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Old 05-14-2009, 08:27 PM   #10
vex
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now I know that's a lot to read, but here's some more food for thought:

What exactly are the benefits of using an NA engine compared to other methods to utilize a turbo? Well, lets first look at the different possibilities to which one can turbo an rx7 (maintaining the same style motor mainly 13B). For the sake of my sanity and the sake of others sanity as well I'll develop it in a list that is somewhat different than most.
  1. 13B NA
    • Hybrid Turbo Installation
      • Modifying the front cover and other portions of the engine to support installation of a Turbo (S4 or S5).
      • Manifold is stock mounting
      • Modification of the intake manifolds must be done to accommodate the turbo
      • Inability to maintain 6PI
    • Custom Application
      • Run any turbo you want
      • Uses existing or semi existing motor locations for oil and water
      • More fabrication work needed
      • Rarely ever plug and play
      • Ability to keep and maintain 6PI
  2. 13B Turbo
    • Inability to have 6PI
    • Much more porting possibilities
    • No Baffles in the exhaust stream
    • Ability to handle higher horsepower applications
    • Lower Compression rotors (more boost can be utilized)
  3. 13B REW
    • Similar to the 13B Turbo version
    • More technological development
    • More possibilities to run sequential, twins, or a large single
    • similar porting surface to the 13B Turbo
    • Lower compression rotors
    • Lighter rotors

Now is it really worth it to turbo charge an NA engine? Probably not. There's a few reasons for this, mainly if you're attempting to make a high compression turbo project it would be significantly easier to pick up a different keg and swap in some NA rotors. The only thing that the NA has that the Turbo versions do not is the 6PI or the VDI system. Which all in all isn't all that important if you consider that the only reason to have those systems is to have a manageable torque curve when you're actually trying to drive. This is accomplished in the 13B REW by the sequentials which provide an amazingly flat torque curve.

So here it is: The only reason to actually turbo charge an NA engine is to use a turbo with either the 6PI and/or the VDI system. The benefits? I can't say off first hand knowledge... though I imagine the ability to alter the torque curve would be the biggest thing. But there again that can be done with fancy turbo system by itself.
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