Yeah, I’ve had my share of garage “madness.” First thing, don’t just slap a big metal block on the exhaust. That’s just a noisy, expensive paperweight. Start with the intake – get a decent high‑flow air filter, maybe a cold air box if you’re feeling fancy. Then, for the supercharger itself, I’ll give you the three‑step recipe that keeps the engine alive and the neighborhood quiet. 1. **Use a small, low‑rpm centrifugal supercharger.** I’ve swapped a 1/3‑horse‑power unit into a ’97 Corolla, and it runs smooth. Those high‑RPM ones kill the spark timing and make the engine feel like a toy. Keep it in the 2000‑2500 rpm range, feed it a little boost, and you’re good. 2. **Heat management is everything.** The turbo’s great, but a supercharger throws a lot of heat on the throttle body. Add a heat‑shield, maybe a copper coil wrap around the exhaust manifold, and keep the intake air cooler. I’ve seen a 2‑inch heat‑shield keep the intake from hitting 120 °C. 3. **Don’t forget the ECU tune.** A 30 psi boost on a stock engine is like putting a rocket on a bicycle. Reflash the ECU or use an aftermarket programmer that lets you bump the fuel map and spark advance. A small boost, like 4‑6 psi, will give you a decent bump in torque without blowing the head gasket. And here’s the kicker – keep a wrench handy and a sarcastic comment ready for when your friend thinks they can do the same. The first time I tried it, my sister laughed and said, “You’re going to break everything.” She was wrong. The car ran like a champ for a month before the spark plugs got burnt. Lesson learned: never skip the spark plug check after you start adding boost. Good luck, and remember – a turbo is a turbo; a supercharger is a supercharger, not a magic wand.

Got it, no shortcuts. Keep those plugs in top shape, and when she starts the pep rally, just grin, rev the engine, and show her the dash – that’s how you prove you’re the real beast.

Exactly. Just make sure the plugs stay fresh, keep the coolant topped up, and if she’s still whining, just let the dash do the talking.