Turbocharging

[tshep]

Actually - that was just a bit of an echo - I was co-owner of a non-GN Buick with the same motor (from a small window when GNs were not made).
But - that motor moved the technology from expensive, industrial truck stuff to everyday parts availability. I rebuilt our turbo back then for less than $200 with factory parts - when units were still $800 (but down from $2000).

 

[deerefan]

Wow - where is this going?

It seemed to start with electrically powered 'turbo charging'.

I looked into that real hard a few years ago, and if I remember right...
pressure was a function (square?) of speed, and at the required volumes, regular, inexpensive electric motors just didn't turn fast enough to get into the really fat part of the curve for engine volumes.(And thus they needed 2!) So rule out belts (even slower) and electric motors - that free exhaust flow is the only way to go for spindle speed.
I'll also bet those leaf blower motors were on stationary dyno's - with 120V circuits ON SHORT CORDS.

Despite how cool 'supercharged' looks in the sales brochure - turbocharging is the most cost effective, homebrew pressure mod - especially since sourcing and rebuilding have become routine in the last 30 years since the Buicks.

No they were gas powered and mounted to the car. The article was not meant to be serious, but it actually produced some power.

 

[PoorMansCat]

Its what has been know for a long time. They are now just showing how its possible to take your existing truck and modify it with a simple bolt on turbo and get power above and beyond what the factory has with its new offerings.


Chris

Exactly... This is absolutely nothing new..... take any engine, add fuel and air... you WILL get a bump in power/torque... It can be done with a simple manifold change to allow it to breathe better, turbocharging to put positive pressure on the inlet manifold, or by supercharging.
Significant power can be gained by using methanol injection to super-cool the charge air... that allows for more fuel to be put into the same area...

I remember reading one time YEARS ago where a guy ran an A/C duct back thru the firewall and plumbed it into his air cleaner..... So he basically had forced and super-condensed air.... add some fuel and you will feel a power increase.!!.
Remember the GMC Cyclone, Buick GN/GNX, Ford Thunderbird Turbo... wish I had a cherry GNX right now!!!.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Exactly... This is absolutely nothing new..... take any engine, add fuel and air... you WILL get a bump in power/torque... It can be done with a simple manifold change to allow it to breathe better, turbocharging to put positive pressure on the inlet manifold, or by supercharging.
Significant power can be gained by using methanol injection to super-cool the charge air... that allows for more fuel to be put into the same area...

I remember reading one time YEARS ago where a guy ran an A/C duct back thru the firewall and plumbed it into his air cleaner..... So he basically had forced and super-condensed air.... add some fuel and you will feel a power increase.!!.
Remember the GMC Cyclone, Buick GN/GNX, Ford Thunderbird Turbo... wish I had a cherry GNX right now!!!.

I believe it was the Ford Lightning, not sure, that had a special intake manifold that had chambers in it that ran the freon throughout it making it really cold. It would turn to a block of ice.

Some airplanes use water injection in the engines to lower the density altitude for takeoff.

Chris