why do so many people run NA engines?

[68chargerboy]

not trying to sound like a jerk, i love a solid n/a motor too, but why arnt there more people that run blowers and such.  is it the cost factor or the lack of reliability or what? any input is appreciated! thanks

Zach

[moparguy01]

I would say cost is the biggest factor. Followed by the extra upkeep required.

[68chargerboy]

I would say cost is the biggest factor. Followed by the extra upkeep required.

kinda what i was thinking.

anyone have experience with roots style blowers?

[Mike DC]

                                
Forced induction gives huge power but it often doesn't give the same kind of power.  NA motors have a crispness with the throttle and an even torque curve that you have a hard time duplicating with FI.

When they put together the McLaren F1 supercar about 13-14 years ago they specifically wanted a NA motor to make the full 700 hp.  That was not an accident.  The project was trying to make the driving experience idealized in every way they could.  

     

Forced induction motors have their place, particularly drag racing where you can't lay down all the stupid power you might have on hand at the starting line.  That's a good situation for FI because it won't overwhelm the tires so much.  But if you're leadfooting around town or on a road course, then you might find you'd rather have the motor making a certain given horsepower level with NA than the same amount of power with FI. 


     

[Cooter]

MY NA 440 For the street=$3000.00 total...Running....

Roots style Blower set up for the "Street"= $5000.00 For everything running......PLUS, unless you are running an NOS kit or some kind of water inj. system, you have NO intercooler for that 500 Degree air being stuffed into that 440....

Centrifugal Blower set up for 440..=around $5000.00 for all running..

Turbocharger set up twin or single = Around $5000.00 for all running...

Nitrous Oxide 300 HP Plate kit= Around $700.00 for all running.....

[68chargerboy]

well im trying to make about 600-650 rear wheel hp and that could be done with a stroker motor and big heads and all that jaz.  when i add all of that up thats a BIG chuck of coin.  with a FI 440 i could keep the same stroke, up grade my stock rods and put in some dished pistons, and be able to keep my cast heads on.  it all seems to equal out in a way. (correct me if im wrong dont know to much about FI) and plus who doesnt love the whine of a blower and to have the butterfly valves sticking out of the hood  lol

[Mr.Woolery]

It also depends on how you want your power delivery.  Here are some pros/cons between superchargers and turbos:

Superchargers
Pros:
-boost charge is delivered at all RPMs
-nice sound
-low end torque

Cons:
-lots of parasitic drag/inefficient...ie, if your blower gives you 100hp, only 90hp is acually usable (the other 10hp goes to turning the blower)
-increased maintenance for belts
-difficult to cool the intake charge after pressurization (limited to complex & less efficient intercooling systems like laminova intercoolers, etc)
-inability to effectively cool intake charges limits boost psi due to increased chances of detonation.

Turbos
Pros:
-most efficient at delivering power at the powerband
-low parasitic drag (only creates a little extra backpressure on the exhaust, can be used as a sort of muffler)
-lower maintenance
-easy to cool the intake charge after pressurization (via intercoolers) so higher boost psi can be achieved without detonation.

Cons:
-higher engine bay temps caused by turbo housing(s)
-no increase of hp/torque at low rpms....aka "turbo lag"


I have cars that are naturally aspirated, supercharged, and turboed.  I've found that among my forced induction cars, I'm most happy with the behavior, efficiency, and simplicity of turboed engines.  The big detractors (heat, turbo lag) can be easily addressed with shielding and knowing how to drive the car within it's powerband.  Disclaimer, though...I approach the subject of forced induction from the subjective point of view of a road racer (tracks and hillclimbs, not flying mile).

But, considering that this is a Charger board, I'll go on the record saying that I plan to keep my '71 Charger normally aspirated.  Forced induction on a musclecar, to me, just doesn't seem right for some reason.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Forced induction is great for smaller cars with smaller engines...   notice modern tuner cars ?  tubos are king over in that scene...    pro-street guys like their roots style blowers...     

Honestly - One of the funnest cars I have driven had a twin turbo engine... 

I personally like centrifugal style blowers...    I never liked the roots style because of the added heat and hood issue...     the centi blowers still have parasidic loss but give great power and are less intrusive...         

Ideally I would love a positive displacement screw type supercharger for my 6.1 hemi but...    its just not in the cards right now  ($$$)

[elacruze]

not trying to sound like a jerk, i love a solid n/a motor too, but why arnt there more people that run blowers and such.  is it the cost factor or the lack of reliability or what? any input is appreciated! thanks

Zach

This begs the question, Why aren't You?

[68chargerboy]

not trying to sound like a jerk, i love a solid n/a motor too, but why arnt there more people that run blowers and such.  is it the cost factor or the lack of reliability or what? any input is appreciated! thanks

Zach

This begs the question, Why aren't You?

im a college kid, so dumping money into a motor is money i dont really have right now sadly as most of u can probably  tell ive been planing on building a stroker motor for a long time, or putting in a viper motor, or now most recently forced induction.  if i had the money i would love nothing more then to have a forced induction stroker motor, but money is a problem that is very hard to find a way around lol

[elacruze]

I'm of the opinion that if it will make smoke of the tires, you've spent enough, unless you have extra money, or fall into a ridiculously cheap engine like I did. Turbos and Superchargers and Nitrous are for racing or for show and if you don't have the money, worry about getting a job which provides it first.

I spent a lot of years 'running what ya brung' and usually it was someone else's anyway.

[68chargerboy]

i just want my old mopars to go fast lol.  if i was concerned about going fast alone i would just take out my r1