Turbocharged flathead???
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2020
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From: Green Bay
Turbocharged flathead???
I was digging through my parts stash over the weekend and I found a nice turbocharger from one of my Porsches. Does anyone have any experience with putting a turbo on a flathead?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,920
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From: Bothell & Silverdale, WA
1, flatheads don't breathe very well.
Doesn't matter. Modest HP gains are achieved with turbocharging just by overcoming ambient barometric pressure, say 15 psi at sea level.
2, they don't have a very strong bottom end.
Again, doesn't matter because the energy required to draw air in for the intake stroke is cancelled out.
Yes you can put a blower or turbo on a flathead , but it takes a lot of money for it to be worth while.
No doubt about it if you're going after speed records.
Doesn't matter. Modest HP gains are achieved with turbocharging just by overcoming ambient barometric pressure, say 15 psi at sea level.
2, they don't have a very strong bottom end.
Again, doesn't matter because the energy required to draw air in for the intake stroke is cancelled out.
Yes you can put a blower or turbo on a flathead , but it takes a lot of money for it to be worth while.
No doubt about it if you're going after speed records.
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From: Green Bay
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
no point in reinventing the wheel...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-49-51-...-/293578336252
from the ebay ad for when the auction is over: Complete rebuild. NEW .060 over pistons. NEW Isky 3/4 cam/lifters/springs. 3.75" stroke. NEW Roadrunner Engineering blower setup. NEW Vertex REAL magneto. NEW Predator 4 barrel carb. NEW 409 Chevy hi-volume water pump. NEW Offy 400 heads and stud kit. Approx 8,6:1 compression. NEW hi-volume oil pump. Pickup truck oil pan. Stainless bolts throughout. NEW spark plug wires. NOT INCLUDED: Starter motor, transmission, oil filter and exhaust headers, NO flywheel or flex plate. 20 pounds of oil pressure when cranking. 60 running. Engine has gone thru multiple start/cool cycles and heads have been retorqued after each. Running video can be provided. Will ship on pallet with buyer providing all transportation. Engine in Cleveland, OH 44105 Doesn't move until paid in full by check that has cleared my bank. Engine is guaranteed to start and run with oil pressure and parts as described. Buyer MUST add ALL required lubricants/fluids BEFORE starting. Magneto kill switch required. $15,000
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-49-51-...-/293578336252
from the ebay ad for when the auction is over: Complete rebuild. NEW .060 over pistons. NEW Isky 3/4 cam/lifters/springs. 3.75" stroke. NEW Roadrunner Engineering blower setup. NEW Vertex REAL magneto. NEW Predator 4 barrel carb. NEW 409 Chevy hi-volume water pump. NEW Offy 400 heads and stud kit. Approx 8,6:1 compression. NEW hi-volume oil pump. Pickup truck oil pan. Stainless bolts throughout. NEW spark plug wires. NOT INCLUDED: Starter motor, transmission, oil filter and exhaust headers, NO flywheel or flex plate. 20 pounds of oil pressure when cranking. 60 running. Engine has gone thru multiple start/cool cycles and heads have been retorqued after each. Running video can be provided. Will ship on pallet with buyer providing all transportation. Engine in Cleveland, OH 44105 Doesn't move until paid in full by check that has cleared my bank. Engine is guaranteed to start and run with oil pressure and parts as described. Buyer MUST add ALL required lubricants/fluids BEFORE starting. Magneto kill switch required. $15,000
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Bothell & Silverdale, WA
How do you envision that working with a turbo? I'm thinking maybe a custom made plenum?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Bothell & Silverdale, WA
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2020
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From: Green Bay
Turbo
Blowers are to common. I'm retired from an operations manage position at a mental fab company, I'm thinking of taking and cutting an intake manifold horizontally and adapting a home made plenum to it with a throttle body on the top and piping the turbo into it; I think I can adapt a gm tuned port injection system ecm to it, I would have to reprogram the computer but I have software for that. Go with an O2 sensors on both headers
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,920
Likes: 21
From: Bothell & Silverdale, WA
Blowers are to common. I'm retired from an operations manage position at a mental fab company, I'm thinking of taking and cutting an intake manifold horizontally and adapting a home made plenum to it with a throttle body on the top and piping the turbo into it; I think I can adapt a gm tuned port injection system ecm to it, I would have to reprogram the computer but I have software for that. Go with an O2 sensors on both headers
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,287
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From: NM
There have been quite a few turbo'd flat V8's, and for that matter, Model A 4-bangers. Most are not for street driven cars, they're for the salt flats. Those are going for absolute max HP and most of their stories end with "the block split at XXX". The guys doing them are mostly on the HAMB / Jalopy Journal. For instance: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/.../#post-5593659
(probably have to sign up to see the pics)
For the street the problem is the long internal exhaust passages, which give turbo lag and rob the turbo of heat energy. Most modern turbo engines have the turbo bolted right to the head to eliminate those issues. For either blown or turbo flatheads, a crank girdle is the only hope for longevity (and I notice the eBay blower motor doesn't mention one?).
(probably have to sign up to see the pics)
For the street the problem is the long internal exhaust passages, which give turbo lag and rob the turbo of heat energy. Most modern turbo engines have the turbo bolted right to the head to eliminate those issues. For either blown or turbo flatheads, a crank girdle is the only hope for longevity (and I notice the eBay blower motor doesn't mention one?).
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