How come top fuel cars don't use turbochargers?I was asked this question and I really didn't know why they don't use these in top fuel cars. Anybody have any ideas?
Same reason that Pro Stock doesn't have any, they're scared to death of them ,with cries of "All The Turbo Guys will have to do is up the boost and they'll be more powerfull than us" echoing all about. Buddy Ingersoll showed everybody how deadly a turbo can be at dragracing and the racer's union (PRO - Proffesional Racers Organization) lobbied NHRA and IHRA to outlaw the turbo Regal from Pro Stock, even threatening a boycott. Nevermind you could walk into a dealer and buy a stock Buick V-6 Regal, try and buy a big block Camaro or Pinto like the other Pro Stock racers were running... ou: So I guess to answer your question, it's because they're outlawed... o No:
My first reaction is simplicity, a blower doesn't need all the exhaust plumbing, etc... I recall reading somewhere that on a Top Fuel engine, the blower was compressing the air/fuel mix into a near-solid. If that's true, a turbo couldn't do much better than that, could it?
All, a number of years ago a guy tried it ---he was not too successful. "Top Fuel" is just for that --Nitromethane. It is toooo volitile for fuel and the technology is too common with traditional roots style superchargers. As far as pro stock and turbo . I was involved with a pro stock car at the time . The problem was that at the time about the biggest motor you could build was about 650-700 inches. Buddy's car translated into about 800 inches at the time . This put him at too much of an advantage. Also he could "create his own atmosphere" where other cars could not . For traditional associations such as NHRA and IHRA at the time it was just too much and impossible to police. Believe me I saw Buddys car in person and it wasnt like anything you could buy either. good questions though george
How about a flywheel four feet in diameter weighing 100 kilos spinning 3000rpm, loaded from compressed air.. I've seen the formula for something like it, and it's many 1000's of horses. Then you would need some kind of clutch and an idiot to drive the thing. It's just an idea, but why not?
I guess first you need to remember NHRA and IHRA are a traveling show. They want the cars to run about the same times for good racing. In IHRA Pro Mod class the NOS cars can run 700+ ci and all the NOS they can blow. The blower cars are limited to 500 ci and must weigh 75# more and last year reduced there under drive pulley to lower boost to keep the NOS cars competive. If you look at this years NHRA Pro Mod class for 2005 they are allowing turbos this year. I can't wait to see what Mike Moran (sp) does to the class. I think some rule changes will follow
Hmm...I guess I kinda thought that the Top Fuel cars weren't all that restricted, that they were the "cutting-edge" race cars. What would they be doing if they were truly unlimited? Gazillion-inch, hundred-psi blown engines? How fast COULD they go? o No:
Top fuel cars are not only limited by CI, but tire width, hight, wing hight and various other limitations. It's to keep everyone in competition. They don't want them to go too fast now, do they?
They don't, but I do! :Brow: Seriously, is there a theoretical/mathematical speed limit to these guys? I know the hp requirements go WAY up just to go a little faster, but...."they" also used to say we'd never go faster than sound.
Speed limit... Aerodynamics come in to serious play but I think because we are limiting the distance to 1/4 mile, G-Forces and driver-blackout would be the true limiting factors
