Inliners International Forums General Discussion Hi Performance 230 turbo help

I have a 1950 chevy truck that I am currently installing on an S-10 frame. I plan to use the 230 inline 6 from a 1969 nova with a turbo 350 trans, nova 10 bolt rearend with 3.08 gears. I would like this to be a daily driver, but would still like to get some decent horsepower(like 300 hp). Would a turbo get me there? What other engine mods would I need to do? Will the stock pistons be okay with 10 psi of boost?? I know I've asked a lot of questions. Thanks for any help you can offer.

from some quick calculations the 230 would produce around 260 hp @ 5500 rpm. if you could make the head more efficient than maybe 300 hp. why not try to start with a bigger motor like a 250 or 292. both are easy to find and are relatively cheap to buy. tom

I already have the 230 and its a fairly low mileage motor(69,000 miles). I have a 350 I could build up for cheap and throw in there, but I've always liked the inline six, it's different and cool.

if you get the head to flow alittle better add an intercooller and match it with the proper size turbo, it may be closer to 320 hp 300 lbs torq@ 5500 rpm. it won't be cheap though.tom

The low side @ 10 psi would be around 295 The high side would be around 400 With the right cam and Head work. So asking for 300 is pretty fair to be looking for. And Having the right size turbo Is going to play a big part as well.
A inner cooler is also going to help Over all performance.

A low boost setup would be very close to that- but limited. For a 230 that won't see the high side of 5K or 8-10psi, I'd go with a small T3/T4 hybrid with a turbine housing around .69 get an O or P trim T4 compressor side & you'll get all the air you need, starting down low (with the T-3 style turbine hsg). The T3 will have an integral wastegate, saving on plumbing.

If you're hell bent on keeping the stock pistons, I'd be cautious about exceeding 8-10 psi. The chambers are not very efficient, adding to the possibility of detonation. That's bad.

Why 300hp? Is this just a # that sticks in your head, or is there an attached goal to it?

I would still 'look into' using the 292" as it will bore to 302.

This with a turbo will get you 300+ W/O a really big expense.

Now is the time, as you can "design it in" easy at this point etc.

Good luck.

Hp is one thing but the smile on your face will come from the torque that the turbo will generate.

Not sure how far into this you are but staying with the 3.08 gear may be a good idea, turbos like less gear than NA applications.

A very nice website that will answer any question you could possibly have is http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/ (don't let the word mustangs fool ya, its for all makes). Read the knowledge base and stickys before you ask questions.

Good luck

Agreed- a 292 and a turbo would be all sorts of fun!

I've built several turbocharged I6s using the early Buick turbocharger. With water injection and a modified boost control I saw 16#s boost drawing through a single barrel. I'd hazard a guess that would be in the 300hp neighborhood. That engine in a '64 Nova ran 102-103mph through the quarter, but suffered a lot from wheelspin so the ETs stayed in the low 14s.

I've got another one sitting on the bench now ready to go if I find time. I could e-mail a pic of it if you're interested.

not turbo related but, I've been seeing a lot about chassis swaps using s10s. why is this so much more popular than any others? how much of the donor are you using? these may sound like really stupid questions to you, but I'm just getting warmed up to start on my first project (52 plymouth) and I'm starting to think this may be an option. do you have pics of progress so far?

An S-10 chassis is considered an easy chassis to adapt to othe vehicles because of its wheelbase.Also as far as early Chevy pickups are concerned the body matching points match up with little modification.

OHCFbird ,
I like your Firebird w/ Webbers!
Do you race it?
If so... what does she run in the 1/4?