Wait, I don't think anyone has addressed his Tornado question. Please, please don't buy a Tornado.

All right, then.

I agree with Pontiacjeff, but I'm also willing to go further and say that you can get a weaker turbo setup with the right flanges to put on a bigger turbocharger later, and then save up to build your engine with I-beam connecting rods and stronger bearings.

Good Info Jeff. Your the man who would know!

I've asked a couple mechanics about the possibility of putting a turbo on my standard LD5 3.8L 231 nested in my '81. The answer was a resounding NO, due to the thickness of the cylinder walls. If I'm not mistaken, the turbo version of the 3.8 offered in those years had a heavier block. Just a thought.

I have a little 2.0L 4cyl rated at 140hp at 5500rpms with nothing fancy but a killer turbo kit I built. It now makes about 425hp on 15psi boost at 7000rpms. There is no reason your engine can;t have a turbo.

Jeff, I've read before about your amazing 2L engine. Isn't that a Kia or something like that? I am absolutely floored by the awesomeness of the project, especially since you're using GM sensors. That'* way too awesome.

And I agree that you could pretty much put a turbo on anything. People say not to top-swap the L36 to a supercharger, but the difference is 205hp to about 24Xhp. But then people put onto an L36 simply a turbo and get up to 400hp based on tuning. There aren't too many horrifying stories. Sometimes oiling is a problem and blows out a bearing, but that'* happened to nearly stock L67s too.

"Every-saaaang Turrrrbo" (to borrow an old SNL phrase)

I though I read somewhere that those turbonator things actually work on carb'd cars?

The thing is that a turbonator is a $50 piece of metal. Even if there'* any benefit, that'* ridiculous. The thing is that a carburetor sits on top of the LIM and just shoots gasoline into the air that comes through. Then the air and gas mixture are sucked into the ports below at random dispersion. If the air that goes in spins, apparently that'* supposed to be better for air/fuel mixing and more even distribution among the cylinders. I don't believe it'* necessary. So many cars have for decades had about 600hp with no problems and no Turbonators.