno'd/tracked yet) it *feels* every bit as fast as any of my TVS cars and even my gen 2 2.9 e85 car. Its a great blower, looks great and PULLS.”

That came from this thread https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/which-set-up.1190686/

Now it’s possible Natedogg has other variables that are confounding his results/experience.. like a built motor etc. and he also doesn’t mention his boost levels

Nonetheless, it seems possible that the “larger displacement blowers aren’t suited for pump gas/lower boost (17-18lb because they’re sluggish in the low-mid range)” talk may stem partially from people’s experiences with early iterations of the 2.9 whipple (and maybe larger kenne bells), and isn’t quite as much of an issue when considering the newest generation 2.9 whipple. (And possibly vmp 2.65)

Any thoughts? This is what I’m thinking but I’m pretty new to this stuff
 
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NateDogg

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Nate’s comment:

“I didn't read the entire thread, but I've had both blowers on multiple cars and my opinion falls in line with what everyone else is saying.

2.3 TVS is a blast and the removable inlet is very sweet. You don't realize how sweet until you are removing an entire blower multiple times a year for random stuff.
With that being said... the gen 3+ 2.9 is leaps and bounds better than the smaller 2.3 TVS. I currently have a gen 4 2.9 on pump gas and (although I haven't had it dyno'd/tracked yet) it *feels* every bit as fast as any of my TVS cars and even my gen 2 2.9 e85 car. Its a great blower, looks great and PULLS.”

That came from this thread https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/which-set-up.1190686/

Now it’s possible Natedogg has other variables that are confounding his results/experience.. like a built motor etc. and he also doesn’t mention his boost levels

Nonetheless, it seems possible that the “larger displacement blowers aren’t suited for pump gas/lower boost (17-18lb because they’re sluggish in the low-mid range)” talk may stem partially from people’s experiences with early iterations of the 2.9 whipple (and maybe larger kenne bells), and isn’t quite as much of an issue when considering the newest generation 2.9 whipple. (And possibly vmp 2.65)

Any thoughts? This is what I’m thinking but I’m pretty new to this stuff
Unfortunately, I can't provide any more clarification because I still have a stock boot gauge... However the I do have a stock long block.

I'm running a 4th generation 2.9 standard inlet...3.2 upper and stock sized lower. Not sure where that puts me boost wise.
 
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01yellercobra

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I've seen a low of 16psi and a high of 19psi on my logs. I'm able to log boost through the MS3. The 16psi was on an 85+ degree night with high humidity. The car was kind of sluggish at the track, but heat soak will do that. Granted I still couldn't hook to save my life. Stock lower with a 3.5 upper.
 

Bdubbs

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Your not making 650rwhp on 18lbs of boost with a 2.3 whipple.
Plenty of "happy" dynos out there. Years ago my tvs only made 576 on 18lbs.

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1Kona_Venom

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I'll throw my old hat into the ring.
For me personally, I prefer a 2.3L. But that is because of what I do with my car(s).

I prefer the TQ being felt in the lower to mid area of the RPM band because on THE STREET, that is where 98% of owners are operating at light to light, some highway pulls.

Comparison of 93 Octane, same car, same tuner, same day.





2.9 Whipple Gen 2 Vs VMP 2.3L


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01yellercobra

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I'll throw my old hat into the ring.
For me personally, I prefer a 2.3L. But that is because of what I do with my car(s).

I prefer the TQ being felt in the lower to mid area of the RPM band because on THE STREET, that is where 98% of owners are operating at light to light, some highway pulls.

Comparison of 93 Octane, same car, same tuner, same day.





2.9 Whipple Gen 2 Vs VMP 2.3L


View attachment 1701403

What boost levels was each blower running?
 

1Kona_Venom

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What boost levels was each blower running?



2.9 / 3.50" upper @ 19#’s
2.3 @ 20.5#'s

Here was my setup:
TVS/2.8 pulley/Accufab TB
Stock Lower
stock manifolds, o/r Xpipe, LM2 Catback
JLT HB Intake
Sct3000
Lethal Return Fuel System
80# Inj.
Spec3+ clutch
 

me32

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2.9 / 3.50" upper @ 19#’s
2.3 @ 20.5#'s

Here was my setup:
TVS/2.8 pulley/Accufab TB
Stock Lower
stock manifolds, o/r Xpipe, LM2 Catback
JLT HB Intake
Sct3000
Lethal Return Fuel System
80# Inj.
Spec3+ clutch

The 2.3 at 20.5 has the advantage its basically at its full potential. The 2.9 with a 3.5 is below its full potential.
 

01yellercobra

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The 2.3 at 20.5 has the advantage its basically at its full potential. The 2.9 with a 3.5 is below its full potential.
That's why I asked. I realize with the difference in blower sizes it'll never be a real apples to apples comparison. But as I mentioned earlier something is always changed when the blowers are swapped. I'm sure the 2.9 would've behaved a little different with an extra PSI. I remember going from 12 to 14psi on my D1 made it a completely different animal.
 

me32

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That's why I asked. I realize with the difference in blower sizes it'll never be a real apples to apples comparison. But as I mentioned earlier something is always changed when the blowers are swapped. I'm sure the 2.9 would've behaved a little different with an extra PSI. I remember going from 12 to 14psi on my D1 made it a completely different animal.

I agree. I do know that the tvs will almost always make better lowend tq over the whipple which was what 1Kona_Venom wanted to achieve anyway. Would be interesting had there been a 3.0 or 2.75 pulley on that whipple 2.9. how it would have performed.
 

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