Earlier this year, Callaway released details on its SC410 supercharged upgrade package for the V6-powered Chevrolet Colorado.
The 3.6L LGZ V6 that powers the Chevrolet Colorado produces a rather tame 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. When equipped with the SC410, package, however, the truck’s six-cylinder pumps out a very respectable 410 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Callaway claims this essentially gives the V6 Colorado the performance of a V8 truck, but there’s only one way to truly know how the SC410 Chevrolet Colorado compares to a V8 pickup: by racing it against one!
Callaway recently pitted a Chevrolet Colorado Z71 equipped with its SC410 package against a previous-generation Ram 1500 Classic equipped with the available 5.7L HEMI V8 engine. These two trucks are essentially on-par for power, with the 5.7L HEMI V8 producing 395 horsepower and a meaty 410 pound-feet.
The Colorado may have a slight weight advantage here, but it’s also a Z71 model, so it is riding on knobby off-road tires and sitting quite high up thanks to its off-road suspension. Such tires and suspension aren’t really great for drag racing, so we think these two trucks are fairly comparable despite the minor difference in weight.
Included in the Callaway SC410 package is a TVS1740 supercharger system along with a Callaway Dual Pass intercooler system, Callaway high-flow intake and Callaway sport exhaust. Some small cosmetic upgrades are also included in this upgraded package, including Callaway exterior and interior badges, all-weather floor mats, Callaway-branded key fobs, an underhood engine build plaque and a certificate of authenticity.
So, does the Callaway-prepared Chevrolet Colorado Z71 really pack V8 performance into a V6 package? Check out the video embedded below to find out.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Colorado news, Chevrolet news, Callaway news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
A supercharged (or turbocharged) V6 can beat a NA V8 easily! The Buick Regal GN model with a turbocharged 3.8 L V6 outpowered the Chevy Corvette of that era, so the Callaway Chevy Colorado SC V6 can (and did) beat the Dodge HEMI V8. And the smaller V6 has the advantage of a better MPG rating, so the owner will spend less on gasoline and engine maintenance in the long term of ownership and driving.
But without the purchased cost comparison between them, we may not know the difference of TCO.
I agree with everything you said, except cost of engine maintenance. A forced induction motor is going to cost more in the long run because there are more moving parts, coolant lines, etc. Naturally aspirated motors are going to be less money to maintain overall, unless its a Mopar 😜There are pros and cons to both styles, personally a prefer to have boost, but sometimes a nice linear rev happy NA motor is fun to drive too.
If someone don’t have the play-happy Flow of income; nobody can properly enjoy their automobile! (No matter who builds it)!
Still rather have my 2.8 diesel any day. Supercharged v6 will be hard on fuel and will not last long.
I noticed you did not compare the weights of each vehicle. The little Colorado carries a lot less weight and bulk than the Ram. The above comment is right on. We had that in the unlimited hydroplanes. A fellow showed up with a boat with two Offenhousers in it. He could out perform the Allisons but he was done midway through the first race. Made a lot of smoke though.
Now let’s see, a 5.7 L V8 against a 3.6L V6 an your worried about the size of the Dodge over the small Chevy Colorado?
Dodge has 395 HP 410 FT LBS
CHEVY COLORADO HAS 41O HP 400 FT LBS!
WHAT WOULD BETTER IS IF THE CHEVY HAD THE TRUE AN TRIED VORTEX 4.3 V6!!!
GET YOU SOME OF THAT!!!!
I read this comment five times and I’m still not sure what this individual is trying to say. I guess in his mind size only matters in the size of the engine.
W/my configuration in my suv; I prefer Not to drive rough w/my expedition in hopes it’ll last the duration of my life! I have upgraded my ride w/low budget $ flow; built it responsibly!
The truck weight is 4550 pound on the ZR2.
As for durability and maintenance these things are not the problem they once were.
I drove a 2.0 Ecotec with the GM tune that produced 300 hp for ten years with no issues or failures.
The engine was built to handle these pressures and did not share much with the standard Ecotec.
The only maintenance change was to go with Mobil o e oil.
The case here is a supercharger that is not putting out a ton of boost on a engine that already comes with a forged crank, powdered metal rods and hypereutectic pistons. This engine was engineered to easily take more than 100 hp more with no loss in durability and life.
The engines that failed in the past often were due that they were not built properly. The original 3.8 turbo had no water cooling to the turbo. The Ford Turbo was just a pinto engine with a turbo with no cooling for years.
Many Of these old engine did not have forged cranks, oil cooled pistons, direct injection that cools the cylinder and fuel charge etc.
Auto makers used to take the easy way out and saw many failures that are up cost savings. They finally started to build these engines right and you see few failures with millions of super charged and Turbo applications.
Super chargers like this one only have two areas to maintain. The belt and the oil in the charger that needs changed generally at 100k miles and is an easy job.
This is a nice set up but not cheap. As it is the 308 hp is not really a sluggish set up. As it is it is as fast as the Ranger and there is no other mid size truck that is faster.
It runs 14’s in the quarter mile in crew and 4×4 applications stock. I am seeing 20 mpg in city driving.
The real deal is the Edelbrock supercharger that delivers the same performance at a lower price.
Cool story bro. I’m just curious what GM vehicle you had with 2.0t that made 300hp on a stock tune? I don’t recall any models making much more than 250hp a decade ago.
HHR SS with the GM Performance Tune. It was 290 hp and 315 ft lbs. open the intake up and it gained the extra 10 hp.
The Solstice with the same tune did 340 ft lbs.
The engine was the LNF 2.0 and all the dealers offered the tune kit for the engine on the HHR, Cobalt, Solstice and Sky.
