Re: Turbos are ugly

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

Turbos are ugly. The best "finish" for a red hot turbo is bare iron. So 
they always look industrial.

Superchargers are by far the easier way to boost a stock engine. Putting a 
turbo on a car without opening her up and dropping the compression ratio is 
just an invitation to melted pistons or a cracked cylinder head or both.

Electronic engine management is the only way to get turbos to work 
properly, well beyond all but the most sophisticated enthusiast to attempt. 
Supe's can general be installed at satisfactorily low boost levels to a 
stock engine and work fine, just so long as super high outputs are not 
looked for. With a turbo, super high output is the point! Low pressure 
turbos require even more careful engine management as the turbo will 
naturally overboost without proper wastegate control (though SAAB has 
cleverly designed a low pressure turbo requiring no wastegate with suitable 
engine management and an electronic throttle control.

Finally, there is nothing that can compare to a properly set up one throat 
per cylinder Weber induction system for esthetics. Both the sound and the 
driving feel of properly set up multiple Webers is beyond compare. (Well, 
Del Orto or Solex also sound and feel fine if properly done)

Cheers


Michael Turbo Mad Smith

PS caring for a turbo is not as finicky as it appears. I always start the 
engine before putting my seatbelt and sunglasses on. By then the oil is 
circulating. I am used to driving in a very cold climate so babying the 
engine until the temp gauge reads is second nature to me. As for cool down, 
well, idling while the garage door opens is usually enough unless you've 
really been flogging it right up to the door!

Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta,Canada
91 Alfa 164L
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