Centrifugal superchargers don't make the same kinds of demands as olde skool superchargers, either in terms of parasitic losses or shock loads on the drive train. To my mind, they're a perfectly sane solution (perhaps too sane).
All you do by making a supercharger centrifugal is move the same amount of drain about. You need to drive a supercharger, the load on the pulley will be proportional to the output/amount of air it pumps. You can only get out what you put in.
In comparison a Turbo is driven by gases and heat which were going to escape from the exhaust wasted anyway. Ideally this extra power would be free but in reality the back pressure a turbo adds to exhaust system still causes parasitic drain. This is why turbo selection is so important, this is why I also chose a turbo with a large exhaust turbine...
Unfortunately turbo selection on the turbine side is far from an exact science (something best done on an engine dyno). However is selected correctly the efficiency will smash that of a supercharger to pieces.
Of course with a supercharger you tend to get a more driveable car. You can also still achieve monstrous power, but a turbo car will make more power on the same engine.
When you add up the cost difference in buying a T Jet engine and box and building a "proper" 8 valve turbo, with forged rods, forged pistons, stainless valves, bronze valve guides, stud conversion on the head, etc. There's nothing in it. And a T Jet is likely to stay together longer and is receiving professional development.
Yes and no.... I think Woj has definitely proven you don't need all the bells and whistles for a reliable turbocharged car with a 8v fairly standard engine. In fact Blu's car is still going strong is it not? If VAD had of turbocharged the MPI Seicento with a proper map rather than the diabolical MF2 I doubt reliability would have ever really been an issue.
So I think your definition of "proper" is wrong and perhaps you mean "ideal".
Of course a set of forged pistons is on my shopping list, but I think the general consensus is the rest of the block should survive 200bhp with a proper head gasket on machined surfaces.
Still, if you can get a Tjet like the one floating about on ebay it most likely works out cheaper and a lot less hassle. Probably more reliable than even the standard 8v too LOL.
But the reality is, I paid £150 for a freshly rebuilt punto 75 engine with a Piper pulley, £120 for a brand new turbo and maybe a few hundred quid more on other bits like mounts, belts, injectors, inlet manifold, air filter and miscellaneous bits and pieces. I spent a
lot more else where but all of these things can be mated to any engine I desire. The custom parts like the manifold, downpipe etc. have only cost me the materials.
The moral here is
shop around, see what's about and what comes up.
The 8v turbo bit is cheap, cheaper than building a highly tuned N/A for the same power. Building the rest of a turbo car is expensive. However if at some point I decided to throw a Tjet in it would all still be applicable.
So if I were to do it all again... I wouldn't change a thing. My car is ready for any turbo engine not just an 8v, but I have a feeling the 8v will be more than enough. If it breaks it cost me a £150.... I could probably get another engine for similar money or just fit something completely different.
So my advise would be if you want to go 8v turbo don't spend lots of money on the engine, spend it on the rest of the car and then at a later date you can fit any turbo engine you like. Tjets will become cheap and abundant eventually, as will TwinAirs and maybe something completely different is around the corner. Maybe something from a different manufacturer all together.
Brooky, you're clearly stuck with an expensive 8v now LOL. But you have retained the heritage of the car. Yours is still a true Cinquecento with the engine Fiat chose for it (although I think it was stolen from the Punto). And that to me is a very cool thing and makes it more valuable too. I'm very certain if the Cinq ever becomes a desirable classic yours will be much more collectable.
Crikey I do waffle on a bit don't I.... LOL
