has anyone ever thought that maybe instead of a turbo, run a supercharger? anyone ever done it?

Yep Detroit Diesel run them for many years .

6-71,8-71,etc....Been around forever on Detroits.Havent seen one on a DMax yet.

Actually some Volvo Penta marine diesel engines use them, they have a clutch much like the one one you AC compressor, the super charger builds boost until the turbo spools up, now the turbo is building sufficient boost, and the electrical clutch on the super charger kicks out. This gives their engines "gasoline engine like acceleration" it just gets the boat out of the hole alot faster, no turbo lag. Very cool setup, I thought about building a similar setup for an older 6.5L and putting it in my blazer, but i don't have the money right now.
Detroit has used them for years thats why you hear drag race guys talk about about 6-71 and 8-71 blowers, they were snatched from a detroit deisel and adapted to a gassoline engine.

older detroits used 6-71--8-71's to scavage the exhaust not to pressurize the intake,and some used a sprchgr on the exh and a turbo on the intake

There was a thread a year or so ago discussing the pros/cons of doing a turbo/supercharger setup. I think the idea was to feed a large turbo (A5k or thereabouts) with an ATI procharger in order to get the turbo to spool quicker. I think it kinda of died though due to the complexity and the fact that compound twins already do the same thing, only more efficiently.

The reason the older detroits used blowers were that they were 2 cycle engines, they have no intake or exhaust stroke. They use the blower to push air into the cylinder wile its at bdc and also to help push exhaust gasses from the cylinder. They have exhaust valves but no intake valve's. They are really neat sounding especially when the governor not set right.

The reason the older detroits used blowers were that they were 2 cycle engines, they have no intake or exhaust stroke. They use the blower to push air into the cylinder wile its at bdc and also to help push exhaust gasses from the cylinder. They have exhaust valves but no intake valve's. They are really neat sounding especially when the governor not set right.

:exactly:I rebuilt a couple of Detroit 3 71 diesels. 3 cylinder (mostly generator use). Those were 2-cycle diesels. As stated above, the blower dumped exhaust from the chamber on the downstroke.

ok, but 8 cyl diesels in semi trucks used a turbo on the intake and a supercharger to suck out the exhaust ,but i think i remember they were 4 strokes and had intake and exhaust valves,but its been 25-30 years so i could by wrong

ok, but 8 cyl diesels in semi trucks used a turbo on the intake and a supercharger to suck out the exhaust ,but i think i remember they were 4 strokes and had intake and exhaust valves,but its been 25-30 years so i could by wrong
Puff puff pass!

On a two cycle diesel you have to have positive airbox pressure for the engine to start and run, also to help expell exhaust gases from the cylinder. Detriot goes with a straight roots blower setup where as most of the add on kits for gas engines are centrifugal units like the turbos we run. So larger 2 cycle marine applications EMD aka a really big a$$ detriot have an overrunning clutch to spin the turbo as a supercharger at low load. When sufficient exhaust gas flow and temp are maintained from high enough load the turbo will spool up faster then the clutch drivin it and disengage. The massive engines like Sulzer and MAN b & w slow speed diesels use high volume electric blowers to supply pressure to the airbox. Hope that about covers it.