Is it worth the $$ to turbo a L98?

[Nick90vetteguy]

Seen numerous articles upon turboing a vette, is it worth it?

 

[aklim]

If you add a turbo, you probably will need an intercooler. I'd rather use a SC.

 

[boomdriver]

turbos are the technology of the last decade. SuperCharging is the way to go. No heat induction, wide range of boost, better response. Keep in mind that the addition of a charger, No2 or even a turbo means major retuning. Proms, fuel injectors etc. When done right, a REAL, reliable 400hp is available from a basically stock configuration.

ya won;t find a ZO6 for a few thousand dollars...

but you CAN SC a L-98 C-4 and go just as fast.

 

[Corvette Emma]

Turbo or not

I am with Boomdriver, first chance I can get my hands on a supercharger, I am installing. I just don't want to spend 3k. Hopefully I can find one for about 1,500. Good luck on whatever you do.
Lee

 

[aklim]

I am with Boomdriver, first chance I can get my hands on a supercharger, I am installing. I just don't want to spend 3k. Hopefully I can find one for about 1,500. Good luck on whatever you do.
Lee

Not sure you can find a good unit for that little. Used maybe. Friend of mine got a Powerdyne (I think. Not sure. Sold thru Ford dealership) for his Mustang. When he had problems, they jerked him around and around and around. But it was cheap.

 

[Corvette Emma]

Supercharger

Yeah, I know you only get what pay for so I am definetly looking for a used one.

 

[boomdriver]

Yeah, I know you only get what pay for so I am definetly looking for a used one.

I have a friend that did the ProCharger route.....he started with a fresh motor and suffered thru the tuning and set up issues...which were many. BUT,
He now has a scorching hot tire schredding '86 C-4 that dyno's a real 400+hp.

Strange set up to look at....charger is mounted backwards about where the altenator used to live, with a maze of ducts that run sideways and around to the throttle body. Worst complaint was the duct coming apart....said it sounded like a leaf blower on steriods. Welded aluminum duct fixed that. His boost is managed by the size of the pulley and self control. Easy thing to swap the pulley for low boost or go up to 12lbs I think it is. I know he spent well over 3000. Now comes the hood mods for the air intake duct...paint etc. My guess, another 3K.

This is what lottery tickets are for.....

 

[KANE]

Not sure you can find a good unit for that little. Used maybe. Friend of mine got a Powerdyne (I think. Not sure. Sold thru Ford dealership) for his Mustang. When he had problems, they jerked him around and around and around. But it was cheap.

Ya' know... I've heard many complaints over the years about support from Powerdyne- folks with everything form Vettes to Fbodies and Fords as well.

;squint:


Interesting... their web page even has some issues with broken links.

Oh well.

 

[Corvette Emma]

Tire Shreader

Boomdriver,
I am with you on the tire shreader, I love doing it now with the awesome torque of my C4 but I want horsepower. I was running down the highway and a new SS Trailblazer was running right with me. It wasn't a good feeling until I got home and googled the SS and found out it had 400 horsepower. I have thought about NOS for those occasions but I don't want to fry my motor. I guess I will just hold out for a supercharger. An ad in a vette mag claims you can get 80 more horsepower from installing AFR heads which would put me well over 300 hp at the wheels. The last time I dyno'ed my car it was 240 hp at the wheels. That was before I installed the long tube headers, X pipe and Borla mufflers. You can't believe all those ads with false hp numbers. Oh well, I am starting to ramble. It has been nice chatting with you.
Lee

 

[boomdriver]

Boomdriver,
I am with you on the tire shreader, I love doing it now with the awesome torque of my C4 but I want horsepower. I was running down the highway and a new SS Trailblazer was running right with me. It wasn't a good feeling until I got home and googled the SS and found out it had 400 horsepower. I have thought about NOS for those occasions but I don't want to fry my motor. I guess I will just hold out for a supercharger. An ad in a vette mag claims you can get 80 more horsepower from installing AFR heads which would put me well over 300 hp at the wheels. The last time I dyno'ed my car it was 240 hp at the wheels. That was before I installed the long tube headers, X pipe and Borla mufflers. You can't believe all those ads with false hp numbers. Oh well, I am starting to ramble. It has been nice chatting with you.
Lee

I hear you...

Its not about spinning tires at every green light...its not about a mid-life crisis or an "extension" of male body parts. Its about knowing that you can, when you want to, or step up and run with the new ones and hold your own in a brief show of force.

Anyone with some money can buy a fast car. It takes someone with passion to build a car fast..and fast gets faster every year !

Like I was saying, its not about doing it everyday, but its nice to know that you can. I don;t engage in reckless street racing, but if challenged on a service road or a freeway onramp and the traffic permits....I'll jump in it and run with a worthy opponant. Mine is no longer stock, and the work done to the motor was done with the intention of being able to keep up with late models while still being reliable enough to drive daily. It takes some effort because modified motors make more heat and require better tuning. They will run like a scared rabbit when everything is 'right'.
. Mine shocks a few people with that arogant smirk that says "I got a new one and you're driving an antique".... Well....my antique goes just as fast in most cases, and I can work on it myself. New models need a NASA engineer to tune it or fill the windshield washer bottle.
There are some advantages to having an older model. Besides, the money that I spend on upgrades technically makes mine about 3 yrs old...not 23. Just spent a chunk (big chunk) yesterday on Z06 brakes & rotors to go with the pristine SawBlade wheels that I bought the week before. Ordered some new full roller rockers, oil cooler adaptor, and misc stuff...Also made an appt with a good frame guy thats going to "true" my frame and strengthen it. 1987? or is pre 2010 more accurate? I like to say that my car is well "seasoned" and ready to roll.
It never ends..... I can't imagine what I'll want to buy for it next month. Bound to be something for more power....otfl There is never enough, trust me.

PS.
The No2 kits of any worth all have safetys that don't spray until WFO throttle....so there is not nearly the heat buildup or the pretension or overloading the pistons that used to take place before electronic controls. When it comes down to physics and numbers, No2 is just about adding O2 molecules to the combustion process, just like a charger does.A bit hotter but the same thing basically.
Combustion pressures go up in either process, and HP is generated. The big downside to No2 is the fact that you can burn thru a bottle pretty quick (entertainment value is huge) and you have to get refills...that do add up in cost. I'm holding out for my next short-block to be all forged goodies so I can run a nice blower/charger,. but a bottle-blown engine is not out of the question for the current motor. A little self control and No2 would last...until the next Rustang GeeTee came along side.......
It's all about having fun. Loosing a 1000' race will happen. But to be able to stick with the new cars says as much about the driver as it does the 'ol car. and thats what the other guy will drive away respecting.
Anyone can buy redi made HP in a new car... It takes an enthusiast to take last years technology and make it competitive.
Good Luck. I'm sure you'll end up with a motor that you're comfortable with.
I looked at some Mustang GTs and other street racers today...with twin screw blowers, huge wheels, every trick under the hood,. and I looked at their certs for 209mph at the Texas Mile run and some good 1/4 times. Then they start talking about the $50,000 engine, the $30,000 in chassis and body work, the other 25,000 spent on misc other things.....and I ask the guy..."why did'nt you just buy a vette"?

Those guys don't have a very good sense of humor.