opinions welcome

[bookends]

I've been kicking around an idea for a for a while. I'm in the pre build stages with my 69 Camaro. I've been planning a twin turbo LS1 set up for it. but I blew the motor in my 99 SS about 6 months ago. I had to use the LS1 I'd bought for the 69 to get the 99 back on the road. I've noticed several people on here are doing turbo LS1's. My car originally had a 230 l6 in it.
I was just curious what everyone's reactions would be to a turbo inline 6? I know ultimately it would be my decision, but I respect everyone's opinion on here. so let me have it.
Jon

[indyjps]

sometimes differrent isnt better, if you made it interesting using say a trailblazer engine it may be ok. how about a 5.3 or 6.0 vortec. better yet a 400 block with a 3.00 stroke (302), most likely have to order up a new crank, i wouldnt want to use spacer bearings at the rpm it would turn. just my 2 cents

[JamesJ]

It also depends on what direction you want the car to go in. If you even plan on selling it, and if you did sell it how hard would it be to drop in a 350.

[bookends]

this was my first car. I don't plan on ever selling it. I've got my wife believing I'd get rid of her before I'd let that car go.

[Kenova]

I would guess it depends on how you're useing the car (open track days, autoX, dragging, cruising, etc.) If it were a weekend cruiser, with the odd show, then a turbo inline six would certainly be different. Turbo GNs were 231 ci. How hard could it be to adapt the hardware to an inline six? Toss in a TKO 5spd and have some fun.
Ken

[Kenova]

I just can't get the idea of a turbo straight six out of my head. Maybe I need to get a life?
Here's something that crossed my mind while I was at work (yeah, my job is boring). I seem to recall that GM's Holden Division also used the same straight six that was used in North America during the late '60s and early '70s. They did however use a cross flow cylinder head so they could move the carburator to the right side of the engine (their driver's side). Wether or not they had an advantage in port flow, I don't know. Maybe some of our Australian members could tell us more.

It's also possible I've been hallucinating again.
Ken

[Beige]

There was a turbo I-6 powered '35 (I think) Chevy coupe in HOT ROD magazine, May 2004 (best guess) issue. The one with Hot Rod's project gasser nova on the cover.
I beleive it ran 10's and the guy figured it to make about 500hp. While it was more of a drag oriented car, it did drive the Power Tour without issue.
I don't have the issue at hand to list specifics but I know it used a truck block for the larger displacement over the car one. I think the head was a 60's speed part, the draw-through carb setup had what looked like a welded heavy gauge sheet metal intake.
I'll try to get more specifics if I run across the magazine.

[Fawkes]

I think it's a great idea. The first thing that I'd do is contact Clifford Performance (use to be Clifford Research). Their website is http://www.cliffordperformance.com. They can hook you up with cams, headers, and answer any questions about I6 performance.

Does your Camaro have the 250 in it? This is what I had in my '75 Ventura, and it would surprise many many V8 owners with the torque that it made. With a 500 cfm Holley, cam, headers w/ dual exhaust, a lot of power can be made.

I like the idea of the turbo also. And if you were to get ahold of a 292 cid truck motor, you'll make impressive power. And the greatest thing about these motors is that you'll be amazed at how many you'll end up with in the garage because you'll find some awesome deals on them.

Good luck. I'll be watching your project progress.

[MuscleRodz]

There is a guy on this board that is rebuilding his 1st gen with the original inline 6 and is doing an awesome job and definitely different. I can think his handle is "OHCBIRD" or something close. He would be a good person to talk to about turbo-ing your inline. I say go for it. The inlines were always considered a torque monster. I wouldn't think that the long crankshaft would lend itself to high rpm's though due to harmonics.

Mike

[MrQuick]

Hi Jon, the L6 idea is good but you gotta build a stout low end.
I race my Nova with a 292 L6 and it ran very consistant 14.10's, great bracket car but I lost the low end after a mis shift.I guess a 6800rpm flare can do that.
I have a OHC L6 out of a 67 Lemans and it would be a great candidate for a turbo kit.Im told the ponch L6's are built alittle stonger,like addition of webbing in the block. Let me know if your interested.

[justanova]

I think it would be cool, I have always had it in the back of my mind to build a 6cyl nova whith a turbo or something to just to be diff. I say do it.

[protour_chevelle]

Get a Australian Ford inline 6 from the XR6. Theres a company in Australia that just had one dyno over 1000horsepower at the flywheel!

Heres the link of the dyno run. http://us1.webpublications.com.au/st...0hp-engine.avi

Their now at 1223flywheel horsepower

Website: http://www.nizpro.com.au/

-Matt

[touring67]

WHEW! Good thing my engine doesn't let the bottom end go at 6800 rpm. The worst abuse it has taken was a 8500 or so rpm flare but that bent 3 valves...As for the inline 6 it sounds like a neat plan, the Ford 300 was always torquey for stock and lasted forever too. To keep the loyalty you could use yours but I don't know of anyone else who has done it. It might not put out the ultimate in power but I don't see why more people don't do it. You would have more room for the turbo(s) and it could be lighter too. You could use a Buick GN block because those are made quite beefy to begin with and shouldn't be too hard to adapt into your car. And yes, a stout bottom end is necessary as the piston force is much higher on a blown application compared to a higher compression NA motor.

[Gonzostyle]

I have thought about doing a forced induction I6 for a long time. If you want to keep the early I6 block, I think Sissel Engineering is making an Aluminum cross flow head for them. I have one of their "double lump" heads on an 250 that is making somewhere just north of 300hp.

However, if you were thinking of not sticking with a Chevrolet based engine. You might think about putting one of the BMW inline 6's in the car. I have always thought it would be cool to open the hod of my 63 Nova and see a big "M POWER" valve cover sitting there. Also there are tons of after market bits for the BMW. The latest M3 has a I6 putting out 330hp (US version, 350+ for the Euro). Actually if it were done right you could get the weight down doing a BMW motor (they made aluminum blocks for certain I6s)...

Anyway they are plenty of options out there.

-Jeremie

[Fuelie Fan]

We have a customer with a 39 chevy and a turbo I6 from a 70 Nova running our system on it. His first iteration was all junkyard parts. The turbo wasn't really right for it, and it didn't make a lot of power. The turbine wasn't sized correctly, and also the stock wastegate diaphragm was keeping boost WAY too low for an engine with 7.5:1 and an intercooler.

He'll be back on our dyno in a couple weeks with a new turbo and wastegate arrangement. should be interesting.