Hey All,

I have been researching and planning on dropping a 440 in my Dart but it is starting to look like a huge project I don’t have a ton of time for and the car has a good running slant as is. I’d like to turbo it but am completely unfamiliar with turbos. I can weld and love tinkering. I’d like to build a manifold with a j pipe similar to the Pishta mani. Is there a link to a simple turbo build or can you provide some recommendations? Car will be street only mainly just cruising but want to be able to hit the gas and have some fun.

The simplest setup for a turbo is from a '78 - '83 Buick Regal or Rivera. The Regal requires an adapter for the manifold and a hole in the hood. The Rivera requires modifying the intake. Both would require an electric fuel pump with a possible return line. Both have about 10psi built into them. Both are draw thru setups. Both would require custom throttle/kickdown linkage. A complete setup, which would include the proper Q-Jet is around $300 on ebay. An alternative is the turbo from a '80 - '81 Pontiac Trans Am. This would be similar to the Buick Regal, just a little larger and costs more.

Easiest thing I can think is to call Gill Welding near Knoxville, TN and see what they can do for you. It will not be cheap, but it will be very cool. I have a turbo car and am working on another, but I roll all my own stuff so it takes some work and fiddlin (which is what I like).

J pipe with a Buick GN turbo and internal wastegate (similar to what Kesteb says) would be easiest. Tuning carb could be tough, depending on your skillz.

Lou

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I don't think that retrofitting an EFI setup to run a GN turbo setup falls under "simple".

Agreed. While carb tuning will be annoying, it will be less work than EFI install and much less $$. The carb will just never run as well.

Lou

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