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Turbocharging (this week's poll)

Nov. 18, 2008 8:18 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

I think its an interesting question, and a bit situational. There's already a fair number of factory-turbocharged cars that are recognized classics, such as the Corvair, 2002, Porsche 930.

And the timeframe for "classic" is rapidly moving into the 70s and 80s, when turbocharging really took off.

On the other hand, there's a fair number of classics that seem utterly unsuited to forced induction.

If you expand "turbocharging" to include supercharging, it gets even murkier. Bentley and MG, for example, were famous for their supercharged cars way back in the 30s, and there's some very nice supercharger kits available now that provide very modern performance in a weekend.

For me, I've always wondered about the MGB. I know there were some turbo kits sold for the B back in 70s, and the B engine is a tough beast. On the other hand, the B head is prone to hotspots. I think it would be an interesting turbo experiment, but i'm not sure it would work.
Nov. 18, 2008 8:57 a.m. André Rousseau Reader

Its the plumbing that would be a bugger I think.

Still would be fun to try that on the GT6 for sure.

I swear once the warranty expires on the Mazda, I'm changing its turbo blow off to something that makes noise heheheheh

A.
Nov. 18, 2008 9:13 a.m. aeronca65t Reader

Hoping to do a (classic) supecharger on my next vintage racer.

Don't know if it'll make much real difference, but I love that neat whining sound.
Nov. 18, 2008 9:19 a.m. KaptKaos Reader

"should be turbocharged?"

That's a pretty strong conditional statement.

Turbos and superchargers have been around for a while, and can be added to most cars. There are even "period and correct" (I hate that phrase) units available. So yes, I think you can add forced induction to a classic sports car, but I wouldn't say you should.
Nov. 18, 2008 10:33 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

I'm not sure what the question is.

If it's should one be allowed to turbo(super)charge a classic, the answer would be yes. It's your car, go for it. You can even use curb feelers and a JC Whitney winkie the cat in the rear window for all I care.

But if the question is of the notion of some sort of requirement to turbo(super)charge a car, my answer would be no. I don't think a blower inherently makes a car a classic or a better performer.
Nov. 18, 2008 10:48 a.m. rconlon Reader

For street use I would not feel the need for a lot of horsepower in a classic and unless it came with turbo/supercharging, I would avoid stressing the older motors.

Ron
Nov. 18, 2008 11:13 a.m. bikesnrovers New Reader

I kind of read it as I think Ron did... why stress an older lump?

Land Rover added a turbo to its 2.5L diesel (circa mid-1980's) and, from what I gather, it was just trouble. The engine could not take it. There are after-market turbo add-on kits for the 2.25 diesels (1960's to early 1980's) and I think that wrecked more engines then any other thing your could do to them. People went searching for more power and ended up toasting a reliable lump.

So, no, if the engine was not designed for a turbo/super charger I don't think it is worth the risk.

My two cents worth.

Tad
Nov. 18, 2008 11:56 a.m. wlkelley3 HalfDork

Should be? Not necessarily. Depends. The ones that came turbo/super-charged then yes defintely. But those that didn't, up to the owner. Some of the classics engines weren't designed to be and wouldn't fair well with forced induction, at least not without a good rebuild for forced induction. Others do well enough without turbo/superchargers. Some do well with it but for most of us the cost just doesn't out weigh the benifits and don't.
Nov. 18, 2008 12:34 p.m. TR3only New Reader

Again, a poll question that you answered/voted depending on how you read it.

I voted no, because I assumed it was asking should you turbo a classic sports car...if you had a turbo "laying around" and wanted to use it on one of your cars, and/or wanted to improve the performance of a classic sports car. And yet, I was quite exciting by the article about SUPERcharging a TR6. If someone like Moss Motors engineers a kit specifically for a make of car and/or engine...then I might consider, at some point adding a turbo. Same for a dedicated supercharger kit. Though I think I'd try a few of the available performance upgrades (like cams and headers and free-flowing intakes) before/instead of turboing.
Nov. 19, 2008 5:01 p.m. m4ff3w Dork

My X1/9 is going to get a turbo on it soon.
Nov. 21, 2008 8:42 p.m. wildbill1965

I wish they made one for my 07 MX-5
Nov. 21, 2008 9:36 p.m. Series6 New Reader

Once you hold the title you can do whatever you please, but keep one thing in mind. They ain't making any more of these classics.. Each one you modify makes each original restored car more rare and valuable.

Some cars are simply too expensive or too far gone to make a full restoration. Only thing you can do is a restomod.

Ultimately, it's up to the owner but I hope some thinking and serious evaluation goes on before the hacking and slashing starts.
Nov. 23, 2008 7:47 p.m. Nick Reader

I said "no" in the poll since I don't think it "should be". But it could be fun just for the hell of it. Like Series6 said above, some classics are just too valuable to mess with to that extent. But even with some of those I wonder: for example, has anyone ever turbocharged a pre-67 E-Type? Now that I have a '95 Supra that started out as bone stock (twin sequential turbos) and now has a larger turbo, and since I used to own a '67 E-Type, I've often thought about the possibilities and potential if done right...at least on a track car, not a classic stock/street version.
Nov. 25, 2008 12:12 p.m. Raze New Reader

Early T-types are already into the 'classic' genre of cars and they were turbo'd and guess what, their prices are rising every day, Grand Nationals, GNX (if you can even find one) are rapidly becoming 'the' next muscle car and appropriatley so. More interesting examples in my mind are those cars that have not quite reached 'classic' status like the Ford 2.3L turbos (XR4Ti, SVO, TurboCoupe, Cougar) or the Mitsu Starion/Chrysler Conquest TSi. Makes me wonder what'll happen to them...