Talk about cheaply turbo-ing a 5sfe, BADDDDDDD Options

[x_itchy_b_x]

at least its a 5th gen owner.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

Nice right up CelicaST. With adtvances in electronics, it's very possible. The problems I see is they are marketed as cheap alternitives. To make one work correctly it would have to have a fair amount of RD and money invested. There's so much info out there on superchargers and turboes, that it makes them as easier alternative for most. If the right guy felt like doing a e-turbo, I see no reason it couldn't work just as well. I like to compare it to carbs vs fuel injection. When FI came out, the car guys would switch it to carb right away. Some still do this. It's easier and everyone knew more about working with carbs. Besides that, there weren't many performance upgrades redily avalible for FI. But the problem with that comparision, is that race cars when to FI way before they went to street. And it was known that FI would be better for race cars. No race teams that I know of use e-turboes. This might be because there just hasn't been the desire to look into them yet. I think we'll switch to electric cars before e-turboes are popular. But the fact stands, it is very possible to make one work. Even the ones they sell will do something, just help to equilize pressure. That won't produce much of a gain, but you can't deny it's doing something.

I think this topic will actually stay open awhile. Everyone so far is presenting reasonable arguements and no one has jumped in to simply bash on anyone.

[celicaST]

Nice right up CelicaST. With adtvances in electronics, it's very possible. The problems I see is they are marketed as cheap alternitives. To make one work correctly it would have to have a fair amount of RD and money invested. There's so much info out there on superchargers and turboes, that it makes them as easier alternative for most. If the right guy felt like doing a e-turbo, I see no reason it couldn't work just as well. I like to compare it to carbs vs fuel injection. When FI came out, the car guys would switch it to carb right away. Some still do this. It's easier and everyone knew more about working with carbs. Besides that, there weren't many performance upgrades redily avalible for FI. But the problem with that comparision, is that race cars when to FI way before they went to street. And it was known that FI would be better for race cars. No race teams that I know of use e-turboes. This might be because there just hasn't been the desire to look into them yet. I think we'll switch to electric cars before e-turboes are popular. But the fact stands, it is very possible to make one work. Even the ones they sell will do something, just help to equilize pressure. That won't produce much of a gain, but you can't deny it's doing something.

I think this topic will actually stay open awhile. Everyone so far is presenting reasonable arguements and no one has jumped in to simply bash on anyone.

very nice ananogy with carbs v FI. but i disagree with you on one point. we dont need any advances in electronics to make this work. i could and will make one, granted i can get it approved as a senior project, with off the shelf parts. marketing is the only reason this hasnt taken off. its similar to the marketing of ev and hybrid cars. ev and hybrid cars have so much potential in terms of performance over a typical ICE car, but the demand isnt there so people get teh misconception that hybrid/ev technology is slow. similarly the demand for this product is from customers looking for a cheap alternative, and so they make them low power so as too not require intercooler, injectors, etc. again, i would very much like to see a dyno snapshot if you can find the time and place to do it

by the way, a bit off topic, but people doing engine swaps. motor swap>>>engine swap. i guarantee you a siemens 1pv5138-4ws24 electric motor paired with high power inverter and lightweight battery pack could outrun a 3sgte. "max" power 203hp, "max" tourqe 332 ftlb. ill post a new topic on it sometime to explain what goes into an electic swap.

*i missed your point about eturbos not being in race cars. thats simple. FI was implemented over carbs because of efficiency, and it was clearly advantageous to carbs. however, like i said before, an eturbo is NOT going to be as efficient as a turbocharger. energy must be converted from mechanical to electrical in the alternator, 12v dc electric to high voltage ac electric in the inverter, back from electric to mechanical in the motor. the engine is going to work harder to develop the same boost as a typical turbo. i said it might be similar to supercharger because of the friction in a roots blower and the mechanical drivetrain, however im just guessing.

This post has been edited by celicaST: Feb 9, 2006 - 2:54 PM