Newbie (sort of) needs some ideas...

And now, for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT....


Since he already is seriously considering a 225 engine, why not do a real mild supercharge or turbocharge on it, Say, limited to about 8 pounds of boost...

A used Vortech V-1, S-trim blower, or a small turbo could be obtained for very little money (say, $200.00 or less off ebay.)
http://tinyurl.com/3a6tvam


A 2bbl intake manifold could be gotten from a junkyard, along with a Holley 2bbl carb. The stock exhaust manifold could be modified with a turbo flange at the bottom, to mount the turbo, or just run a cheap set of headers if a centrifugal blower was chosen.

Somehow, he'd need a blow-thru modification on the carb. There are guys on FABO that can do that, reasonably.

Simply boost-referencing the stock fuel pump should be all the fuel system mods that would be needed, with this small amount of boost, I'd think.

The stock pistons, crank and rods would work fine, along with the stock distributor (with the initial timing dialed back) and the stock radiator and water pump should cool this, nicely.

The original, stock cam would be an excellent choice, using mechanical or hydraulic lifters.

OEM drivetrain parts would probably work ok, but a 7.25" rear would probably need replacing, pretty soon, with something stronger, like an 8-1/4".... they're cheap!

Limiting the boost to 8 pounds would make an intercooler completely unnecessary.

A water/ alcohol injector would guarantee that detonation would not be a problem with 93 octane, if the timing were set appropriately (probably 18 degrees, total advance.)

This setup should make about 50-percent more horsepower than the stock engine, with unchanged driveability and gas mileage. Plus a rear axle ratio in the high 2's would work great. I'm told that the really fast turbo /6s LIKE ratios below 3:1... Ryan's 10-decond Valiant runs one in the high 2.s.... so hi-way cruising would be optimal with the stock ratio.. Not so with a normally-aspirated build, where something like a 4.10-ratio would be needed for best performance.

And, it would probably last forever.... on pump gas, yet.

Just think what you'd have to do (and spend) to get a normally-aspirated 225 to exhibit a 50-percent increase in power... This might be cheaper...

Charlie S., I think this thing might run mid-14s-15-flat in a 3,100 pound car. What do you think???


IT could WORK.... :)