Q1: What Compression Ratio Should I have ???

A: Gas motors should be 7.5:1 and alcohol 10.5:1 when at sea level.

Q2: What Kind Of Crankshaft Should I Use ???

A: Preferably a steel crank should be used and a quality of crank varies on your application. (i.e. Street or Race)

Q3: What Type Of Piston Should I use ???

A: A proper forged piston should be used and NOT a cast or hyperutectic. Again, the quality of pistons depends on application and amount of boost you plan to have.

Q4: Should I Run A Harmonic Balance Dampener ???

A: You should not run these parts as they are prone to fail in this application. A steel hub is recommended with a 1/4" key way. There is a fair amount of stress on this part, so this is why a hub is mandatory. Additionally, a 1/4"key must be installed in your crankshaft where the 3/16" key exists now. This makes the installation much easier.

Q5: Should I Run Head Studs ???

A: You should run head studs because of the increased cylinder pressure. And also, a good quality head gasket should be used.

Q6: What Kind Of Rods Should I Use ???

A: You can use a stock rod debeem and stress relieve the rod. Use good quality rod bolts. This also depends on application. Abusive applications would require a better quality rod.

Q7: What Should I Set The Timing At ???

A: Timing is very important. Street gas motor timing should be set at 24 to 26 degrees. Total initial timing should start at 12 to 14 degrees. Timing is a very important point to remember under full boost condition, (14 lbs.) your compression ratio will double. (i.e. 7.5:1 will become 15:1)

Q8: What Type Of Carburetors Should I Use And How Big ???

A: Size of carburetors may vary. A good rule to go by is : 350 cubic inch to a 650 CFM, and a 454 cubic inch to a 750 CFM. This is just a good place to start. All applications are different. You also need to have a good fuel system to supply the carburetors. Usually 2 Holley Blue Pumps with 1/2" fuel line will do the job. When looking for fuel pumps make sure you get the right pump/pumps for your application. Race pumps do not work very well on the street as they tend to overheat.

Q9: What Cam Shaft Should I Get ???

A: This is an area where many mistakes are made and you can really hinder the performance of your engine. E.g. Most common is low boost, low horsepower and high exhaust TEM. This is usually caused by a split pattern cam. What I mean by this is that the exhaust and intake lobes have different duration specs. Usually opening the exhaust quicker and keeping it open longer to help the exhaust stroke. This sometimes creates another problem called overlap. This is when both valves are open at the same time. This lets your intake charge escape into the the exhaust, causing low boost and high exhaust temperature. When looking for a cam, I strongly recommend calling Schneider Racing Cams. (619-297-0227) They have years of experience. I have used many of their cams in blower applications and they have worked well.

Q10: What Type Of Cylinder Heads Should I Use ???

A: Just about any head will work in a blown application because you are working with pressure not just atmosphere. Just work within your budget. The only things I recommend are to screw in studs and increase your valve seat pressure to around 120 to 130 lbs. on the seat. This helps to compensate for boost conditions. E.g. 14 lbs. of boost on a 2 inch valve would be approximately a 50 lb. loss in seat pressure. This is why you have to correct for this. Do not go too high on the pressure as you can damage your cam.