Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 18:21:43 GMT From: "Dexter J" <lamealameadingdongnospamlamelame.org> Subject: Re: Turbos?
Salutations: On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 16:07:37 GMT, Johannes H Andersen <johsnospamfitter.com> wrote: > >> >> Actually - there was the 60's Oldsmobile Jetfire: >> >> http://www.ucalgary.ca/~csimpson/Articles/JetFire.html >> >> .. and the 60's corvair: >> >> http://www.corvaircorsa.com/turbo.html > > Damned you got me there! However, these early turbo cars weren't all that > successful. I quote: > > "So complex was this system and so unprepared was the Oldsmobile dealer > service > network for this technology that Oldsmobile offered a program to its > customers > that for a fee of $50 they would remove the turbo system and replace it > with a > conventional carburetor." > http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2002/news/042501.html > > While others may have dabbled, Saab 99 really was the first to bring > successful > turbo charging into the mainstream for ordinary mass produced cars. Oh, I never said it was a great system (covair was better though). Really the daily driver turbo car relies on a much better management system than they could build in the 60's. That was why the SAAB Turbo was the first to really take off. Although, you have to admit there were *a lot* of early turbo SAAB's converted to NA before they were finally written off. At the heart of the problem then and now for Chev, Olds, Buick and SAAB - factory parts, when something wore out, is and have always been exorbitant. What ticks me off is that the folks at GM didn't look at using SAAB turbo technology across their model lines. It would have dropped prices for turbo parts and given them a generally MUCH better 2.+ engine solution. I never got why they didn't because that technology was probably the greatest value in the buying out SAAB. VW is on the rigt track there with it's TDI efforts. I've been looking around for a Rajay that might be retro-fitted to my 403 Olds in the motorhome. All I want is a couple of extra foot-pds of torque for the hills and I'll bet it is exactly the ticket if I can find one. -- Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day Bill Monroe - Blue Moon of Kentucky http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/009.RAM all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads no news no phone in - RealAudio 8+ Required - all the Time