Say you had a choice. Both were sitting on the shelf just waiting to be installed.
This is my business partners 65 Mustang. Street driven, 5 speed. It's strictly a cruiser with no aspirations to be a race machine. It's got to look good and run good. It's also a frequent car show machine.
The ITBs sure are pretty, but I'm thinking street performance would be disappointing.
What would you do, and why.
I do love the whine of a supercharger, so that would get my vote.
Supercharger. If it doesn't get driven much, only on the street, and does get shown, supercharger wins because:
In reply to Ransom :
I also say supercharger, because ITBs aren't going to make a real difference until you can rev the piss out of it, and that's exactly what you can't do in a street cruiser. The blower will make an instant and large difference under nearly all driving conditions.
I am going to disagree on the 'show' criteria, though - I think the ITBs have a much higher visual impact. Somebody who doesn't know cars is going to see a blower and not think anything of it, just another incomprehensible device driven by yet another belt under the hood. But the ITBs jump out at almost anybody because they are very different from the norm, even if they don't understand that they are or do.
Unless you're planning to put a big bug catcher on the supercharger. That is pretty much visual shorthand for "hot rod".
If this is mostly for show, then I say ITB's. There are plenty of supercharged mustangs out there, but how many have ITB's? Heck, even the waiter at the TexMex restaurant in town had a supercharged mustang with a front mount.
Now, if he wants performance, then supercharger.
In reply to Toyman01 :
Supercharger. But what’s up with the set of unplayed Gretch drums?
ITBs are a pain in the ass to live with. Supercharger for driveability.
What's the rest of the car like? If it's more of a 70's street fighter or drag racer vibe, then supercharger.
If it's got more of a TransAm/road race or European influence then ITBs will fit the overall theme of the car better.
It's just a 70s-80s era cruiser.
In reply to Pete Gossett :
The drums get shoved out of the way when car things are happening.
Throttle bodies are for appearance only, and will likely make the car run badly. The supercharger will make power, look nearly as cool, and will make the car run better.
Are the ITB's EFI? If so that would be my vote, a good tune will take the hassle out of the ITB and the throttle response is great. That is a small blower so will have some affect on performance but mean next to nothing at a show. To get the show impact you need at least a 6-71 and dual quads, big hole in the hood and more money for rear tires.
Having said that I am a believer in its your car, do what you want and will drive and have fun with. I have a car with a big blower and dual quads and it is lots of fun to drive, so go with your gut.
Non-EFI ITBs are called carburetors 
Or mechanical injection, I suppose.
It has not been my experience that all you need is a good tune. They don't do well with large changes in ambient pressure (ie, mountains) or cold running. On a high compression engine, they make a wicked hammering noise that's fun if you're screwing around but get old when you're driving like a normal person. You can work your way around a bunch of this but it's high effort and the parts required may spoil the cool looks. Source: I have or do own at least three cars with ITBs. Maybe more, I'd have to think about it.
Why not both?
Mount half the ITB's to a 4-bbl adapter.
I have one of the first adapters I'm not using.
For street performance, supercharger. Even if it's a little one.
For his use I'd go supercharger but I'd pretty much always go supercharger with a large hat.
Keith Tanner said:Non-EFI ITBs are called carburetors
Or mechanical injection, I suppose.
It has not been my experience that all you need is a good tune. They don't do well with large changes in ambient pressure (ie, mountains) or cold running. On a high compression engine, they make a wicked hammering noise that's fun if you're screwing around but get old when you're driving like a normal person. You can work your way around a bunch of this but it's high effort and the parts required may spoil the cool looks. Source: I have or do own at least three cars with ITBs. Maybe more, I'd have to think about it.
I was thinking mechanical, ie old school Hillborn, and those only ran well at wide open. I have a friend that has a Borla ITB on an ls3 and it drives great and has a wicked sound. That is only one data point I agree, and I have not lived with it, only gone for a ride, and i know there is a big difference. I think you will have a fun car either way.
Just an FYI blower whine can get old when you are driving around like a normal person, but i find it hard to drive like a normal person with that much fun under your right foot. Sucks to have to make these difficult decisions, 
Ian F said:I do love the whine of a supercharger, so that would get my vote.
Two words: blower whine.
I second the thought that ITBs aren't actually cool unless you're revving the bejesus out of it. Supercharger in this case.
Toyman01 said:In reply to Pete Gossett :
The drums get shoved out of the way when car things are happening.
Then I’d suggest he needs to install the drums in the Mustang. 2-birds/1-stone and all that.
Pete Gossett said:Toyman01 said:In reply to Pete Gossett :
The drums get shoved out of the way when car things are happening.
Then I’d suggest he needs to install the drums in the Mustang. 2-birds/1-stone and all that.
It probably already has drums in the back. I'm not sure more drums will help :D
Blower and not a chromed or polished unit.
Emotional decision: ITB's
Practical decision: Blower
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
He's pretty old school. There isn't much he likes better than polishing. It's going to stay chrome.
The answer is both. Duh.
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