The Path of Most Resistance....Part 2.....

  Had a few more people come up with very hard project ideas after the last post that were disappointed because I told them their ideas weren't cost-effective. Just because something is POSSIBLE doesn't mean it's a good idea or financially feasible. I mean they were genuinely offended. Angry man # 1. Asked about Turbocharging a mid -'80s Camaro or Firebird. I said if he wanted a Turbo Firebird to look for an '89 20th Anniversary Trans Am. They came stock with the badass Turbo V6 out of the Buick Grand National. They were both faster and handled better than the LB9 305 and L98 350 Chevy V8s. He didn't like that idea. He wanted to Turbo his LG4 305 V8. I said that Turbos were not only expensive-they did not work well with carburators and they really didn't work with '80's electronically controlled carburators. I pointed out that the ill-fated '80-'81 Turbo Trans-Ams were dogs as were the carburated 231 V6s in Buick Regal T-Types through '84.  The '85-88 Grand Nationals kicked ass-because they had Multi-Port Fuel Injection and knock sensors. If he had to have forced induction I suggested he find a wrecked GN and salvage the engine, tranny and wiring harness. I also suggested he might try to find a Supercharged 3.8 V6 out of a '90's Bonneville SSEI or Buick Riviera. They had 240 hp stock-about 100 more than his LG4 305- and could easily get 100 more than that with a pulley change. The 700R4 in his car would probably have the multi-fit GM bellhousing so he more than likely wouldn't have to change trannys for this. I also suggested a Weiand or B&M underhood Roots-Type Blower-that would add about 175 hp to his 305, although he'd have trouble making it smog in some states. He didn't like any of those ideas. He wanted a to Turbocharge a small-block Chevy. I said again-that trying to Turbocharge a carburated 305 or 350 would be hard to do, expensive to build, and probably wouldn't run as strong a a normally-aspirated 400 hp or 450 hp GMPP ZZ5 or ZZ383 crate motor. If he HAD to have a Turbo V8-I said he'd be better off going to a junkyard and getting the engine, transmission and wiring harness out of a Chevy or GMC truck with a fuel-injected 5.3 or 6.0 liter LS engine, and then contact Gale Banks about a suitable Turbo setup, because the electronic fuel and ignition management would work great with a Turbo, and that the six-bolt main bottom end of an LS is virtually bulletproof.  "But" he said- "Doesn't Holley and Edelbrock both make carbs designed to work with Blowers?"  Ugh!  "Roots-type superchargers and Turbochargers are totally different." "A Superhcarger is belt-driven,is usually under the carb,which can be custom-jetted, and the blower makes boost on it's own right off-idle and the power level is determined by boost, which is determined by pulley size." "A Turbo uses exhaust gases recycled to make boost." "That's why they generally don't have low-end power like a blower,usually don't "hit" until 3,000 rpm or higher, and the exhaust heat being forced into the intake superheats the fuel charge-that's why they need intercoolers and electronic fuel management." Like talking to the wall. "I'll find someone who knows Diesel Turbos and adapt one of those." Hello? Diesels have direct fuel injection and electronic management, and intercoolers, and don't have freaking carburators!!!!  Here's your sign. Angry Man # 2. Wanted to wanted to put a Boss 429 into a Fox Mustang. My first question was-Do you have a Boss Nine engine? "No." "Do you realize that Jon Kaase Racing and Ford SVT sell them-for $20,000 plus, just for the engine?" "Then you'd have to do a ton of custom fabrication work to install it." "I know guys that run in the 11s with 302 V8s or 302-based 347 strokers." "I know guys that run 10s with Superharged 302s and 347s." "Do you really need to go faster than that?"  "What about a regular 429 or 460?" he asked. "That's do-able." I said-"Hooker and Ford SVT offer motor mounts and headers to do this-" But it's a lot of work and fabricarion-and honestly-unless you spent 20 grand for a 600+hp 514 stroker-a 460 is not going to run any faster than a blown 302, and is going to handle and brake like shit because it's so nose-heavy." "If you've got the bankroll and want a Boss-Nine Mustang, I'd buy a '69 or '70 Mustang fastback, get a Kaase Racing crate motor and build a Boss 429 clone." "It will probalby cost you 50K to build, but that's better than the $250,000 plus people want for "Real" Boss Nines." "What about putting one in a '90's T-Bird?"  "That's not any easier or cheaper than a Fox Mustang-it's probably harder and more expensive!!!  His response-I'm just a naysayer that's negative on everything."  Only on unfeasible projects that are way above people's bank accounts and mechanical abilities!!  Excuse me for trying to be the voice of reason and sanity. Like I said before-anything is possible-including manned space flight but's it not easy or cost-effective!!  Mastermind