Does anyone on here have experience with installing turbos or prochargers?

[Mopar Thunder]

I am investigating the possibility of one of these systems but only have enough knowledge to get into trouble.  Right now I know I need to reduce compression (change pistons) and cam to use my current engine.  But as for what is needed for these two applications is where I don't know enough.  Do I go Blow thru carb or go EFI? How is the piping set up on a system like these?  I aslo know I need to add an intercooler plus I would add meth injection. I'm just looking for my info on this.

[HP_Cuda]

Ever see the license plate frames that say "I'd rather be blown than bottle fed"? They were referring to forced induction or a roots style blower. The idea behind forced induction is that you can take a stock motor force air through the inefficiencies of the motor and gain up to 40% more power. Stay on the power get lousy gas milage, get off it and you can have a car with some decent mileage.

Paxton is a good example of a blow through whereas a roots style blower sucks air through the carb and down the intake. The paxton needs a carb box which is air tight to work as well as tubing formed to reach the carb box to deliver the air. Intercoolers are used to cool down hot devices like a turbo or a really hot running roots style blower. Remember the best atomization of fuel is when the block is at 190 degrees which is why I don't understand the turbo thing but folks like "free power" or so they say. I think you mean nitros and not meth and I've only see my friend do a roots style blower with NOS injection and he barely used the NOS because he had so much raw power. That car was insane.

So it comes down to this: cost and approach. Pick the ones you want to run with and go that way. I think you already understand the compression part and you will need a cam change to move towards a blown motor. Not that it's required but you will get a motor that will respond to a blower better.

Hope that helps even though it was all over the place.

[Ebody73]

I can answer the turbo side for you, the fuel system you choose really depends on budget and your local tuner. If your tuner is comfortable with efi and you can afford it go that route. The blow thru seems to work well and is a little cheaper. You don't truly need an intercooler if you run meth injection and don't plan on driving long distance's. the meth will cool the intake air and allow you to run more psi much like race fuel. On a single turbo set up your exhaust headers will have to run into a y pipe and connect to the turbo hot side, you will also need to plumb in a wastegate in the y pipe to bleed off extra pressure to maintain your set boost. From the turbo you run 1 pipe either to your intercooler or straight to the blowthru carb. You will need to plumb in a blowoff valve in the intake pipe to release pressure when the throttle is closed. If you want twin turbos double everything I've  said

[HP_Cuda]

One other thing I forgot about turbos is the lag. Once you jump on the gas it can range from 1-2 seconds to possibly more.

[Ebody73]

Hp cuda I'm guessing you don't have any personal experience with turbos. Your statement about lag is inaccurate blowers have "lag" as well they are not making peak boost until the rpms are increased just like a turbo. A turbo is more efficient since its not using the engine drive to run it. Plus you don't have to change pulleys to change boost on a turbo. There are pros and cons to both and it's a personal preference.

[HP_Cuda]

Hp cuda I'm guessing you don't have any personal experience with turbos. Your statement about lag is inaccurate blowers have "lag" as well they are not making peak boost until the rpms are increased just like a turbo. A turbo is more efficient since its not using the engine drive to run it. Plus you don't have to change pulleys to change boost on a turbo. There are pros and cons to both and it's a personal preference.

You would be guessing wrong I have dealt plenty with turbos and in my experience the spool up time is significantly longer than a roots style blower. I am talking from an idle not launching from the line where you have already spooled it up. Roots style blowers have absolutely none. If you like I'll send you plenty of old mags talking about turbos vs root style blowers for your education.

Besides who wants to inject HOT air into their motor? Atomization of cold air is the way to go, why do you think many folks buy NOS systems?

[Ebody73]

Ok so off idle yes you roots style is good, but can you drive on the street on low boost then pull into the track turn a knob and flip on the methanol switch and race on high boost with no tools? Don't think so, And if I'm planning an off idle launch why wouldn't I build boost on the line? that takes the advantage right away from your roots, and they make intercoolers to cool the air so your engine is not ingesting hot air. Plus the op asked about methanol which will cool the intake charge even more. With all the turbos available today lag is not really a factor you can choose one for low end torque or for high end power depending on the purpose of the car. I can send you a few articles on turbos if you'd like. Lol like I said earlier its opinion based some people like superchargers others like turbos. Personally I like the ability to raise or lower power (boost) with the turn of knob. When I race/drive hard I launch in boost and don't experience "lag"

[HP_Cuda]

To each his own then....