Fastest Hotairs?

[Saladin45]

How fast have you guys managed to get your hotair Buicks? I've been looking into buying a GN for a little while now. And I'm just wondering if Hotair's are at all capable of being race vehicles. I mean, real contenders, even though they are hotair? Also, if they are, how fast can they go? I saw a thread title that said something about 12seconds? Can you get them lower than that? Or is that basically the limit?

-Saladin

 

[Boost231]

there are a few that are in the 11's i would have been there if i didnt lift a head and there are alot running low to mid 12's

 

[Saladin45]

So 11's are possible. That's a good thing to hear.
Are there any positives and negatives to having a hotair versus an intercooler?

(As in, detrimental on a serious level versus positive on a high level)

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

The issue of the intercooler is irrelevant due to todays technology. The real issue is the 86/87 turbo setup allows you to put on a much larger turbo than you can ever put on a Hot Air. The 86/87 setup with the intercooler and a bigger turbo and alky will be much better than any hot air setup. My 2 cents. Brad

 

[cool 84]

So 11's are possible. That's a good thing to hear.
Are there any positives and negatives to having a hotair versus an intercooler?

(As in, detrimental on a serious level versus positive on a high level)

You have to upgrade the turbo and headers/downpipe sooner on the hotairs. The stock turbo will only take you to around 105mph and that's stretching it. The intake manifold is worse in stock form but will flow pretty well when ported.

Mine has always run good for the number of mods. It went 13.9@101mph with a Spearco frontmount and K&N on pumpgas, 13psi, and street tires. I added headers, downpipe, and fuelpump and went 105mph but I was out of turbo and broke two stockers. Added a little TA49 and ported intake and went 12.9@110mph but it had a ton of problems. I made two passes and left frustrated directly after the second. I had to get the car smogged the day before and showed up at the track with a tiny generic catalytic convertor and exhaust leak before the turbo. The car would pretty much use half of the track to spool and eventually overboost and I would have to backpeddle to control boost.

I haven't had the chance to get my current combo to the track but it's a completely different animal now. The list of kills if impressive but I want to get it to the track one day. I think I'm done with mods for now because it spends 99% of it's time on the street, and on drag radials traction is a problem at most legal speeds. If I ever do more mods it will be with a stage motor. Just ran across a virgin 4.1 stage II block for $200.

Keep in mind there's far less aftermarket and tech help for the hotairs. If I had it to do over again, I would start with an IC car but I'm kind of glad I stuck it out with the hotair just because it's rare.

 

[cool 84]

The issue of the intercooler is irrelevant due to todays technology. The real issue is the 86/87 turbo setup allows you to put on a much larger turbo than you can ever put on a Hot Air. The 86/87 setup with the intercooler and a bigger turbo and alky will be much better than any hot air setup. My 2 cents. Brad

You can get a stock housing turbo capable of nearly 650hp so that covers 100% of hotair owners and most stock block cars. The intercooler is relevant. It makes a ton more power with the intercooler especially at high boost. No doubt methanol works but is not a substitute for an intercooler for many reasons. When I added the intercooler, it made a power difference at even low throttle. Charge air temps dropped across the board, not just under heavy throttle.

 

[Saladin45]

Now here's something. With the earlier models, is it possible to fit a bigger turbo if you change things around? (Per say, the engine block replaced?) Or is it just the frame itself that disallows the use of a larger turbocharger?

 

[PsYcHo GN]

Now here's something. With the earlier models, is it possible to fit a bigger turbo if you change things around? (Per say, the engine block replaced?) Or is it just the frame itself that disallows the use of a larger turbocharger?

Be realistic for a moment. If you're willing to replace the engine block to add a bigger turbo, then why not just buy an IC car to begin with. Save yourself a lot of time and a lot of money in the long run. Also the IC cars retain their resale value much more than hot air cars. Pay a little more now, but save a lot more in the end. Simple mathematics.

