Great help guys, thanks!
Chip, the 145 horsepower of your engine and 4500 rpm limit is very impressive to me. I realize that it is not the hp that gets this truck moving, it's all that torque. A typical 4 cylinder motor might make that level of power, yes, but would be a dog in these trucks because they don't have the torque. It's the torque that makes these engines so impressive.
Between my two hotrods, the Firebird with it's torque monster 465 is by far more satisfying to drive. The Corvette's 427 may make more horsepower, but it's a peaky engine that only feels ideal at very high rpms that break every traffic law. For the street, I'm convinced torque is the unsung hero...also exactly what you want in a truck.
Well, you might consider this controversial, but since I think I have the later 235 (by virtue of my 30-35 psi oil pressure), I think it might live with a low boost small turbocharger. I have 3 or 4 various Garrett T03's on the shelf in my garage from my experiments with the Shelby Dodge turbo cars a decade ago. With a 6 cylinder driving it, it might be strong from 2000 to 4000 rpm. I'd have to keep the boost down around 6 psi to avoid melting a piston, since I'm sure these aren't forged. But I'm wondering, are these cranks forged like the early Chevy small blocks were?
The turbo would be experimental only. And it would be fairly easy, except for the plumbing to and from the intercooler. And if I end up disappointed by the power returns, I could reverse it and go back to natural aspiration. I'd only have to move the alternator (12V converted), and there's plenty of room.
It's either that, or I do like you did Chip and rebuild the entire motor with higher compression and new cam. This might be another method to have my Stovebolt and enjoy it too.
I would prefer a Holley 2 bbl since I'm so familiar with tuning a Holley. With a turbo, it'd have to be sealed in a box, or...it might give me enough performance improvement by itself.
Are there any good books that can tell me more about the engine itself? Such as combustion chamber cc's, valve sizes, stock cam profiles, what's forged or cast, stroke and rod length, questions like that?
Thanks, Tony
