So I got a 64 f100 with a FE390 in it. I just finished putting new Edelbrock Performer RPM heads and intake. Trucks running great. Now I’m interested in turbocharging it. Any suggestions on what I use and should I twin turbo it?
Many thanks guys

 

This question would be easier to answer knowing that when you swapped heads you planned for boosted pressures. You need to have a lower static compression which you get from a lower compression ratio. The turbos will artificially raise the compression ratio giving you more "squeeze". This is only a basic answer. I am not a hands on expert, only a well read enthusiast. I have a book on turbo chargers from Hugh MacInnis written in 1984. While tremendous advancements have been made in turbos and fuel induction systems, the principles of air properties have not changed by more than decimal places so its a good read. One of the best hot rodding pieces of advise ever is to go to the experts who play with what you want. They have done the trial and error of what works for most applications. Gale Banks is a big name in turbos for going fast.

 

You been watching too much Street Outlaws. Just put a 100HP shot of nitrous on it. That will blow the bottom out of that 390 just as quick as twin turbos and save you several thousand dollars in the process.

 

CD, that was funny and sure as hell correct. Ya can't just slap turbos on a motor and call it good. Heck, even a shot of 100hp nos could hang a piston out the side of the block if it wasn't built for it. Even if you made it past the all the compressed gasses stage, you sure better have a large enough exhaust system to those now expanded gas. I've seen some pretty scary stuff happen to a motor not set up right.

And with that said, many years ago, I did build a 65' Corvair with twin Rajay turbos, pulling through a 650 Holley. Strange thing to see - a 6 banger Corvair pulling wheel stands. BUT, the motor was built for it.

 

A proper tune will be what make or breaks a turbo engine. Plenty of guys running deep into the 10's with junkyard 4.8 and 5.3 Chevy truck engines with little or no internal modifications.

There's an Engine Masters youtube vid where they make over 700 hp with a stock bottom end chevy small block with cast pistons. A conservitive tune and good gas will make it work and last a long time.

Adding water/meth injection will help a lot if you're not going to drop the compression ratio. I'd rather leave the CR alone and add water/meth.





Here's a 640 whp turbo/nitrous Ford Fairmont with a $80 buck junkyard 4.8 with mismatched cylinder heads, used head bolts and head gaskets, and they "torqued" the head bolts out of sequence with an impact... so no care was taken in assembling the engine. It has a great tune so it makes power and lives.

 

This may be similar to what you're working with... stock bottom end with better heads. Again, this test was done with proper tuning and fuel. You can squeeze quite a bit of power out of a turbo if it's done correctly.

Stock GM LS Engine - Big Bang Theory - Hot Rod Network

 

We are talking old school FE not LS Chevy. You need to have ARP bolts holding the bottom end together

 

As well as holding the heads on. Forged pistons never hurt either. MLS head gaskets will be a must for longevity.

 

Yes those are good points RedNeck. There are actually many things that have to be done to a 390. It was never factory built as a race motor, unlike the 427 sideoiler (hint hint at the oil system). If the OP wants turbo power go with a modular V8 such as the 4.6 interceptor, or the modern iteration of the 5.0.

 

By the way. In your other thread this engine wouldn't run. What was the fix for that?

 

I know I am butting in with an answer here, but I believe his fix was he had incorrectly numbered his cylinders in the Chevy configuration instead of Ford FE. This meant that he ended up having the firing order incorrect.

 

correct. I had the wrong firing order