i have a first gen 283 1960s corvette high nickle small block engine that i want to turbocharge, i was wondering what goes into doing that and what kinda parts would i need, i would rather not spend the money to buy a kit as i am on a tight budget, i know about making sure the engine is in good condition first and that i would need a new camshaft to match, i also am going to opt for a roller valve train, stainless valves, gear drive, electric water pump, and a high flow oil system and a rebuild, but as for the turbocharger parts i am not sure other than the manifolds, turbos, waste gates, and the intercooler, also i got a guy i can get to do the pipe work, any help, im looking for something around the 400hp mark, as i still want to drive the truck, thanks

Eric, oregon.  

I know you think twin-turbo sounds really cool and that it will look really cool under the hood but if you're shooting for 400 horsepower on a limited budget with a near-stock 283 engine then you might as well not budget in a turbo at all...

Rebuild a large displacement small block right and leave it at that. A 350 with Vortec heads makes 400 horsepower pretty achievable. A turbocharged 283 trying to make some power is the last thing that a truck wants...  

GibTG is right.A 283 in a truck will not produce the same torque as a 400hp 350.Torque is what you need to get the truck out of the hole fast.The money you would put into the 283 and the turbos you could get an engine through GMPP with a warranty.  

Gotta agree, you need a motor with more displacement and torque to move your truck. A normally aspirated 350 or 383 built right will make more than 400 horsepower without a turbo.

If you want to build a 350 0r 383 turbo motor, the main thign to remember is keep compression low. A turbo motor will normally have 8.0 or 8.5:1 compression.  

well actually to be honest its not by any means a stock truck, it only weighs about 3200 anymore as i have removed almost all of the components, such as 90%of the intirior, it has lexan plexiglas windows, fiberglass front clip, bumpers, and doors, no floor in the bed and absolutly no accesories anymore, plus the engine already produces 200hp and 250ftlbs as i have an rv camshaft in it with a set of corvette powerpack heads

plus the main goal of this build is to see how much power i can squeeze out of the small ci engine and how high in the rpm band i can make it last(redline) i am swaping to a turbo 454 in the future but that engine is under construction as it is going to be a fully preped race engine.

thanks for your advice, it is much appriciated

Eric.  

Well then frankly you have a worthless goal. Why waste your time, put the effort into  your big block or at least a real racing engine that you don't intend on ruining. Growing up in the meantime might also help...

You need to realize that there is ABSOLUTELY NO PURPOSE in putting a second turbo on a 283 that you only need want to make 400 horsepower with. There are single turbos available today that will spool up great and provide enough airflow to make probably twice as much power as you want. Like I said, i know you think "twin-turbo" sounds really cool and all your friends will think you have the baddest ride in town if you do put two turbos on this engine but if you detune this twin-turbocharged engine to make 400 horspower and try to keep stock components in one piece you're effectively wasting your time and money...  

was that really nesessery, to tell me to grow up and insinuate that im a child who dosent know what i want, to be honest i find that in very bad taste and if this is representation of what kind of responses and suport i am going to recieve at this forum then i am effectively turned off, thank you anyways sir, and i sincerly hope you dont treat other potential hotrodders this very same way, shooting down their ideas like they are paper in the wind just because you think they are only doing it to impress people and act like a "hotshot", all i asked was what would go into acomplishing my goal and i get you telling me my goal is worthless, well apperantly its not worthless to everyone and just because you have an opinion dosent mean you have to tell people they need to grow up and throw away their projects, dissagreement is fine but you went to far, good day to you sir.

Eric.  

My first piece of advice was given in a polite manner, you shot that down. Since you think you know more about this than the three people that tried to help you, my second piece of advice wasn't going to be so friendly...

There is no other purpose of putting two turbos on a 400 horsepower 283 other than to impress people. Your idea was worth shooting down. Why are you saying that you only intend on revving it until it blows? You're that bored and have that much money laying around that you want to build an engine designed to ruin itself. If so, go ahead, I can't stop you but it's a stupid thing to do. That's all I'm trying to get across.

People like yourself ask these questions here and it's very strange because they really seem to have very little knowledge of how a performance engine works yet they want to dive right into a twin turbo project. It's not something to be taken lightly, you don't just go throw one of these engines together with parts from your local auto parts store and have your backyard machinist overhaul the engine with reconditioned stock pieces. When you say I'm looking for 400 horsepower but need two turbos it gives me the impression that it will never get done, maybe that's why I wasn't so nice the second time around...  

WOW....please don't turbocharge the 283, just build a 9:1 compression 383 with decent heads(Aluminum heads are available with valvetrain-for your cam- from PBM @$700).With a flat tappet cam 228/234@.050 and about .500 lift you can make 400-420HP @ 6100 rpm and 440lb ft torque. I can set you up with the same package that we ran on our Stuska Powertest dyno and you will only have to spend about what the turbocharger setup was gonna cost you and have a whole new engine!!
If you don't wanna go to the extra trouble of a 383 then just do a 350 and you'll still see 375HP and maybe 390-400 lbft ......  

hey im working with a 283 out of 1959 apache. im not really considering turbos or any thing big but ideas for making it more fun would be helpful. it aleady has a new intake and carb, a hei, its bored 50 over, has a corvette cam from somewhere im not sure about and we will be getting new exhaust for it. also i have a lot of original stock parts if anyone is interested. this is staying in the original truck body and i realize it wont ever be a really bad ass ride. however i do already like the way it sounds.  

Since you guys seem to know so much about turbos Im building a 350 and would like to twin turbo it. The lower end is fully built, blue printed and balanced. I am looking for a fuel managment system and what size turbos I should use to run? I do not want to run carbs! any adivce would be appreciated!