You just caused an 8-track-flash-back over here... Back in the 70's when I first started turbocharging, Buddy raced a "AA Modified Compact" Pinto in NHRA. It was a draw-thru 2.0L carbed turbo setup that turned 10s in a 2800 lb Pinto. He and a guy name Ohio George Montgomery both ran in the class with similar turbo Pintos. The later ProStock Regal sufferred some reliabilty problems, and the tradition 500 inch guys threatened to boycott NHRA, as IHRA was paying big money at the time, and allowing them to run the 700+ inch engines. I love turbos, but they aren't turn-key for a newbie. There will be a big learning curve. Your primary enemies are leanout (exhaust temp) amd detonation. As for rear mount systems, apply all the theory you want, then go to a dyno when they have one on the rollers. You will be impressed. They make big torque & HP nunbers when sized correctly. 35 years of turbos has taught me that increasing the volume of the exhaust tract causes some lag, but not so for the intake piping. My vote for your truck would be to go naturally aspirated, put in a nice cam, and keep it traditional. Drive it! Enjoy it!
