Here are the official specs for TRD’s new supercharger for the Toyota Tundra: it adds 504 HP, 550 lb-ft of torque, and list price for the entire kit is $5,875. The total cost, including installation, will be around $6,800, if based on a labor rate of $105 an hour.

The evolution towards the 5.7-liter TRD supercharger is truly intelligent design. TRD has developed horsepower/torque pushers for the 2000-03 Tundra, the V-6 Tacoma, the Camry Solara, the Scion tC and others. Tundra watchers knew it was only a matter of time before the wizards at TRD addressed the big ‘07 Tundra. Then, at the November 2007 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show in Vegas, a concept Tundra Double Cab was spotted with a supercharger and air-to-liquid intercooler generating “approximately” 500 horsepower. Since the Toyota booth display vehicle was attached to a 10,200-pound gooseneck car hauler, the extra power had to be more than simply wishful thinking.

The new Tundra TRD supercharger is an Eaton-Roots-type, or positive displacement, supercharger. The patent dates back to 1860 when Philander and Francis Roots used the technology to ventilate mine shafts - an interesting tidbit to toss out at your next barbeque. When automakers were faced with upping performance by increasing engine size or engine efficiency, they opted for efficiency. The concept of a blower was incorporated into automotive engines in the early 1900s by Gottleib Daimler and by the 1920s, appeared in racecars and premium autos. Eaton-Roots type superchargers are reliable, nearly maintenance free, and eliminate drag on the engine when the boost is not required.

The Eaton’s Twin Vortices System (TVS) is featured on the Tundra supercharger. It has twin four-lobe rotors with 160 degree twists, and improves air-handling while decreasing noise and vibration. The Tundra kit comes with 8 new high-flow fuel injectors, lower heat range iridium-tip spark plugs, and an intercooler, which reduces air inlet temperature to the engine and permits more aggressive ignition timing.

The supercharger’s air supply comes from TRD’s new high-performance air intake, which is similar to the cold air intake kit which TRD offers as a standalone art. When installing the supercharger, the engine control unit (ECU) is programmed with a new high performance engine management profile, which assists the Tundra in harnessing the supercharger’s extra power while maintaining 50 state emissions certifications. It works by changing the engine’s timing and the transmission’s shift points to maximize power.

It takes approximately 9 hours in install the TRD Tundra supercharger, and Toyota will honor the remainder of their 5yr/60k miles powertrain warranty on the condition that the supercharger is installed by your local Toyota dealer. Adding the supercharger is a safe investment, given TRD’s high quality of engineering and Toyota’s agreement to honor the full warranty.

There’s only one catch if you’re hoping to buy your new Tundra with the supercharger. The TRD supercharger is only authorized to be retailed as a dealer installed or over-the-counter option AFTER the sale of a new Tundra. The supercharger and Tundra cannot be sold together at the same time, or financed together. Your local Toyota dealer may be able to find some sort of compromise or deal, but if you’re determined to have a supercharger on your new Toyota Tundra, be prepared to fork over some cash.

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