Ok, Im new to the forum, cause I only recently started up with Buicks ( I was (and still Kinda am) a chevy guy). Anyway I have a set of Skylarks (71 with no engine but nice body, and a 72 rust bucket with a nice lil 350 engine) I am working on restoring the 71, so very little $ is going towards engine work or parts. I have a friend that is selling a '89 ford thunderbird super coupe for around $200, and I got to thinking about its supercharger. If it would fit, I feel it would be the most cost and energy effecient solution to my need for speed. Now, the big question, "will it fit?", and if so, how much of a headache will it give me?
Unless your capable of (and enjoy doing) fabrication work (ie. intake manifold and drive system), then you'd probably be better off going with as many of the typical mods (carb, intake, cam, exhaust) as you can afford. However, before you do anything get some info on that blower (i think it's an eaton M-60) to see how much air it can flow. It originally came on a 3.8L V-6 making (this is a guess) 200 hp, so it might not be the best candidate for a 350 ci V-8. Here's a guy making I think 500-600 rwhp (with EFI and an intercooler). So figure each blower is moving enough air for 250-300 rwhp. But, like I said, it's intercooled, injected plus he has heads, cam, etc so the blowers don't have to work as hard to make that 300 rwhp each. You probably wouldn't see that on a stock 350. In the end, I think it would be too much trouble for something that really wouldn't give you that much gain. Unless of course, like I said, you can do that kind of stuff and you like it.
Hmm, so your saying It would be too much work for too little gain? I have very little skill with fabin' intakes and such, but I was just hoping that It might be swapable without tons of work, as I have heard of Blowers refered to as "bolt ons", and I thought that a Blower, even if it isnt huge, would help out any engine. Your saying that if I wanted to add a blower, I would need a custom intake, and drive system(what parts of the drive system would need changing?) , but the blower (It is a eaton) is roots style, and I was under the impression that they were fairly standard, and could be added on with ease. I cannot appoligize enough for my ignorance, but I always though of a blower as easy power gains with a big price tag. I thought If I could get it to work for cheap, it would be a deal. Also, this Charger does have an intercooler, but I thought that would just add to the problem of installing it. One last thing, if I did manage to get this to work, what gains could I expect from it? P.S. I believe this car uses throttle body fuel injection, would that make it any easier to install, as it is very similar to carburation?
I think the blowers that are referred to as 'bolt-ons' usually come in complete kits with all of the little parts, so it really is a true bolt-on. The fact that the T-bird is TBI doesn't hurt, but in this case I don't think it really matters since all you're taking from the Bird is the blower (and possibly intercooler). Roots blowers aren't exotic, but they usually require a dedicated intake because the opening on the bottom of the case won't bolt to a standard intake (plus, with the bigger Roots blowers the opening is pretty big). That's why I said you'd probably need a custom intake. One alternative is, since you have a smll blower with a small opening, is to adapt the blower to the stock intake. YOu could make an adapter plate with the bolt holes and discharge hole for the blower and the bolt holes for the intake. However, there are some potential issues with this idea too. The blower's intake is at the rear. That means you need some sort of elbow to allow the carb to sit level while feeding the blower. All of this will also raise the height of the carb, so hood clearance might get tight. Plus, I doubt the stock intake manifold with an adapter plate will perform like a dedicated blower manifold. Then, there's the drive system. You could play around with different pullies and belts and rig something up, but that will take some research, not only getting pullies that line up but making sure they're the right diameter so that the blower doesn't spin too fast or too slow. I don't want to discourage you, and I really like home-made things like this (as you can see I've thought about it before). But you just need to know that you'll be making compromises from the begining. Find some info on that blower (max rpm and airflow would probably be the most important) and get some pics of the bottom to see if making an adapter plate would be possible. Maybe look around HERE some more. Good luck and be sure to post here if you go through with it.
I am looking for continous power, not little boosts, so unless I intend to buy stock in Nitrous Oxide, the spray option is out :grin: . I have decided that a supercharger is a lil bit too much work, and am considering buying a chevy 350 (as performance parts are more readily avalible, and cheaper) to drop in. I know many will see this as dirty and wrong, but I am a high school kid will a tight budget :ball: , and chevys are cheap to build up, so unless anyone wants to donate to my cause, I might end up having a Mut skylark.
Stick a 455 in there! It's practicaly a bolt in and a stock 455 will run better than most people will belive, anyway.
I would if I could, but I cant. I cannot find any big blocks around me, cept my dads pontiac 455 near 500 HP beast, but he might sell that car, and maybe I could snag the motor out of it p also, im a poor high school kid, with around $1500 after I sell my old car and pay my dad back for buying me my buicks (2 skylarks), so I am limited
Whats nossssssss...?? I bet you dont drive a Buick, you have a Honduh Civic with a 4 foot tall wing and gutted interion dont ya?! Comeon, admit it. Nitrous, squeeze, the juice, laughing gas, the bottle..all acceptable. nos, NAWZZ are not. LOL..Ricer! As for the blower, it's too small for a 350, and wouldnt be efficient.
