Barbara Blue wrote:
> By the by, I have seen a couple of references to the effect that some
> engines are not up to supercharging or turbocharging. Colin Campbell in his
> "Sports Car, etc." claims that supercharging puts less strain on an engine
> than high compression, high revs and so on.
>
Forced induction whether by mechanical supercharger or exhaust driven
turbocharger does give a motor higher compression because it forces fuel/air
in. The more fuel/air, the bigger the bang at ignition, the more power is
produced but also the more strain on the bottom end. With 4 Cyl motors, those
with 5 mains are (other things being similar) generally better able to cope with
this than those with 3 mains.
However a supercharged engine probably won't have to rev as hard as a motor
modified by 'conventional' means to produce the same sort of power, so that
would be less strain. Also, it may be more tractable (compared to say a
multiple carb motor with a lumpy cam) and so can be driven at lower revs when
you're not after all that power.
Nevertheless, if I were fitting Forced Induction I'd want the best bottom end
possible.
Vic
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