turbo Q's

[Otherguy]

okay, all this talk of turbos in here lately has given me the turbo bug. So I have decided to look into turbo-charging my Polara. First of all, will the 360's stock bottom end and valvetrain hold up? If not, then I can just scrap the thought - for a few years anyway. Next, with a twin turbo setup, do I need to run 2 intercoolers, or one big one, or how does this work, I'm pretty new to the whole turbo thing. I've found that I can get T-3 or T-4 Garrett turbo's(used but in good condition) for 250 to 350 each on eBay. I guess the cost of an intercooler would vary depending on how big I need to go. I can pick up a 4bbl intake off of a 73 dart and 4bbl carter (not sure on exact size, he said it was the largest production carb ever) from a friend for about 200. Carb has been rebuilt, just sittin on a shelf for a year or 2. As far as headers go I think I saw a post for something like 180 for custom headers. What else do I need and if you can give prices on the stuff or tell me where I can get turbos, etc. cheaper let me know. I'm going to college and therefore have a pretty small budget and this project will have to be done over the course of a couple years.
I dont want to let the total cost go much over $1000 but I guess $1500 would be the absolute max I could go, but it would take me probably 2 years to get the parts together bit by bit and then a summer to put it together and install it.

-thanks

[TT440]

Start by finding some good study aids. Gather as much info as you can before building it.
A pair of T3s from an 85-87 T-bird Turbo Coupe (with a 5 speed) would be best for your setup. I get 'em at the local salvage yard for $35. Remanned units can be had through www.dallasturbo.com for around $300. That's where I got my hybrids for the TT440.
The 4 bbl intake would be nice but many turbo engines like a single plane instead.
I've had pretty good luck with my Carter 750 so far. Don't go big in the carb because it'll hurt performance.
A Carter 600 AFB would be plenty for you. Use the biggest needle/seat combos you can get and run at least 4 steps up on the secondaries.
The stock 360 has more than enough beef to hold the power. I would caution you to leave the compression under 9:1 and stick with the stock cam. Big hot rod cams don't make for happy turbos.

As soon as employment finds me again, I'll be working on twin turbos on the 318 for under $400. Call me nuts, but it's a goal I have.

[Otherguy]

thanks, but now I have a couple other Q's

what size carb do you recommend for this 360, its 100% stock, all original right now. Also, should I run vacuum or mech. secondaries for a turbo application?
Anybody have any idea what kind of power this setup would produce (Garrett T3's). I've read they can put out up to 20lbs of boost, but that must be spinning the motor pretty high too.
Do you think I should replace the cam? It's the original one and I dont know how many miles are on it as the first digit on the odometer is scratched beyond recognition (no idea how that happened).

Well I guess I gotta plan a trip to the junkyard one of these weekends.

Thanks again

[TT440]

Use a 600 with mechanical secondaries. It'll do what ya need.
If done properly, those little turbos should beable to power you into the 10s if the rest of the car is set up correctly.
You won't need to spin that enigne very fast to make high boost levels. If you can handle 15 psi, it would probably hit before 3500 RPM. Then you can carry it to redline.
It all depends upon the setup.

[turbododge]

If you are looking at leaving the guts of the engine stock, I would be concerned with the cast pistons. Even with very good mixture control (which you will not have, especially at first), I would not go over 7 or 8 psi. If you detonate because of a mixture issue, you will most likely ventilate a piston.

Before I put in solid coppers in the TT340, I would torch head gaskets at 8 psi, if I detonated at all, so cast pistons would be in trouble.