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"Thinking Turbo-Charger on the Chevy Corvettes? Turbos. Forced induction"
Lingenfelter C6 ZO6 427 CID Twin Turbo 1,000 HP Chevy Corvette pictures
Turbochargers have long been an accepted method to increase the horsepower of normally aspirated engines. In general, a motor needs to built up (or modified) with the turbocharger in mind. Compression needs to be lowered, and provisions for the extra horsepower and heat should be incorporated into the design.
Turbocharger Assembly pictures - panoha
Factories always consider turbocharging in relationship to their motor designs. In the case of the modern Corvette, the ZR1 LS9 engine went with supercharging.
Light duty type turbo-chargers can be installed on an otherwise stock motor, but in this case we are thinking about Corvettes and how to add a higher output and durable system.
Turbo-Charger with Wastegate pics - panoha
Many new stock vehicles today ship with turbochargers installed at the factory. Generally, with automobiles, the turbochargers add power to a small and more fuel efficient engine. Also, most big truck (or work) diesel engines have turbochargers as standard fare. Ships, locomotives, airplanes, motorcycles, boats, etc all use turbocharging extensively.
The main problems with the turbo are added complexity, high heat output, turbo-lag, and long term durability issues.
Oil Free Turbo-Charger cutaway demo picture - grc.nasa
Complexity inherent with a turbo charger includes the turbines, plumbing and fittings, cooling improvements, tuning, fuel delivery, electronics, and engine bay modifications that will all be part of the basic installation package. Serious kits will also include, or require, engine modifications and drivetrain strengthening as well.
High heat outputs are a given with the super high revving turbines, compressed fuel mixtures (heat = power), modified exhaust components, and reduced or impaired cooling space. Intercoolers are a standard, though expensive, option or requirement for maximum efficiency of a turbocharged setup. Intercoolers are a subject of a future article.
Besides the intercooler, the quality of today's lubricants plays a great role in keeping heat under control.
Turbo-lag is the time it takes for the turbines to get revved to operational speeds by the exhaust gases (though other methods of turbo power exist). Turbo-lag is not all a bad thing because before the turbo kicks in the engine is running at it maximum economic potential under standard loads. Usually when the turbo kicks in though, there is a rush of power, which takes an awareness when powering out of turns, or when wheel spin can become excessive, undesirable, or uncontrollable.
Twin-turbocharged Dragster pictures - commons
Turbo lag is greatly reduced these days by a variety of methods. Much more efficient turbines and twin-turbo set-ups are two of the most common methods to reduce turbo-lag. On some twin turbo units there is a smaller turbo that winds up faster, and provides added boost (horsepower) to the engine until the larger unit gets spooled up. A smooth and steady power delivery is always the goal of engineers in relationship to turbocharged applications.
Durability of the turbo kits is an issue because of the high temperatures, super high speed spinning turbine, and added parts and plumbing that can malfunction. The author has been in two semi-trucks and one automobile when the turbo units failed. Obviously, everything is going to fail at some point, but this is an added expenditure, outside of the initial installation costs, to keep in mind. Of course a turbo will also more than likely void any factory warranty on the engine when installed as an aftermarket part.
Basically the principle of turbocharging is the same as with supercharging. The main difference is that the air compressor in a turbocharger is typically powered off of the flow of exhaust gases, whereas the supercharger is powered directly off of the crankshaft via a belt or chain.
Lingenfelter Chevrolet C6 ZO6 427 CID Twin Turbo 1,000 HP images - covers installed
The turbine (or turbocharger) has one side that is spun by the exhaust gases passing by an impeller. That side is attached directly to another impeller via a connecting shaft between the halves. This other impeller draws outside air in, and compresses it into the engine supercharging the air fuel mixture for a more powerful explosion.
Also, most turbochargers have a waste-gate which is a valve that opens at a set pressure so as to bleed off any excessive volume from being pushed into the engine. Turbo-Chargers also do not consume very much power to operate, as opposed to the supercharger, for example, which can eat up 50+ horsepower just to power itself.
One of the main manufactures of turbos for the modern automobile is Garrett, who provides turbo's for many turbo kit builders, and also many factories who install stock turbo units on the vehicles they manufacture.
There are many famous GM Corvette tuners who implement turbocharging. Lingenfelter, Katech, DPE (Draco Performance Engineering), and Callaway are some of the most famous.
Lingenfelter C6 ZO6 427 CID Twin Turbo 1,000 HP picture - full vehicle
Lingenfelter is arguably the most respected tuner who installs aftermarket turbo kits on the Corvette at this time. Most are twin-turbo set-ups. For the modern Corvette their standard packages for the Z06 LS7 are kits ranging from 800 to 1,000 horsepower. For the C6 LS3 engine the kits range from 620-750 horsepower. For the C6 Corvette LS2 engines kits range from 600 to 725 horsepower. Of course, give them a call and the sky is the limit on horsepower output, but the kits mentioned here usually carry a full Lingenfelter warranty, and a 1300 rwhp turbo conversion is not going to have a warranty, but will probably spin the tires in top gear.
Katech has lots of turbocharger experience also. Their reputation is super solid. The bulk of their forced induction kits use a supercharger instead of a turbocharger at this point though. They do have the Katech Air Attack Twin Turbo which can punch out over 1000 hp, but it is not rated as street legal at these levels. Contact Katech about the details on their street legal packages.
DPE Twin-Turbocharger kit assembly pictures - dpe.com
DPE (Draco Performance Engineering) gets lots of press with their work with turbocharging. They have extensive turbo modification installation services along with a vast array of other modifications they perform on the modern Corvette.
Callaway also has massive experience and a great reputation. They made history over the years with many of their turbo powered Vettes. Remember that in 1987-1991 GM offered a Factory Optioned Twin Turbo Corvette, known as the Callaway Twin Turbo, or RPO-B2K. Again, the bulk of their available work with forced induction is with superchargers (with the Corvette) at this time, and not turbochargers.
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Chevy Corvette turbocharged videos:
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Older Callaway Corvette twin turbo Sledgehammer reaches 254.7mph video
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Lingenfelter C6 ZO6 1000 HP Twin Turbo Corvette Chassis Dyno video
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Katech Air Attack Twin Turbo Z06 - chassis dyno pictures
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DPE supercharged Corvette dyno run 720 rwhp on 93 octane video
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This series is dedicated to the Chevrolet Corvette C5 C6 C7 enthusiast. We include news and details on the base Chevy Vettes, the Z06, and new ZR1 SuperCar model. The LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9, a racing engine, crate motor, or hot rod tuning subject is always game for discussion. Factory stock General Motors Corvettes, the engines and options, performance and horsepower specialty tuners, and aftermarket parts to make a modified Vette the fastest or quickest are what we are all about. The main years of interest are 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and beyond for the GM future.
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