Quick Ferrari Engine Hop Up Question..supercharger??

[Gray Smith]

Hey guys,

I've started some minor work again on my 356 Daytona kit..and if you remember its going to be a slightly modified street car/weekend racer version. I've reached a point on the engine where I can't figure out how to move forward. I want to do an induction set-up different than whats in the kit(actually too late for that since i've already modified the kit parts..possibly beyond repair) I originally thought of doing a cold-air/ram box similar to what i've seen on the vintage racing Daytonas, but that would hide alot of detail, then I thought about an efi set-up with an induction box in cf and with the eyelets I've got as throttle body inlets. I actually started on that route, but the clearance from the top of the air box, to the bottom of the hood is too tight for me to put the eyelets in place without some major cutting to reduce the height....which isn't easy either because of clearance with the heads, and cam covers. Then I though of something else...has anyone ever seen a supercharged Ferrari? Would that be sacrilege to the Prancing Horse badge? I've got the airbox, and since this machine will be a racer, a belt driven supercharger would mount up very nicely to where the a/c compressor normally sits. It was a thought, since I've got another idea of salvaging the kit carbs, and doing something with them..but not as cool as forced induction. Now if I go the route of the centrifugal charger, where might I find one that has a slight vintage look...or shall I say a "Ferrari" look...or if anyone can point me to a tutorial on how to scratch one up I could try that...

Thanks in advance guys, i've gotten inspired again to work on this kit, and i've got everything else pretty much figured out except this darn well detailed motor!

Gray "the cornfused modeler"

[Ken]

Several of the Ferrari models have been supercharged or at least turbo-ed. First one I think of is the 388 GTO from the late eighties. I also believe that the F-40 and 50 might have been turbo-ed or Supercharged. I would say to go for it. If you have a Polar Lights Ford GT or any of it's AMT derivatives, that has a good looking modern supercharger in it. You could fab up a intake manifold for it from the kit six carb intake. Most of all, it is your kit, build it how you like!!!!!!

[Brendan]

I don't know of any Ferrari being supercharged off hand. But there are quite a few that were turbo charged. The F40 is a turboed V8. I know Fiat did supercharge some of their motors, and so did Alfa Romeo. I don't think it would really matter. You can just say it's an aftermarket part that was added to the car.

[ismaelg]

Gray,

You are on the right path. Turbocharging is far more common, but back in 1953 a twin supercharged V-12 Ferrari engine was used to power a record breaking BOAT! The engine had the 2 blowers at the back and a 4 choke Weber fed each one.

Here are some pictures

But even better: Here is a link to a 1/8 model of the engine. There are many detailed pics you can use as reference.

1/8 scale twin supercharged Ferrari engine

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

[Gray Smith]

Gray,

You are on the right path. Turbocharging is far more common, but back in 1953 a twin supercharged V-12 Ferrari engine was used to power a record breaking BOAT! The engine had the 2 blowers at the back and a 4 choke Weber fed each one.

Here are some pictures

But even better: Here is a link to a 1/8 model of the engine. There are many detailed pics you can use as reference.

1/8 scale twin supercharged Ferrari engine

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

Dude! thats wicked! and its exactly what I was picturing a Ferrari supercharged set-up would look like...I knew you'd come to the rescue, plus thanks to the other guys who gave input as well, i've got a ford gt thats going to get torn apart for another project so I may try to pirate that blower and fashion something neat up. I'm gonna stick with supercharging because while twin turbos would be cool, they'd require some custom exhaust fab work that i'm not sure I could do yet... thanks for all the input guys, and Ken don't worry i'm building it how I wanna build it, I just needed a little guidance for(Paul Sr. voice) idears, If I were to build it how the purists would..it'd be stock...i'm not about stock, even on a classic Ferrari..lol.

Thanks again guys

Gray

[MikeMc]

Look for a paxton setup the old t birds used them in 1:1 not sure of any scale sets!

[Jairus]

Ferrari used a "Comprex" type of supercharger for Formula 1 back in the late 80's/early 90's.

From what I read and understood this device uses shock waves to compress air.

Inside the casing is finned wheels like the paddle wheel you see on the back of a riverboat. Essentially there are openings or ports on both sides of the casing which allow air and exhaust to enter the spaces between the fins respectively, much like a turbo. Air enters a port on the left side and the wheel spins closing off both the exhaust port and the intake port. The wheel rotates a little more allowing exhaust gases to enter from the right side at a high pressure and creates a shock wave pushing the fresh air against the left side of the casing, compressing it. The right side of the port opens. This port is sized smaller and the air must leave at a slower velocity than it wants to; creating a second shock wave back towards the right side of the wheel pushing the air against a closed port further compressing it. The compressed air is reflected off the port back to the left side of the wheel pushing the compressed air out.

Not a true "supercharger" and probably not what you were looking for so ..... never mind.

Photo courtesy of google.

[ismaelg]

The Comprex supercharger is some type of a hybrid between a supercharger and a turbo. It is belt driven for bias, but exhaust drives most of the compression duties. It is a rather complex system to explain. Think of it as a zero lag turbo. But, to further confuse you: Here is the Abstract of the Comprex Supercharger patent:

United States Patent 4563997

Abstract: A "comprex" supercharger, which has a rotor formed along its whole periphery with a plurality of axial cells wherein air introduced into the cells for supply to an internal combustion engine is compressed by engine exhaust gas introduced into the cells, is controlled by a control system such that a drive means for the rotor is controlled by an electronic control unit in response to output from engine operating condition sensors to control the rotational speed of the rotor so as to achieve optimum supercharging pressure to operating conditions of the engine.

Hope this confuses you!

Thanks,

[dub]

United States Patent 4563997

Abstract: A "comprex" supercharger, which has a rotor formed along its whole periphery with a plurality of axial cells wherein air introduced into the cells for supply to an internal combustion engine is compressed by engine exhaust gas introduced into the cells, is controlled by a control system such that a drive means for the rotor is controlled by an electronic control unit in response to output from engine operating condition sensors to control the rotational speed of the rotor so as to achieve optimum supercharging pressure to operating conditions of the engine.

Uh, yeah... uh, I'll take Jairus' explanation for $50, Bob, I mean Drew...