Stock equipment is enough to maintain in my opinion. 
1974 turbo?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
1974 turbo?
Anyone have a turbo kit put on their Stingray?
I have been thinking about getting one for my 1974 350.
Any advice is welcome - good idea or bad idea?
Basically looking to gain HP.
Thanks!
I have been thinking about getting one for my 1974 350.
Any advice is welcome - good idea or bad idea?
Basically looking to gain HP.
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 15,161
Likes: 17
From: coffee
It has been done a time or two on C3's, but there are definitely no turbo kits "off the shelf" that you can bolt on. It would be complicated to say the least.
What other modifications have you done? What is your budget? If more power is your goal, for the kind of money a well sorted turbo system would cost, you can have a 383 crate engine making over 400 hp.
Read up on what other folks have done to make power and you'll get a better idea of what is the most straightforward way to make more power, but the short answer is exhaust, tuning, heads, cam intake.
Good luck.
What other modifications have you done? What is your budget? If more power is your goal, for the kind of money a well sorted turbo system would cost, you can have a 383 crate engine making over 400 hp.
Read up on what other folks have done to make power and you'll get a better idea of what is the most straightforward way to make more power, but the short answer is exhaust, tuning, heads, cam intake.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
You would probably do better to add some kind of supercharger or nitrous for more performance. The engine compartment on a C3 is rather tight for all the hi-temp components required for turbocharging. There are some who have removed the spare tire tub and put turbo(s) in back. That gets the heat out of the engine area, but results in some other issues to resolve.
If you have to have a turbo, have at it!!
If you have to have a turbo, have at it!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,868
Likes: 961
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Occasionally you can still find the old Martin turbosystem setup on ebay. Despite their vintage (late 70s) the system works remarkedly well. One version was made for C3 applications, although I don't recall if the a/c system is an interference issue with that setup.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 201
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From: some hole in the ground town- camp verde:) arizona
You would probably do better to add some kind of supercharger or nitrous for more performance. The engine compartment on a C3 is rather tight for all the hi-temp components required for turbocharging. There are some who have removed the spare tire tub and put turbo(s) in back. That gets the heat out of the engine area, but results in some other issues to resolve.
If you have to have a turbo, have at it!!
If you have to have a turbo, have at it!!
i was just researching these yesterday and decided i liked a supercharger better. the biggest differences are that a turbocharger is "free" horsepower as it's powered by the exhaust and a supercharger uses a belt which in turn uses horsepower already made from the engine. i think a supercharger would be easier to install as you don't need to mess with the exhaust system. i wouldn't be very happy punching holes in my headers to run a turbo
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Northern New Jersey
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
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From: North Easton Mass
You're probably better off going the conventional route with somoething like an Edelbrock cam/induction kit, a set of headers and a 2.5" exhaust. You could probably come close to doubling your horsepower without having to worry about anything blowing up.
Rick B.
Rick B.
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 31
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From: Dartmouth MA
I saw a setup for a Vette on a TV car show about a year back. It was for a newer year though - 06 or so. It had twin turbos mounted in the back near the mufflers with returns going forward to the engine under the door sill plates. It was really something. Yanked that car around pretty good too.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 201
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From: some hole in the ground town- camp verde:) arizona
so far 2 people have mentioned putting the turbo in the back (spare tire area) but the problem i see with that is turbo lag. wouldn't it take longer for the turbo to compress enough air to increase the pressure in the lines going to the engine?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
From: Buies Creek NC
I am in the process of putting twin 57mm turbos on my '81 streetcar. The motor is a 383ci with TPI and will run on E85. There is absolutely no "kit" for this. I have spent countless hours under the hood fabbing piping, oil lines, alt & power steering mounts, etc. I will post some updated pics later tonight.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
I am in the process of putting twin 57mm turbos on my '81 streetcar. The motor is a 383ci with TPI and will run on E85. There is absolutely no "kit" for this. I have spent countless hours under the hood fabbing piping, oil lines, alt & power steering mounts, etc. I will post some updated pics later tonight.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
From: Buies Creek NC
I know when I started this project last January, I wasn't able to find any resources on a 'kit'. I made everything on my by hand. And certainly not for a twin-turbo setup. It is certainly tight under the hood, but looks like it belongs in there.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
Some of the companys who made Kits back in the day that are still in busness probably could still supply a Kit. Turbo Engineering in Tacoma Wa is one that I can think of in addition to Banks.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,015
Likes: 2,260
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
I'm just getting started on a twin turbo setup on my '67...all under the hood...with 555" to help cut back any turbo lag!
JIM
JIM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
It takes lots of power to spin the impeller enough to generate boost. Imagine how much power it would cost if you were spinning that impeller and generating that boost, but not putting it toward the your engine? Now add the losses by not being able to run true headers. That's how much power it actually cost to run the turbo.
Last edited by toddalin; Jan 23, 2012 at 01:44 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
Here is a vintage Martin system. This may even be one for a Corvette.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mart...item2c61a1cf00
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mart...item2c61a1cf00
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
No free horsepower.
It takes lots of power to spin the impeller enough to generate boot. Imagine how much power it would cost if you were spinning that impeller and generating that boost, but not putting it toward the your engine? Now add the losses by not being able to run true headers. That's how much power it actually cost to run the turbo.
It takes lots of power to spin the impeller enough to generate boot. Imagine how much power it would cost if you were spinning that impeller and generating that boost, but not putting it toward the your engine? Now add the losses by not being able to run true headers. That's how much power it actually cost to run the turbo.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
From: Buies Creek NC
No free horsepower.
It takes lots of power to spin the impeller enough to generate boot. Imagine how much power it would cost if you were spinning that impeller and generating that boost, but not putting it toward the your engine? Now add the losses by not being able to run true headers. That's how much power it actually cost to run the turbo.
It takes lots of power to spin the impeller enough to generate boot. Imagine how much power it would cost if you were spinning that impeller and generating that boost, but not putting it toward the your engine? Now add the losses by not being able to run true headers. That's how much power it actually cost to run the turbo.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,868
Likes: 961
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Here is a vintage Martin system. This may even be one for a Corvette.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mart...item2c61a1cf00
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mart...item2c61a1cf00