Do i need to install lower compression pistons

[IfYouDoFeelComfortable]

do i need to drop the compression on my camaro to safely run turbo? I was thinking about doing it anyways b/c i want large power gains from turbo.

[tdz16]

You can drop the compression and run more boost, but our cars do very well with about 10 psi of boost. If you just port and polish the crap out of your intakes and heads, paired with a good FI cam, you'll make plenty of power on a fairly good flowing turbo. Guys here are pushing 350whp. Once you lower the compression, you can run more boost safely but I don't think its worth it for the power gain aspect. I would look at it as more of a safety thing. When you redo the motor, I would get coated pistons to dissipate the heat better. Don't jump into the big stuff, do the supporting mods with a simple turbo setup first, see what breaks, then go to the deeper stuff.
~Tom

[jaberocs]

great advice...but "see what breaks"? :D

[tdz16]

Well, I meant that in the sense of drivetrain. Once you start putting 350hp to parts that were meant to see 200, lets just say some things may start to want to rattle loose, or separate themselves from your car at the 60ft mark. I just mean, the motor can handle 350-400 lets say, but you have to make sure the tranny, def. the clutch, and the rear are ready to take that power. At that point I'd even say you better upgrade the brakes...or get a parachute...lol...Good luck with everything...
~Tom

[Perry]

Answering your question....You do not HAVE to install lower compression pistons to run a turbo, but to run at higher psi 12-14 you would then want to start upgrading things before they "break" as tdz16 so gently put it. But what do I know, I am still an NA 6'er [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[T-Punk]

a thicker head gasket (about .074 thick) can get you down to a 9.0:1cr which is perfectly acceptable for around 12psi and maybe more. You might need to figure out if you can use stock length pushrods though with a gasket that thick so look into that. i would do that pnp heads and intake, cam and valvetrain before diving into the bottom end cause that gets real expensive real quick.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by T-Punk:
a thicker head gasket (about .074 thick) can get you down to a 9.0:1cr which is perfectly acceptable for around 12psi and maybe more. You might need to figure out if you can use stock length pushrods though with a gasket that thick so look into that. i would do that pnp heads and intake, cam and valvetrain before diving into the bottom end cause that gets real expensive real quick.

stockers work jsut fine

[cal]

I wonder though. Can you run a thicker head gasket with your stock pushrods? If not what brand of push rods should he get. I mean since your are removing the heads any way. Oh and what about rocker rollers? I know for sur those make a good diffrence.

[T-Punk]

Roller rockers are overated imo unless you plan on raising shift points. The added efficiency from a full roller design is not much since ours are basically roller rockers without the roller tip. The added efficiency from the drop in weight is nice but not woth the money. As for a higher ratio, its nice for NA, supercharged and nitrous motors but not for turbocharged. A cam swap is a much better option because you can truely tune it in to whatever system you go with and in turn maximize power. The only place i know that sells different length pushrods is zzp. If you talk to the guys over there they will know if you need a different length (i'm just not sure if you do or dong but viper says you dont so you probably dont). Comp cams would be a good brand for all the vavletrain components.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

i got the Comp Cams push rods in he stock lenth with .074 gaskets and they are fine, the motor guy would have told me if they was wrong.

BTW i'm still on my stock rockers too.......

http://www.turbov6camaro.com/images/motor3.JPG <<<
http://www.turbov6camaro.com/images/motor2.JPG <<< look how thick my HG is lol

[ August 21, 2005, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: viper04af ]

[cal]

Nice! Who built your engine?

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by cal:
Nice! Who built your engine?

i got all the parts and a local guy in ohio did the work while i was in italy