+1 for the vote to
always stay NA for track cars.
We do a lot of track events, and I've been going to these for 25+ years. The number one type of problem I see at these events is engine failures from boosted cars. It is a combination of heat soak, insufficient cooling capacity, and that dreaded "just a little more boost" bug that bites people when they get greedy. Most of my friends in college and many after were "boost junkies" and would come do track events ... but most of them had serious engine trouble.
Nothing wrong with boost. For low end torque, a screw or roots style is hard to beat. Its mass is also centrally located - HIGH - but central. Don’t have to spin to 7000+ RPM if your torque starts low. Remember HP is the math equation of torque. Torque gets you out of the corner - Besides most sanctioning bodies run by HP per weight Ratio - only until recently have they begun to factor torque into that equation. The problem is, as you stated Terry, GREED. Most people always want more. More boost = MORE HEAT & HP which requires more cooling - water as well as oil.
Running the proper compressor size for the application is critical for efficiency.
For boosted applications, more is not always good.
Massive heat exchanges with their own fresh air supply are mandatory. Air to air or water to air. Most people place the heat exchanger in front of the radiator. BIG NO-no.
What I was going to do and am stile considering is to run 2 separate water to water heat exchangers. One double pass in front with its own fresh air supply & a second single pass in the spare tire well - behind my soon to be made fuel surge tank. Aluminum under body square or rectangle tubing passenger side routing for weight where needed & cooling. You would be surprised on how much heat is dissipated though the corners of tubing when air blows over it. Realize, I’m trying to keep my car as a DD also - so the space above the spare tire well is necessary. This will also add about 25 - 30 lbs of weight to an already heavy car.
For now, if my driver gets her SHT together most things are on hold. If the tide turns -
First, I will control heat with water injection. ((1) non changing constant) If I need more boost, I’ll make heat exchangers as stated above - easy just a time factor.
A - 5.0 Modular NA would be easier and about the same overall money but, for my application, would bump my car into a different category - TOO fast at this time for my drivers development. I can adjust HP & most importantly torque with boost. I stile might get bumped out of where I want to be.
The rules for several sanctioning bodies are changing rapidly because of selective interpretation by participants so creative thinking will be cut to a minimal in the near future.
I'm out - too much time invested durring work to give opinions.
...I started to jack my own thread!
