700HP Blower vs. NA
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700HP Blower vs. NA
If one was on a budget and needed 700HP for a marine engine powering a single engine cat would you go blower or NA? I'm not an engine expert but know just enough to be dangerously wrong. In theory the blower motors have more moving parts (more stuff to go wrong) and put more undo pressure on the valve train, rings, etc. However I had a car with a blower installed by Roush drove the **** out of it (tracked it) and it ran great all the time. I also fell in love with the noise from the blower under boost. However I don't want to have a boat that doesn't run right half of the time and needs a rebuild every season. I'm just looking for general thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance.
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Stay away from blowers on boats !! I am not saying that for the usual reasons..... I had a driver with a blower and drove it for 100,000 miles before I sold it with no problems.. I also have Lotus Turbo Esprit and no problems what so ever.
The problem that arises is the fact that very few people know how to work or better yet tune a marine engine with a blower.
The fact that most engines these days have an ECM or are computer controlled makes them very difficult to tune properly.
and very few people know how to do that!!!! You can look at this web site as an example of all the horror stories when someone tries to put a blower on a boat...Lunch time for the engine ! or a very expensive rebuild.
I am sure I am going to catch a lot of flack over those comments - but thats the way I feel.... If you still want to do it find a company that really know their business and once installed dont get greedy or go crazy expecting miracles from your engines... With great power comes great pressure -- on the engines !!!!
Good luck
Jim
The problem that arises is the fact that very few people know how to work or better yet tune a marine engine with a blower.
The fact that most engines these days have an ECM or are computer controlled makes them very difficult to tune properly.
and very few people know how to do that!!!! You can look at this web site as an example of all the horror stories when someone tries to put a blower on a boat...Lunch time for the engine ! or a very expensive rebuild.
I am sure I am going to catch a lot of flack over those comments - but thats the way I feel.... If you still want to do it find a company that really know their business and once installed dont get greedy or go crazy expecting miracles from your engines... With great power comes great pressure -- on the engines !!!!
Good luck
Jim
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Stay away from blowers on boats !! I am not saying that for the usual reasons..... I had a driver with a blower and drove it for 100,000 miles before I sold it with no problems.. I also have Lotus Turbo Esprit and no problems what so ever.
The problem that arises is the fact that very few people know how to work or better yet tune a marine engine with a blower.
The fact that most engines these days have an ECM or are computer controlled makes them very difficult to tune properly.
and very few people know how to do that!!!! You can look at this web site as an example of all the horror stories when someone tries to put a blower on a boat...Lunch time for the engine ! or a very expensive rebuild.
I am sure I am going to catch a lot of flack over those comments - but thats the way I feel.... If you still want to do it find a company that really know their business and once installed dont get greedy or go crazy expecting miracles from your engines... With great power comes great pressure -- on the engines !!!!
Good luck
Jim
The problem that arises is the fact that very few people know how to work or better yet tune a marine engine with a blower.
The fact that most engines these days have an ECM or are computer controlled makes them very difficult to tune properly.
and very few people know how to do that!!!! You can look at this web site as an example of all the horror stories when someone tries to put a blower on a boat...Lunch time for the engine ! or a very expensive rebuild.
I am sure I am going to catch a lot of flack over those comments - but thats the way I feel.... If you still want to do it find a company that really know their business and once installed dont get greedy or go crazy expecting miracles from your engines... With great power comes great pressure -- on the engines !!!!
Good luck
Jim
#4
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Problem is that people bolt blowers on motors, who have no clue, and fry their engines in 1 hour.
Their is two trains of thoughts on this. Most of it depends on what you have to start with for a base. For example, lets say you have a 502CI merc. To get 700HP N/A out of it, you will need to run really good flowing heads(expensive), 9.5:1 or higher compression, solid roller camshaft with lots of lift and duration, very high valve spring pressures, and probably turn the engine to 6000+RPM to even get close to 700HP.
Or, you can leave the stock 502, put some cometic head gaskets in, a good valve job, a mild hyd roller camshaft, install a blower, and make 700HP.
The blower setup would more than likely last longer, and idle better around the docks. My vote is for blowers, as long as they are properly tuned and setup.
Their is two trains of thoughts on this. Most of it depends on what you have to start with for a base. For example, lets say you have a 502CI merc. To get 700HP N/A out of it, you will need to run really good flowing heads(expensive), 9.5:1 or higher compression, solid roller camshaft with lots of lift and duration, very high valve spring pressures, and probably turn the engine to 6000+RPM to even get close to 700HP.
Or, you can leave the stock 502, put some cometic head gaskets in, a good valve job, a mild hyd roller camshaft, install a blower, and make 700HP.
The blower setup would more than likely last longer, and idle better around the docks. My vote is for blowers, as long as they are properly tuned and setup.
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I don't know why some people are so scared of blowers as stated before it's all in the setup. If they were so bad why would merc use them all the time.
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Eddie
#9
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If one was on a budget and needed 700HP for a marine engine powering a single engine cat would you go blower or NA? I'm not an engine expert but know just enough to be dangerously wrong. In theory the blower motors have more moving parts (more stuff to go wrong) and put more undo pressure on the valve train, rings, etc. However I had a car with a blower installed by Roush drove the **** out of it (tracked it) and it ran great all the time. I also fell in love with the noise from the blower under boost. However I don't want to have a boat that doesn't run right half of the time and needs a rebuild every season. I'm just looking for general thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance.
#10
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IMO it matters only from where you are starting.
If you are starting with brand new stuff from the ground up, then NA is the easiest on the budget. Big CI are not very expensive any more and not having to buy all the parts for the blower set up will save you a ton of money.
If you are modifying an existing engine and you are starting with something small as mentioned earlier then the blower is the way to go. You don;t have to have crazy expensive set up heads and you won't need as much cam and the valve train will last a little longer. And it is way cooler to have those blowers when you can get them.
But no matter which way you go, make sure it is set up right or it won't last.
Good luck and have fun. Keep us posted.
If you are starting with brand new stuff from the ground up, then NA is the easiest on the budget. Big CI are not very expensive any more and not having to buy all the parts for the blower set up will save you a ton of money.
If you are modifying an existing engine and you are starting with something small as mentioned earlier then the blower is the way to go. You don;t have to have crazy expensive set up heads and you won't need as much cam and the valve train will last a little longer. And it is way cooler to have those blowers when you can get them.
But no matter which way you go, make sure it is set up right or it won't last.
Good luck and have fun. Keep us posted.