new to old school

[joehalford01]

Hey whats up guys! I'm 21 and I've always worked on the newer fuel injected stuff , 4 cylinder, etc. I've got too many projects to list but the project that led me to this forum is my 63 chevy longbed pick-up. Originally I planned to just drive it, then I decided to junk my 72 caddillac and stick that motor in there (its on a stand now) but yesterday I went to a hot rod reunion at Famoso Raceway in Ca and I found the most wicked intake I have ever seen. Its a martin turbo systems intake for corvette. Guy didn't know anything about it and neither did I. Paid him $50 on a hunch, when I searched google this forum popped up so I figured I would join. Looks like I'm going to turbo my truck now via the KISS method. Keep it simple stupid. I've got a few other projects kicking around but nothing wonderful at this point. Just out of curiosity, would anybody here have pictures of the full martin turbo kit, i'd like to see how it looks fabbed up. I plan on fabricating most of it myself but also if anybody has some spare flanges for this intake I would be interested in those. Thanks Guys!

[Matt167]

well, being the intake is listed for a 'vette, it won't fit on a 472-500 CID caddilac. but, you could sell it back off, go to www.speedwaymotors.com, get 1 of there 4bbl edelbrock intakes, then go to www.performancecarburetors.com and get a 750 CFM blow through 4bbl carbs and 1 of there air hats. have custom headders made for the Turbo, have a Garret T4 flange put on the ends, get 2 Garret ( real garret's, not chineese mock turbo's ) T4's, I'd think 1's with .60/.82 A/R's would be ideal. just pipe them into the air hat. get a 500 caddilac HEI and a MSD 6 BTM, refrence the MSD box to the boosted side of the system, for retarding the timing. you'll make a decent amount of Hp.

[Dave Severson]

I don't think Martin Turbo Systems are even in business anymore.. They were around in the late 70's, early 80's. Friend of mine ran one on his tow rig, worked fairly well and added decent amount of torque for towing. I've seen the Vette one's installed, but not for a bunch of years now. Might be hard to find much information about them, but it would be worth a search with Google to see if anything turns up. Might be somebody out there hoarding some parts and information about them still.

[joehalford01]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was in a hurry so I wasn't very clear, sorry. I forgot to mention that my truck already has a 327 in it, I was going to slap in the 472 but changed my mind because I found this manifold. I don't think I can make as much power as a blown 472 (god that would be ) but I think the uniqueness and cool factor is just too much to pass up here. I figure if I keep things simple and only run 6-8 pounds of boost I'll still get at least 75 more hp. I can fabricate most of the parts myself but it would be nice to see how the original kit was set up.

[Matt167]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was in a hurry so I wasn't very clear, sorry. I forgot to mention that my truck already has a 327 in it, I was going to slap in the 472 but changed my mind because I found this manifold. I don't think I can make as much power as a blown 472 (god that would be ) but I think the uniqueness and cool factor is just too much to pass up here. I figure if I keep things simple and only run 6-8 pounds of boost I'll still get at least 75 more hp. I can fabricate most of the parts myself but it would be nice to see how the original kit was set up.

on average 6 psi of boost is 40% increase in Hp, 10 PSI is average 60% more hp. you need to lower the comp to 8.0-8.5:1 for anything over 6 PSI on a Turbocharged engine.

[techinspector1]

Matt is givin' it to you straight Joe. At 8.5 to 9.0 c.r., you're limited to 6 psi if you're gonna run pump gas. At 9.5 c.r., you're limited to 4 psi. Any more boost than that and you need better fuel or you'll detonate the motor and things get ugly.

[joehalford01]

hmmmm, your probably right, i haven't done a blown chevy before so i'm too sure on whats it's limits are. There is also a big diffrence between this which will be carburated with no intercooler and a newer car which has an intercooler and efi. Don't worry though, i'm including a wideband oxygen sensor and afr gauge in my build up.

[R Pope]

You could swap the 327 heads for some later, smog heads with big chambers and lower the CR to stand more boost.
I had a turbo 2.3 Mustang that had 9.0 comp. and 8# boost, when the limiter valve was disconnected it made 11#, ran like a raped ape for a year or so till a cold weather startup tore the cam out of it. Bummer!