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07-14-2006, 07:57 PM   #3 (permalink)
mavman
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,742
Injected turbocharged smallblock build

It's definetly going to take a LOT of CAREFUL planning to meet those goals. Not necessarily a lot of money (relatively speaking), but you can do it. I did it, though I didn't make nearly as much power as I 'could' have (junk 302 block cracked).

You would probably want to look into an adjustable wastegate controller of some sort, that way you could keep the boost down to a 'sane' level on the street but turn it (and the fuel) up at the track. There are guys making 1300+ HP with similar builds..so it can be done. Making such an engine live on the street will be a real challenge. IMO, ANY blown/turbo'd combination will not be nearly as reliable on a street car as a naturally aspirated engine would.

If I were doing such a build, I'd plan like this: Home build blow-through 750 carb, 460" BBF with a TV8101 or TV8102 turbo, GOOD intercooler, and an auto transmission. As much fun as a 5 speed would be to drive, an auto will usually be easier to drive...especially with a turbo. It's hard to launch with boost with a 5 speed unless you have some sort of spooling apparatus...e.g. nitrous on a window switch + retarded timing + overly rich mixture (efi). That will usually spool a lazy turbo pretty easily. I had an SVO that I could spool at 1500 with a Holset HE351CW turbo (that normally wouldn't spool until around 3800) with retarded timing and nitrous. I am watching a post on another board where a fellow did a shake down run with his hot rod (460" Ford with a big honkin diesel turbo, good IC, and a carburetor)...and on a SHAKE DOWN, it went 153 mph in the 1/4....that's serious horsepower and a testament to what a little boost can do on a big block. You can easily make enough power to break a chassis.

Back to what I HAVE done. I ran a '74 Maverick, 302 low compression, RPM intake and a Powerstroke turbocharger (early powerstroke...model TP38...1.15 A/R hot 1.10 cold). No intercooler, just good hot air. It was capable of 22+ psi, but efficiently it was good to about 14-18. It made enough to split not one, not two but three 302 blocks, right in the mains. One even put a hole through the 6 and 7 cylinder walls...both of them. Serious cylinder pressure, and it was my fault for jury-rigging it together. What kind of power? I've never had one of my own engines on a dyno, can't afford that stuff. It was enough to light up the 265/50-15's at ANY speed and in ANY gear (C4 w/ 2800 stall TCI) on the freeway. 70 mph rolling burnouts were an absolute breeze at 16 psi. I ran it at the track one time....left at 5 psi went about 300 feet and it went ka-pop..burned a couple plugs off due to a bad fuel pump, but still went 1.55 in the 60' and 4.17 in the 330. It was on a good pass. I'd say a fairly easy 6.50-6.60 1/8 mile. It also managed 24 mpg. Stock camshaft at first (out of a '85 Mustang GT engine...Hyd roller) but I later changed to an Erson turbo grind which made the best MPG of the two. The GT cam was ~15-17 mpg, IIRC. Best thing about turbos...you have to keep your foot off the throttle to get any sort of mileage. Once you hear the whistle of boost, your gas gauge will drop pretty quick. My SVO was the same way. 33 mpg normally driving (no boost, low RPM) and maybe 10 if I drove it hard. That was IF it ran (half the time I spent fixing the dang thing!)
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