C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Old turbo set-up

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-20-2023, 04:33 PM
  #1  
FASTAZU
Race Director

Thread Starter
 
FASTAZU's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2002
Location: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
Posts: 11,329
Received 910 Likes on 583 Posts
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '16
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

Default Old turbo set-up

Looking for any information on this turbo-kit. Car was built in the early 80s. been in storage over 20 years.



The following 4 users liked this post by FASTAZU:
4-vettes (11-21-2023), Douglas Mariani (11-21-2023), interpon (11-21-2023), James in MT (11-20-2023)
Old 11-20-2023, 04:58 PM
  #2  
Greg
Just another Corvette guy
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Greg's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 1999
Location: Palm Springs, CA.
Posts: 8,518
Received 3,836 Likes on 1,783 Posts

Default

You can contact Rotomaster direct at:
https://rotomaster.com/products/turbochargers/
They're still in business, over in Mesa, AZ.
Old 11-21-2023, 04:22 AM
  #3  
4-vettes
Le Mans Master
 
4-vettes's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2006
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 8,574
Received 4,570 Likes on 2,757 Posts
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran

Default

Very retro looking car. Looks worth saving to me!
Old 11-21-2023, 09:01 AM
  #4  
Jebbysan
Dr. Detroit
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Jebbysan's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: New Braunfels Texas
Posts: 9,963
Received 3,893 Likes on 2,564 Posts

Default

Wow.....like it was built in 1980 and then never touched again!

Jebby
Old 11-21-2023, 09:48 AM
  #5  
Tranz Zam
Burning Brakes
 
Tranz Zam's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: MA
Posts: 965
Received 732 Likes on 410 Posts
Default

That setup is badass! I'd try and see how much power you can squeeze out of it with today's technology.
Old 11-22-2023, 01:23 PM
  #6  
70s
Instructor
 
70s's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: NH
Posts: 218
Received 107 Likes on 72 Posts
Default

RV Turbo, Inc out of California (Texas was another address) made that kit. The turbo is a Rayjay and I think Rotor-Master re-sold them or possibly modified them. Regardless, those original companies are long gone and so are the people that knew anything about the products.

Back in the 1970's with the new emissions standards the power and compressions fell. The demand for power was still there at the consumer level so lots of enterprising companies popped up. There were a lot turbo kit's that came out for cars, trucks, motorhomes, and motorcycles. But it was a time between technologies. Most cars were carburetor and the old turbos were slow to boost. Small companies popped up taking turbos from aircraft and industrial markets then applied them to the other markets. Few achieved emissions compliance that were required so failed. Consumer's liked the idea of bolt-on power so turbo kits came about. Slap a kit on your L-48 Corvette engine with 8.5 compression and dreams were made. Not much of a dream though as the kits, or setting them up properly, was beyond most and the power boost was weak compared to what current turbo tech can provide. We know now that modern heads and roller cam will make more power all the time than the old school turbo kits gave with 5-7ps boost and the modernized naturally aspirated engine give the power all the time not just after the old turbo lag kicks in. And the real estate the turbo kits needed meant losing A/C compressors and serviceability. Its cool nostalgia though!

I like the Greenwood/ACI body kit on that car. Also cool nostalgia. Like the IMSA race cars back in the 1970s.

Get notified of new replies

To Old turbo set-up




Quick Reply: Old turbo set-up



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:23 AM.