Can You Put A Turbo On A V8 Engine? (All You Need To Know)

Many car drivers wanted to put a turbo on their V8 engine. And so, let us learn if they can. We will further discuss this matter in the following sections.

So can you put a turbo on a V8 engine? Yes, you can. Many people would say that all engines can be turbocharged.

Turbos have a shaft and a turbine wheel, and a compressor wheel. These are covered by a snail-shaped housing that features an inlet port. The wasted exhaust gasses will enter at high pressure. 

The air will pass through the turbine, and the turbine will spin. The compressor will turn with it and draw a massive quantity of air. This air will then be compressed and passed out of the outlet port. 

A turbocharger is a component with a turbine and an air compressor. These turbines and air compressors will harness the waste exhaust gasses that are emitted from an engine. This will force a lot more air into the cylinders and help the engine produce more power. 

The turbos are made of a shaft with a turbine wheel on one end. It also has a compressor wheel on the other side. A snail-shaped housing then covers these, and it features an inlet port. So let us get started.

Can You Put A Turbo On A V8 Engine

Can You Install A Turbo On A V8 Engine?

The twin-turbo setup is more efficient to use in engines with two cylinders like the V6 engines or the V8 engines. This is because they both have two cylinders. The twin-turbo system is installed in each of the exhaust outlets of a V-configured engine because each bank has its cylinder head. 

People also say that anything can be turbocharged. You have to have a good exhaust gas flow to push the turbine around. 

It might not be easy, but you can use a supercharger instead. Engines can be turbocharged.

How To Put A Turbo On A V8 Engine?

You can follow these steps to put a turbo on a V6 engine. 

1. Compressor

On the cold side or the pressure side of the turbo system is a compressor. The fuel and the air will exit the exhaust port, spin the exhaust turbine wheel, and spin the turboshaft connected to the compressor wheel. The pitch of the wheel and the size of the wheel, and the shape of the top of the housing will tell the mixture of airflow and boat pressure. 

The rule is to pick the compressor size that can give efficiency. A small compressor wheel is an efficient lower in the rpm range. 

It will make more heat in the engine with high speeds. It will restrict flow in higher RPMs. A large compressor can boost lag.

2. Turbine

Choosing a turbine involves picking the wheel small enough to respond quickly and large to spin the compressor. The rule is to pick the minor wheel diameter that will give you and meet your horsepower goals. 

3. Bypass Valves

Boost pressure is made to create exhaust pressure and a spinning compressor wheel. It can feed the entire engine and give it more boost. 

This is called the overboost. It is controlled by a valve called a wastegate that bypasses the exhaust gasses around the turbo. 

How Much HP Does A Turbo Add To A V8?

A turbocharged engine is working with the exhaust system, and it can potentially give you gains of seventy (70) to one hundred dirty (150) horsepower. The supercharger is connected directly to the engine and will provide fifty horsepower to one hundred horsepower.

How Much Does It Cost To Put A Turbo On A V8?

This will depend on the vehicle, the situation, and the resources that are available to you. The overall cost of putting a turbo can range anywhere between five hundred dollars ($500) to five thousand dollars ($5,000). 

You can do negotiations and have a low price but a good quality. No one would want to spend a lot of money on poor quality. 

Is It Better To Turbo Or Supercharge A V8?

The supercharger has no lag. This is because the air pump is connected directly to the engine’s crankshaft. It is always spinning and responsive.

The power boost and the engine response will increase in direct proportion. The primary drawback of the turbo is boost lag. 

The supercharger is efficient. The superchargers use the engine’s power so that it can spin. Supercharged engines tend to be less fuel-efficient. 

Summary

In summary, turbo is famous for adding in engines. With that, people with vehicles have been asking if they can put a turbo on a V8 engine. 

You can put a turbo on a V8 engine. You can also seek expert knowledge from a certified mechanic.

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Image credits – Canva

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My name is Hank, and I've been in the automotive industry for 27 years. I've been working in my own auto repair shop for the last 13 years, and now I want to help you here, on my blog. Let me know if you have any questions. Read more