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From: cuda@ihuxf.UUCP (Mike Nelson)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: turbos and other superchargers
Message-ID: <2802@ihuxf.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Feb-86 08:38:15 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxf.2802
Posted: Fri Feb 14 08:38:15 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 04:29:55 EST
References: <511@imsvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 28

> 
> The turbocharger, despite any increase in backpressure it may cause, is
> still the most efficient kind of supercharger.  The only reason anyone
> uses belt-driven superchargers at all has to do with the requirements of
> drag-racing, in which split seconds mean winning or losing.  This is the
> one situation in which the turbocharger doesn't quite get it, due to the
> fact that it only comes on at (relatively) higher rpms, whereas the boast
> from the belt-driven supercharger is there from jump.  Drag-racer motors
> still lose more power from driving the belt-driven supercharger than they
> would from driving a turbo but, all things considered, it doesn't matter
> to them.  Turbochargers are the superior technology for any other application
> requiring monstrous amounts of power, although most hot-rodders still prefer
> more ordinary technology. 

While the comment of instant boost for superchargers in drag racing is in all 
practical purposes correct, the most important reason for using a supercharger
over turbo is the amount of horse power the units can add.  When was the
last time you saw a V-8 (approx 600) cubes producing 2800 HP with turbos?
It is very easy to change the gearing on a supercharger to control the boost.  
How could a turbo user modify the amount of boost in a few minutes?  When
the superior technology for turbos causes their net gain in HP to be greater
than can be gained by superchargers then you can be sure more drag racers
will be using them.  I think the writer of the referenced note might be 
confusing the need for monstrous amounts of power with reliability and 
versitility where turbos are superior.

Mike Nelson
ihuxf!cuda