[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rara:
[QB]...The real downside to turbos is that they don't feel smooth and linear like an S/C, they make little power off idle until the turbo spools up to speed, then the power is suddenly there, big time.
...[QB][QUOTE]
Have you seen Sport Compact Car's review with dyno's of the Vortech S/C'd cougar?
Talk about nothing at idle and power coming on suddenly!! This system is hardly better than stock on take-off until the engine reaches a high enough rpm, then you have a cliff showing on the dyno where the power comes on. The article said they either bogged it down on take-off, or revved the engine and wasted the take-off with burnt rubber. Not to say that a surge of power isn't cool, it is.
Now:
The one thing a turbo does better than any other forced induction device(once it is spooled) is supply a continous source of high pressure air even at low rpm that is equal to or better than a roots blower, and a damn sight better than a centrifugal force type blower. Thats because once a little exhaust is flowing the turbo can be spinning 30K+rpms. Don't get me wrong, but the only advantage of Vortech type blowers over a Turbo is the packaging/mounting--basically simple bolt-on setup. They are easily mounted on a non-modified engine, provide lots of boost at high rpm and allow your exhaust to remain completely stock.
The main problem with them is: they use a compressor like a turbo but are directly proportional to engine rpm. If you tune it to max airflow at low rpm, then you get surge and other problems when you rev the engine. Tune it higher in the rev range and you got nothing off idle.
There is hope though...
Too many other details you probably already know...
Not trying to be smart as I think I know what you mean, but someone else who knows nothing will take it as gospel that turbos can't be sized to give a wider flatter curve than a s/c... even though they can
Toyots Supra's sequential turbo system comes to mind with two turbos, one designed to spool very quickly at low rpm, then a larger second to spool slower and provide s**t loads of boost at higher rpms.
warmonger
