Turboing a V8

[NisMojo]

Hey guys, On another Forum I was mentioning working a 351 engine I just bought, And someone mentioned leaving it standard and Turboing it For $2000

Now I am not exactly sure you can do this.. I don't know what effect the Bigger exhaust volumes and compression are like in the 351. And for that price I don't think I could get a decent intercooler or decent pipework...

A second hand turbo, and second hand intercooler maybe...

More info would be appreciated..

Thanks..

Steve

[Elithrar]

Turbocharging it for $2000... I don't really think so.

It'd probably need different internals (comp. ratio), an engine management system, and severely upgraded support systems.

[Abo Bob]

It would probably need two of them cos the exhaust comes off both sides. $$$

[NisMojo]

Yeah, that is what I thought... Could you run a turbo of just one side... and leave the other side with extractors?

I could drop the compression with some rods or pistons... and then get a mild cam....

It is also Carby, But I can maybe tune it for a Turbo??

[YRL05S]

Ok, it can be done for that budget but it's going to be a bit of a mission.

What model 351 is it? As for lowering the compression they run mild compression anyway (remember they had to run on shit fuel, usually around 8:1 to 9:1), do a leak down test to assess the condition of the motor.

To do this in the budget you will have to be a fairly keen fabricator or no some one.

It can be still be carby (blow through for simplicity sake) as injection blows the budget. The carby will need to be modified to accept boost, this can be done cheaply by any able carby shop. Holley, weber and dellorto off the top of my head have standard carbies that will take boost. For simplicity sake i would use a modified holley. You will need to change from a mechanical fuel pump to a electronic low pressure pump with a suited regulator.

Spark side i would recommend going electronic with mechancial advance disabled (if that model has it)

One turbo or two, can be done either way. i would go something of a decent size say a TO4E, whatever you can get used that is in good condition, maybe try a truck wreckers. Forget roller bearings and something new as it blows the budget.

Now for manifolding, what car is it in?

Usually i would mount the turbo on the passenger side and use a balance pipe from the drivers side manifold to the exhaust housing flange. To do this i woud reverse the exhaust manifolds 180 degrees. Then every tihng is facing foward. Before you go any further you need to make sure you can access the sparkplugs.

Now you need to lasercut you turbos flange and fabricate the manifolds with accosiated pipe work. Passenger side manifold with turbo flange, drivers side with cross over pipe to other side. Then you need to fabricate the pipe work to the carb, usually i would recommend that you have to carby boxed, like an airbox with the inlet letting in boost instead. This airbox (needs to be steel) needs to allow for carby backfires so you need something like an overboost valve (like the old FJ20's). Finally you need to fabricate a dump pipe and then an exhaust, now i said to mount it on the passnger side to avoid brake booster and steering box/rack so this should be fairly simple.

Then you need to run an oil return line to the sump and locate a point to get oil supply from. Water supply and return ( if needed most truck turbos are oil colled only) are a lot easier.

Now the is just how i would do it, note i haven't gone in to boost regulation, tuning etc. Blow through elimates the use of such things as BOV's and intercoolers so it is primarily a low boost set up.

I thought about doing this to another project i had in mind, and i put it into the too hard basket. It's alot of work and hassle, but it's possible