Martin turbo kit?

[moats31]

Has any one ever put a Martin turbo kit or anything similar to it on there small block? I found one on Craigslist and was curious to see if it was worth getting.


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[blazing816]

I have never used that brand of turbo before, but from what I know since its a "V" engine (V-8) you would want to run twin turbo's, because there is two separate exhaust manifolds, and turbo's force air out of the engine through the exhaust (were as a supercharger forces air in and only need one). You can run a single turbo with a "crossover tube" connecting the two manifolds together (which I cannot see in the picture) but it is not as good as an independent turbo for each manifold. I would run twin's if it was me, my $.02.

[moats31]

Would that be why the guy that has it blew a head gasket? I'm afraid of it scattering my engine! But if it's not bad for it, I think I wanna try it. What brands have you seen?


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[HAULIN IT]

That is some real old technology there! How that works is this: The Left exhaust manifold (originally a stock rams horn) was connected to a crossover pipe in the original location of a SBC with a single exhaust (under the engine near the oil pan sump) & then up into the Right manifold which was a custom cast piece that had an INLET for the crossover & a OUTLET flange for the turbo to bolt onto...so both banks are helping spin the turbo.
The intake manifold is another story...It's a draw-through design in which the air/fuel mixture comes in the air filter, down through the carb & into the intake...then a 90* turn to the tube going into the turbo, then out through the other tube to the lower area/plenum of the intake & into the cylinder head.
The actual exhaust side of the thing can work rather effective & can make good power. The real question to that kit is what size is the turbo & what is it's condition? The whole intake deal really isn't the way to go...a blow-through of some sort (either carb or FI) would be a better plan.

Here's what I believe started out as a Rayjay kit very similar to what you have posted. However all he was using was the exhaust portion with an adapter to mount a bigger turbo sideways compared to the original design. I met Tom (the owner/builder) on DragWeek some years ago...it worked very well, however only the exhaust portion is left from the basic kit. Lorne
 
 

[moats31]

He wants $500 for the whole set up with the air/fuel gauge and boost gauge. I'm not racing or anything. I just want something that adds a little more power and is different. Would it hurt my engine to use what he has?  He claims he's only getting rid of it because he blew a head gasket on his 350...


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[blazing816]

In my experience if your engine is not built for the added boost or "force" it can wear down your engine faster. That being said that could be 10 years from now or 10 days from now, it depends on the build of your engine and how tired it is already (I mean a SBC 350 4bolt main is a pretty tough engine, but you must consider all things). Because it is not like headers that just let your engine breath better, it is forcing the air around so it puts more pressure on things. Plus do not forget you will need to run piping to a intercooler that you will have to mount to the front somewhere.

And depending on what your motor is already, you may be better off getting headers, and a cam upgrade for the torque (if you have a stock cam) if your just looking for a few extra ponies.

[81_Chevy]

Plus do not forget you will need to run piping to a intercooler that you will have to mount to the front somewhere.

The martin turbo kit does not require an intercooler.

IMO i think you will be fine on running this setup since it only produces about 5-7psi of boost. a decently new small block could handle this i think.

i would wait for Captkaos to chime in since hes pretty experienced in the boost world, im sure he could tell us alot.

[darmentle]

More than likely the reason for the head gasket being blown is from not using proper head bolts. You would want to use some APR Head Studs the boost creates pressure inside the motor and that can cause the head gasket to blown. Also you would want to upgrade the fuel system on your truck to a bigger fuel pump. When it comes to forced induction or NOS you definitely dont want to skip on anything.

[blazing816]

The martin turbo kit does not require an intercooler.

IMO i think you will be fine on running this setup since it only produces about 5-7psi of boost. a decently new small block could handle this i think.

Wow I thought all turbo's needed intercooler's, thanks for the correction. I have never had a small turbo kit before, guess that's the difference, my first turbo car was pushing 18-21psi, so it had an intercooler.

[moats31]

Does anyone know what a good price to pay for the kit would be? Since I can't find one like it any where else? Would putting a mild cam and headers bring about the same amount of "ponies"? And my 350 is a four bolt main about 10,000 miles on fresh rebuild!


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[454Man]

What compression is your 350 at?

What's under the hood??? If you have to ask maybe we shouldn't race!

[moats31]

I'm not sure? I haven't checked!


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[81_Chevy]

you would want your engine compression at about 8:1 8.5:1 at the max for running boost on a stock engine. the lower, the better (to a point of course). 

[frotosride]

If you were putting this onto an engine that is still all stock I would advise against it for a few reasons. your compression is probably in a decent range it you are only running low bost5-6psi but the factory cast pistons will not hold up well and will become brittle. With that brittleness the ring gap is what's going to destroy your engine. With the added boost means added temp in the cylinder and more force on the cast pistons, the rings will expand due to these factors and destroy themselves as well as the ring lands. Seen this so many times. I think that the worst I've seen was a home made 383 with cast pistons and small ring gaps on 100shot of spray. the ring lands were destroyed. And of course the head gasket is also a weak link especially if it is an old gasket or simply one not designed to handle bost..it will only be a metter of time before you blow one. The kit in itself will definitely improve the power out put but it's just old technology and not as efficient. If he'd let if go for 3-400 I'd snatch it up just for fun and put some $$$ into the engine so it will handle it.

[Captkaos]

What condition is the turbo?  Will it need to be rebuilt?  If so, the price would need to go down.

IF you got it and you don't know the stock internals you will have to limit boost to about 5lbs otherwise you will have issues.

I have said this on Haulin's thread on carb'd turbo's I wouldn't touch them, but that is just me personally..