 

[Saladin45]

I'm not replacing it just to install a new turbo though.

I want to put in a much more powerful engine than a 350. Dig me?

It would be indeed foolish to replace the engine with something similar and spend so much money just to put in a bigger turbo. That'd be a waste of money and it wouldn't get you too much more power in the long run versus the amount of money you put in. No, no, you see, I want to totally transform the car into something of mine. You dig me?

 

[cool 84]

The problem is you can't physically fit a bigger turbo (actually you can with a little work) than a stock 87 in the hotair location because it will rub on the intake manifold or hood. This is not a problem because you can put nearly any wheels in the stock housings up to ~650hp. Turbo size is not a problem unless you want more than 650hp. The engine block has nothing to do with this. If you find a hotair really cheap it might be worth it, especially if you're going to upgrade the turbo, headers, intercooler, anyway. Again, keep in mind that there's not as much aftermarket or tech support.

 

[Saladin45]

650 horse power is pretty good.

This is the thing though. Can't you have a rear mounted turbo? Sure it costs more, but it's in the long run going to fix that problem of turbo size.

What do you mean by aftermarket parts for it? Like, as in, buying specific 1984 replacement parts? If so, I could just buy something new, right? Or do you mean something that is specific to the car's body or car's setup that is hard to find?

 

[cool 84]

Rear mount is crap. Try putting a big turbo on a little V6 near the back bumper and see how well it spools. Again, I doubt you're going to ever run out of turbo in the stock location and a couple people have fit a bigger "TE" series turbo with slight modification.

As far as specific parts, the uppipe and passenger header are getting harder to get. Don't know who makes a good downpipe anymore and I don't think anyone makes a 3". I don't think you can buy an intercooler kit anymore, you will have to make a homemade setup like mine which is not big deal, I have a total of $450 and three days work invested and I'm extremely happy with it. Everything from the heads up is much more rare. I'm lucky to have a few spare motors laying around.

 

[GMV6TURBOPOWER]

why not put the 86 87 parts on the 84 85 long block?swap intakes and exhaust manifolds down pipes and accessories?i know there a few parts too but you get the idea.we all don't have welders or the experience of fabricating parts but i bet most of us can unbolt and bolt on some other parts?

 

[WIKEDV6]

I believe Lee Thompson on this board had one of the fastest hot air cars running in the low 11's. Now he switched to 86/87 setup along with a stage II and knocking down 135+ mph with easy launch. If you are looking for 650 hp, the best option is to convert it to 86/87 setup. We have taken hot air motors and converted to86/87 setup and ran 10.60's @ 126 with stock cam still in it. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

HTH
Prasad

 

[T- Type Tim]

Which turbo setup makes 650 hp , in the stock housing? I've been getting the itch to go bigger than my cheetah.(much bigger)

 

[WIKEDV6]

Which turbo setup makes 650 hp , in the stock housing? I've been getting the itch to go bigger than my cheetah.(much bigger)

Well, I guess how well you are connected. I have seen a stock appearing 66mm turbo. Some custom jobber. If you know someone that can machine/weld up the housing with some custom work, it's possible. I didn't measure the wheel out personally but the car was running low 10's. It was an 86/87 stock appearing turbo setup.

HTH

Prasad

 

[cwmccray]

I believe Lee Thompson on this board had one of the fastest hot air cars running in the low 11's. Now he switched to 86/87 setup along with a stage II and knocking down 135+ mph with easy launch. If you are looking for 650 hp, the best option is to convert it to 86/87 setup. We have taken hot air motors and converted to86/87 setup and ran 10.60's @ 126 with stock cam still in it. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

HTH
Prasad

Lee got into the 10.60 with his HOT AIR and a 4.1 stage block. It was stock appearing also:biggrin: Lee probably could have gotten in the low 10's. His car was AHEAD of its time, all one off part he built. His tune was on kill.

 

[Boost231]

would have been nice to see the 3.8 get into the 10's but it only went low 11's