[DeTomaso] 351 C Building Advice for Forced AIr and EFI

[Ken Green]

It seems like everyone else in the automotive community (outside the Pantera community) is doing really well with supercharged and turbocharged street/race engines.  I think Fred (maybe his proximity to Vettes?) and Dick Koch have had excellent results.  I think it's an absolute fact that there is no way you can get the combination of HP and driveabilty with a carb that you can get with EFI and boost when it's done right.
   
  But, I think that even close to 15 pounds boost will make more HP than a Cleveland block can handle.  Based on taking to people and running some simple numbers, you probably reach the block's strength with 7 or 8 pounds of boost.  Because of that basic limit, you probably can make as much HP with a well built high RPM carburetted Cleveland.   But, you can have the same HP at lower RPM and a much more driveable car with EFI and supercharging.  It all depends on what driving experience you want and how much $s you want to spend.
   
  If you want to buy an SVO or other aftermarket block, then you can make a lot more HP, but at the risk of endlessly breaking parts.
   
  Ken

MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:
  
In a message dated 11/16/07 6 56 53, claywillmott at hotmail.com writes:


> Thanks for any input.  It seems to me a supercharged 351 C with forged 
> rods/pistons and high pressure gaskets at 10-15 PSI would be reliable way (If 
> that exists) to achieve high power and torque with longevity for street and show 
> use. 
> 

That sounds like a reasonable proposition. Yet I have yet to hear of a 
truly *successful* example. I have known several people who have (or had) motors 
that fit your description; they proved to be problematic while failing to 
deliver on their considerable promise, in some cases delivering substantially 
less power than a well-tuned, well-built non-supercharged 351C.

That's not to say it's impossible to achieve what you're after. It will 
just prove difficult, I think.

I have seen/driven some truly awful turbo 351Cs too, but if you get them 
right (as Dave Doddek has), apparently they can be quite good. Presumably the 
same is true of supercharged 351Cs.

Mike


**************************************
See what's new at 
http://www.aol.com
_______________________________________________

Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA

Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/

DeTomaso mailing list
DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso