You have to look at the compressor curves for the efficient boost zones...the bigger the turbo, in general, the higher the boost with regard to efficiency. The smaller turbo will spool more quickly at lower boost than will the larger one.
I have three cars...a GN, a T, and and an Elky.
The GN has a 45, a front mount, roller cam, ported heads, 3800 stall converter, 75# injectors.
My son's T has a 44, oem IC, stock cam, ported heads, 2800 converter, 50# injectors.
Both have alcohol.
At 16# of boost, my car is slow to spool relatively speaking and his is instaneous...if we go against each other, he is gone while mine takes a second to wind up against the converter and take after him. His car is a lot more fun to drive.
At 23# of boost on alky...I am flowing a lot more air at 23# because of the cam, and the front mount....plus my turbo is finally getting into an efficient area of operation....it ain't no contest.
Remember that boost is the pressure it takes to push air into the engine. It does not necessaryily relate to volume, tho. Stock heads are a bottleneck and when you run 16# of boost, it is not as much air going into the engine as there would be with a set of well ported heads at 16#. The ported heads would be passing more volume and the volume of air forced into the cylinder is where the cylinder pressure comes from.
It's kinda like a water hose. If you put your thumb over the end of the hose and squirt it, the water may be going faster or harder, but less water is coming out all the same. What counts is the total amount that comes out, not the pressure behind it in our case.
Where is JOhn Estill when you need him? He explains much better.
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