Depending on the altitude 21-26 psi was possible.
It ran a stronger block, stronger head, better oiling system, zforged crank, Forged Rods etc.
With a change of pistons and rods you could easily build a reliable 500 hp like used in the Soldtic Dirft car that won the Championship. They randomly the full season with no tear downs.
You build it right it will last.
MFGs today have Turbo 4 cylinders built in the millions. Yet we see few failures. If there is it is due to mfg erro like the wrong head gasket on the Ford RS.
Regardless of how long your posts are, 260-290 factory horsepower is not 300 horsepower. And forced induction motors, even though built for the boost, generally are going to have higher maintenance cost than a natural aspirated motor. Just a fact of life. The more complicated something is the higher risk it has to fail. My 1.4t has seen numerous coolant leaks at 120k. One that involved the removal of the turbo to reach.
Prove it!
What higher cost did I have in ten years? I had to use Mobil one and premium fuel. That was at the 23 pounds of boost daily. I know as I had a light that would tell me when I hit full boost. On ramps were a blast.
The cold air intake dyno’d at 300 HP
As for your leak that was just you.
An engine built properly to take the HP, Boost and pressure will survive just fine.
Hell I can advance the timing on a 428 Pontiac and crack two pistons in one 1/4 mile run as they came with Cast Pistons. No boost needed.
I can show you a ton of people with failed cams in the LS engines do to the lifter issues on the variable displacement. Failed ignitions systems on the previous LT engines. Etc.
If you want to hate Turbo and supercharging that is fine but don’t BS your way though it.
I have owned big blocks, small blocks, Supercharged and Turbocharged and all are fine engines. The key is was it properly built to take what it is producing power wise.
As for less complicated anymore nothing is.
Technical service bulletin 14371A. GM has extended the warranty on the water pump. Used on the 1.4 L turbo. It is now 10 years 150,000 miles.
I wonder why they started the race running at 40? Are they hiding something? I mean, this is a GM-conducted race video and meant to sell the performance package. Let’s see how they match up from a standstill; that’s how most races start.
Odds are they had trouble getting the tires to hook up.
This is not a GM video it is a Callaway video.
Getting trucks to hook up is not easy with light rear vends and OE Off road tires not made for gripping pavement like a normal performance tire. Add in wheel hop from leaf springs this is why they are rolling.
Callaway Cars works only with GM cars. New GM vehicles are delivered to Callaway facilities for installation of the products. Then they are delivered to GM dealers where they are sold retail, branded as Callaway. The site promoting the vid is GMAuthority. That’s a close relationship and so this is a promotional not a scientific test. Hookup?? Put them in 4WD. I’d bet my stimulus check they either started them from a standstill and the hemi won or the difference wasn’t ‘promotable’, or they dyno’d both and the power curves showed them where the V6 was strongest so they ran the ‘race’ from 40mph.
First Callaway is an independent engineering company that has modified a great number of Brands over their history including their famed Alfa Romeo and evening BMW.
The preset trucks they are doing just have GM’s blessing to be covered by their warranty and sold at the dealers no different than like Saleen did with a Ford or SLP in the past. It is much like the relationship with a Rocky Ridge too. As well some other tuner cars.
GMMG was the one that had a closer relationship with GM actually converting cars for full production as GM cars as did PAS or Mclaren USA. Callaway is mot this kind of deal.
Might not only a few GM dealers are Callaway dealers too. Only dealers who sign on with Callaway become dealers.
This web site is not a GM web site nor any part of GM. They also do webs for others including Ford Authority.
The problem with putting them in 4×4 is you lose a lot of power and it would slow the times down.
To run the front drive can be 150 HP or more. We had an AWD 32 Ford that ran a Syclone front drive and it took 155 hp to drive the front drive and slowed the vehicle much in 0-60 and Quarter mile times.
The traction gained is not enough in the case of a truck to overcome the loss of time do to moving the mass involved.
Might note in many online test trucks are tested rolling. .
Put a super charger on the v8 and see who wins
REALLY….REALLY? THERE IS A V8 GOING AGAINST A V6! BIGGER V8 ENGINE OVER A V6 SOUNDS LIKE YOU LIKE DODGES? I DONG CARE WHAT DODGE CALLS THAT 350CU IN ENGINE TO ME THAT ISNT A TRUE HEMI!
THE TRUE HEMIS WERE 331,354 ,392 AND THE WORK HORSE OF ALL WAS THE ELEPHANT
426!! NOT THE SMALL BLOCK 350!!
That’s pretty bad when you say put a blower on V 8 with more litters to out run a little V6!!!!
A top of the line 1/4 ton that’s obviously way lighter with more hp and close to same tq, supercharged… vs a bottom of the line 1/2 half ton…the hell did you think was going to happen lol.
Ram 5452 pounds
ZR 4550 pounds
How about a Ford 150 twin turbo v6 against this Chevy?
If this comparison is fair, then we may as well compare a VW Bus to a bicycle.
You literally took a lighter vehicle, supercharged it with aftermarket parts, and compared it to a stock BASE MODEL HEMI!
Try putting a 6.2 or 7.2 HEMI up against literally ANYTHING stock and you can see that MOPAR wins every time
What are we competing for ? Biggest joke of the year ? Lol absolutely nothing gained here nothing proven at all and you can launch the ram from a stop just fine so why roll race em also 40 is about the weakest spot you could possibly roll the ram from . Do a 55 to 100 roll in a shiftable 5 speed . And why are we racing the old model ram again a beefed up new truck . Shit video not worth anyone’s time . Bye bye bow tie boys . Try again .
Is anyone here in a position to recommend Bridal Lingerie? Cheers x