Verdict on 2.3 vs 2.65 for Cobra

ATS

Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
31
Location
Wisconsin
I've searched this site thoroughly and I don't see a lot of information on the VMP gen 3 supercharger for the cobra.

I recently purchased a stock 04 cobra with 70k miles. I want a setup that will hopefully promote some vehicle longevity, so I guess I'm looking to keep the car around 600-650hp, on pump gas without crazy boost levels.

Everyone raves about the 2.3 tvs being a great fit for these goals and this application. Nonetheless, I'm hesitant to pay $3500 for a used one, when I can get the new 2.65 for $4400 or whatever.

Is the bigger 2.65 really going to feel sluggish compared to the 2.3 when running only moderate boost and pump fuel? Or does the newer technology of the gen 3 kind of make up for that difference.


Thank you.
 
Last edited:

me32

BEASTLY SHELBY GT500 TVS
Moderator
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2005
Messages
18,457
Location
CA,NorCal
600hp ish stick with the 2.3 tvs, 2.3 whipple. If your serious about longevity on pump gas. If you dont drive it often then you can turn it up with a 2.65 or 2.9 whipple
 

ATS

Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
31
Location
Wisconsin
600hp ish stick with the 2.3 tvs, 2.3 whipple. If your serious about longevity on pump gas. If you dont drive it often then you can turn it up with a 2.65 or 2.9 whipple

Thank you! That was the direction I was leaning.

When sticking to the 600hp mark, do you suspect the 2.65 would feel sluggish down low like the 2.9 whipple does on lower boost compared to the 2.3 tvs?

it just seems nuts to pay 3500 for a used 2.3 when I could have a brand new 2.65 for 4300. But if it’s less snappy then I’ll go with the 2.3
 
Last edited:

me32

BEASTLY SHELBY GT500 TVS
Moderator
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2005
Messages
18,457
Location
CA,NorCal
Thank you! That was the direction I was leaning.

When sticking to the 600hp mark, do you suspect the 2.65 would feel sluggish down low like the 2.9 whipple does on lower boost compared to the 2.3 tvs?

it just seems nuts to pay 3500 for a used 2.3 when I could have a brand new 2.65 for 4300. But if it’s less snappy then I’ll go with the 2.3

Being a smaller displacement engine i would assume the 2.65 would be sluggish at low boost much like the 2.9 whipple and 2.6kb.

The 2.3 on both blowers are in the sweet spot for the 600hp mark.

Personally for 3500 id spend the extra money and buy brand new whipple 2.3 or tvs 2.3.
 

ATS

Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
31
Location
Wisconsin
Being a smaller displacement engine i would assume the 2.65 would be sluggish at low boost much like the 2.9 whipple and 2.6 kB
The 2.3 on both blowers are in the sweet spot for the 600hp mark.

Personally for 3500 id spend the extra money and buy brand new whipple 2.3 or tvs 2.3.
Being a smaller displacement engine i would assume the 2.65 would be sluggish at low boost much like the 2.9 whipple and 2.6kb.

The 2.3 on both blowers are in the sweet spot for the 600hp mark.

Personally for 3500 id spend the extra money and buy brand new whipple 2.3 or tvs 2.3.

Ok I’ll do that!! I forgot we already have a 2.6 for comparison in the KB.

Do you know of any way to buy a new 2.3 tvs?
 

4sdvenom

Never Enough!
Established Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
2,439
Location
Ft. Wayne, IN
I don’t believe they still sell the 2.3 TVS brand new. 2.65 only. I wouldn’t pay $3500 for a used 2.3 either unless you know it’s history and it doesn’t have a lot of run time. If you’re dead set on the 2.3 TVS I would wait until one pops up a bit cheaper or just go with the 2.3 Whipple.

Ken
 

DCguy

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2019
Messages
208
Location
Sterling Virginia
VMP has a big sale once or twice a year.....black friday and christmas last year they had the 2.65 gen3r head unit for $3700.
 

D-MANN

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
1,122
Location
ALBERTA,CANADA
Having had a kb 2.6H and a gen1 tvs 2.3 i would get a whipple 2.3 new with the newest rotors from whipple. I believe they are gen3 rotors now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

01yellercobra

AKA slo984now
Established Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
21,128
Location
Cali
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.
 

me32

BEASTLY SHELBY GT500 TVS
Moderator
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2005
Messages
18,457
Location
CA,NorCal
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.

18psi on a 2.9 isn't considered low boost. Also that makes much more than 600hp. I consider low boost on a 2.9 13-15psi. But running 2.3 at 15-17psi is the sweet spot for those as a regular driver.
 

01yellercobra

AKA slo984now
Established Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
21,128
Location
Cali
18psi on a 2.9 isn't considered low boost. Also that makes much more than 600hp. I consider low boost on a 2.9 13-15psi. But running 2.3 at 15-17psi is the sweet spot for those as a regular driver.

It's all relative. A lot of people say anything less than 20psi with a 2.9 is a waste of the blower. I don't think a 2.9 could get down to 13-15. I have a 3.5" pulley to make the 18. As for the much more, than depends on the fuel/tune. I made 617 on 91 with a conservative tune. I wouldn't consider that much more.

Now when the E85 tune is done I'm sure I'll be saying much more than 600.
 

me32

BEASTLY SHELBY GT500 TVS
Moderator
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2005
Messages
18,457
Location
CA,NorCal
It's all relative. A lot of people say anything less than 20psi with a 2.9 is a waste of the blower. I don't think a 2.9 could get down to 13-15. I have a 3.5" pulley to make the 18. As for the much more, than depends on the fuel/tune. I made 617 on 91 with a conservative tune. I wouldn't consider that much more.

Now when the E85 tune is done I'm sure I'll be saying much more than 600.

Well typically that is correct 20psi is in the efficiency of the 2.9. It also takes more power to turn the 2.9 too. Depending on people's setups ive been in terminators running too low of boost IMO of 13-15psi and definitely out of its efficiency area.
 

Bdubbs

u even lift bro?
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
16,043
Location
MN
I feel the "sweet spot" for a 2.3 tvs is 21-22 psi on E85. I don't recall what anything less on 91-93 pump gas feels like. Probably would feel slow to me.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk
 

SVTdreamin04

What's a "Termi"???
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2015
Messages
2,536
Location
America
I love my little 2.3 TVS on the corn with a GT500 throttle body. Not sure what kind of power it’s putting down, but it makes me smile!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

V6&V8SHO

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
1,367
Location
IL
I feel the "sweet spot" for a 2.3 tvs is 21-22 psi on E85. I don't recall what anything less on 91-93 pump gas feels like. Probably would feel slow to me.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

I run 93 and 18psi for the winter storage season in addition for the long road trips. Gets 21mpg and around 600whp. It’s just a different animal on corn the way it hits and of course another 100 or so whp.
 

GodStang

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Messages
14,719
Location
Aiken, SC
If their car feels sluggish with a 2.6L/2.8L/2.9L on 93 octane then they built/tuned their car wrong and it's NOT the fault of the blower. That being said all of the blowers will put you in roughly same power levels sub 20 psi (unless you get really low in boost). Both the roots (tvs) and the twin screws (KB, Whipple). Now if you plan to add boost and maybe corn later on then the Twin Screws' efficiency will out shine the TVS in higher boost levels by a sensational amount.

While I am a kenne bell fan as I have always had great luck with them I would take a Whipple over a TVS any day as Screw blowers are simply better technology than roots blowers.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top