[Shotimes] Power adder discussion
Donald Mallinson
dmall@mwonline.net
Wed, 01 Oct 2003 10:55:02 -0500
Kevin,
The typical supercharger used on drag cars in the 50's and
60's was the GMC supercharger, and to the best of my memory,
it was not on a diesel engine.
I had one in my garage for a long time that my brother in
law got to put on his 57 Chevy, but it never made it. Many
years later when my father tore that garage down to make way
for a new one, he didn't tell me and threw away the
supercharger, and a good 327 block, he also gave away all my
pedal cars to the guy that tore the garage down. Those are
worth something today!
Lesson is, if your parents are storing stuff you really
want, then go get it!
Don Mallinson
Kevin & Cheryl Airth wrote:
> Jonathan:
> Most over the road trucks use turbos but not all. The famous Detroit Diesel
> had/has a mechanical supercharger and this was adapted to drag racing use
> early on. These are the big blowers on the top fuel cars. But turbo's
> increase the thermal efficiency of the engine and give better fuel economy.
> They don't consume any power from the engine but extract addition power from
> waste exhaust heat and flow. All mechanical superchargers cost HP to run.
> Just like any engine driven accessory. Water pump, alternator, PS pump or
> supercharger. Top fuel racers have claimed it takes 250 HP or more just to
> drive the blower at top speed!