Boost benefits performance enthusiasts in two key ways:

-

 Standard bolt-on modifications become a whole lot more effective.

The open element air intake that added 2–4 whp (wheel horsepower —

horsepower as measured at the wheels) is now adding 4–8 whp on top

of what the turbo or supercharger is already providing. The exhaust

that gave 6–7 whp is now providing 12–14 whp, and so on.

-

 Without any other modifications, boost in any of its guises is nearly

impossible to beat for bang-for-the-buck.

A bare-bones, low-dollar turbo system can easily provide more power

(sometimes two to three times as much power) than all of the most

expensive bolt-on parts combined.

If you live at a high altitude, boost is even more effective. Outside air pres-

sure is lower at higher elevations, so normally aspirated cars gasp for air.

Turbocharged and supercharged cars can create their own atmospheric

pressure, so they’re much less affected by high altitude.

Of course, boost isn’t without its downsides:

-

 You must consider lag (the delay that takes place between when the

throttle is applied and when the turbocharger or supercharger can

pressurize the intake tract and deliver the goods).

-

 Turbochargers and superchargers, even when properly configured,

add stress to the other engine parts.

-

 Properly installing a quality turbocharger or supercharger, and provid-

ing the proper tuning and other part upgrades, isn’t cheap.

Prices for barebones turbocharger kits are deceptively low. The final

price tag after labor and supporting hardware can easily double or

triple the price of the kit itself.

Popular posts from this blog

 Tuning for the real world Many tuners spend quite a bit of time going for a perfect power curve on the Dyno. The problem with this approach is that the Dyno is an artificial environment. If no time is invested in logging data on what the car is doing in the real world, you may end up with terrific full-throttle acceleration maps and horrible part-throttle maps (where you’ll likely be doing the majority of your driving). Tuning is a science, and a good tuner works with you to ensure that your car is set up to meet your goals: -  If your car is nothing but a straight-line drag racer, then the only time it ever goes any- where, the gas pedal is buried in the carpet, and part-throttle response may not matter much to you. -  If your tuner is accustomed to going for the gusto with wide-open throttle (WOT) tuning only, and your car is only driven at WOT a fraction of the time, then spend the extra time to ensure that the part-throttle response is tuned properly for your driving...
Read more
 Free Advice As the old adage goes, free advice is worth what you pay for it. People edu- cate themselves and train to carry out expert modifications, and when they have become competent and recognized in this arena, tend to charge for their services either as tuners, crew chiefs, or build consultants. If someone offers you their advice on how to create the perfect fuel map, properly set up your suspension, or take out a stain on your hood with a Brillo pad and a jar of mayonnaise, they may know what they are talking about, or they may be certifiably insane — but one thing remains clear: They will not take liability for any harm you cause to your car or yourself. This point may seem fairly obvious, but too many people rely on free advice because it is free and available everywhere. Your mailman, your mom’s friend, and your local priest probably all have opinions on what would look/work great on your car. Are you going to listen to them? The funny thing is, if you are getting your i...
Read more
 Warranty Concerns Modifications that are easily reversible and undetectable are also of para- mount importance when it comes to maintaining your new car’s warranty. Let’s face it: Cars break. They are mechanical objects consisting of highly complex systems, some of which fail prematurely. If a new car dealer can find a way to void your warranty — even if in outright violation of the Magnuson- Moss Warranty Act — you better believe that it will. If a number of cars are suffering from, for example, a main bearing failure which would otherwise be covered under the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty, and your car happens to have a modified air intake — something that has noth- ing to do with the longevity of the main bearing — you better believe that your local dealership service center is not only going to deny the warranty coverage that would otherwise have applied to fixing your car, but is going to log a note in your file accessible by all dealers in your region (some can even do ...
Read more