Lohnes' Pic of the Week: Leaf-Blower Supercharger!By Brian Lohnes Posted 02/18/09
These photos are completely for real. I took them one day while driving home from class at college (I always kept my camera with me as I do now). I nearly drove off the road when I saw this contraption and basically blew a donut to make sure I didn’t miss the chance to get a better look.
The car, a Mustang GT was owned by a kid I knew named Joel. To be fair, Joel was what scientists like to call a “drug addicted lunatic.”
He got all wound up on God knows what one afternoon and started buying leaf blowers, tie-down straps, PVC pipe, and duct tape and came up with this. Note that he sealed both tubes into the air box lest he lose any boost pressure. As I was taking the photos the car was idling horribly and the blowers were running at full tilt cramming who knows how many CFM into the factory airbox.
The guy asked me seriously if they’d allow this Rube Goldberg nightmare in at the drag strip. My immediate answer of no was met by shock and disbelief. I noted that the tie downs were not exactly SFI rated and that the plastic fuel tanks on the blowers may be prone to leaking and that would create one fantastic fire and one potentially dead Joel.
I don’t really know what else to say aside from thank God I had my camera.
See even more photos in an update here.
Comments + Post your comment!
Written by dieselgeek Feb 18 2009
[quote author=Stoneshrink link=topic=9984.msg197321#msg197321 date=1235008111]
[quote author=fine59 link=topic=9984.msg196919#msg196919 date=1234976692]
well hell why not...i heard they were stuffing toyota motors in cameros
[/quote]
Not a chance, and there's a snowball's chance that a magazine devoted to American cars would ever feature the product of such incest. However, as it was the April magazine, perhaps it was just some sad joke....
[/quote]
chad and shaun and I worked at a place together, where we were building a 70 Dart with a 2JZ in it. Only, this 2JZ was prepped for alcohol and 1400-1600hp. The chassis work was done - beautifully - by Fast Eddie in SoCal. He's the shit! The motor was built, we *almost* made Drag Week 2007 with it.
2/3 of us got laid off the week after Drag Week. Economic downturn sucks. But we were told, if we finished it, it would likely get a feature in HRM just for being different. Even if it was an April Fool's joke, the 2JZ Camaro is a bitchin ride and there's a lot of logic with that powerplant (cheapest big power available) in that car.
Written by dieselgeek Feb 18 2009
[quote author=MentalMuffinMan link=topic=9984.msg197308#msg197308 date=1235007186]
[quote author=Aircooled link=topic=9984.msg197057#msg197057 date=1234991859]
It takes roughtly 40 hp to move 800 cfm at 10 psi of boost.
That system will be lucky to generate 1/2 a psi of boost at engine redline.
[/quote]
and points out why ram air systems are .. for looks
[/quote]
they logged a few psi of positive manifold pressure in the camaro at 250mph. but in any other case - you're right
still, I was impressed to see what improvements could be made over stock intakes (with something as simple as a cold air intake). 10% gains from bottom, to top, were not uncommon.
Written by stoneshrink
Feb 18 2009
[quote author=fine59 link=topic=9984.msg196919#msg196919 date=1234976692]
well hell why not...i heard they were stuffing toyota motors in cameros
[/quote]
Not a chance, and there's a snowball's chance that a magazine devoted to American cars would ever feature the product of such incest. However, as it was the April magazine, perhaps it was just some sad joke....
Written by Brian Lohnes
Feb 18 2009
[quote author=MentalMuffinMan link=topic=9984.msg197308#msg197308 date=1235007186]
[quote author=Aircooled link=topic=9984.msg197057#msg197057 date=1234991859]
It takes roughtly 40 hp to move 800 cfm at 10 psi of boost.
That system will be lucky to generate 1/2 a psi of boost at engine redline.
[/quote]
and points out why ram air systems are .. for looks
[/quote]
Turk saw actual benefit from the scoop on the camaro....at 250mph. HA!
Brian
Written by oldsman496
Feb 18 2009
Ya know...if you use a throttle cable from a lawmower, coat hangers for 'brackets', and duct tape to mount a couple of those butane refill canisters to shoot into your carb, it'll cause a big fire......I was young. it was the 70's. i dont remember much else...
Written by Aircooled
Feb 18 2009
It takes roughtly 40 hp to move 800 cfm at 10 psi of boost.
That system will be lucky to generate 1/2 a psi of boost at engine redline.
[quote author=dieselgeek link=topic=9984.msg197367#msg197367 date=1235011200]
[quote author=Stoneshrink link=topic=9984.msg197321#msg197321 date=1235008111]
[quote author=fine59 link=topic=9984.msg196919#msg196919 date=1234976692]
well hell why not...i heard they were stuffing toyota motors in cameros
[/quote]
Not a chance, and there's a snowball's chance that a magazine devoted to American cars would ever feature the product of such incest. However, as it was the April magazine, perhaps it was just some sad joke....
[/quote]
chad and shaun and I worked at a place together, where we were building a 70 Dart with a 2JZ in it. Only, this 2JZ was prepped for alcohol and 1400-1600hp. The chassis work was done - beautifully - by Fast Eddie in SoCal. He's the shit! The motor was built, we *almost* made Drag Week 2007 with it.
2/3 of us got laid off the week after Drag Week. Economic downturn sucks. But we were told, if we finished it, it would likely get a feature in HRM just for being different. Even if it was an April Fool's joke, the 2JZ Camaro is a bitchin ride and there's a lot of logic with that powerplant (cheapest big power available) in that car.
[/quote]
ahhh yes i remember this because we had alot of crazy ideas going back and forth on this project.