Maniac... I understand 2 stroke pipe design and the marketing of it...You bring up some good points!!
I have seen some of the turbo-specific pipes... they claim thicker metal on them and stronger welds..
My question is specific for the pipe mfgs as to what is THEIR pipe supposed to do and why.. It may take a while for them to chime in but I'm sure it will come.
Porting does make a difference for a turbo... but that porting can affect different aspects of the engine operation.
As is done all too often in the performance world (be it cars, boats, sleds, bikes etc)... Parts are bolted on as they see fit and not looked at from a "systems approach".
All the pipes in the world wont make the system work better if the system, including the pipe, is not looked at as a whole.
That system includes head design, porting, compression, airbox, turbo size, charge temps, charge tract restriction, exhaust restriction and many other factors. I don't know of a two stroke efi Turbo kit out there that has any control over ignition whatsoever... a major factor to be addressed if turbo systems are to gain flexibility in more riding situations... simply being able to add or subtract more fuel by modifying the ECU's output to the injectors is a good first step in making a good turbo system... but lets not kid ourselves here... turbo design is still in it's infancy today... only 3 years ago.. Turbo 2-strokes were looked at as "exotic"... now they are commonplace...
I cant see what happens when true refinement of the turbo hardware and control systems makes its way into the kit offerings. Surely fitting an automotive turbocharger to a snowmobile 2-stoke is not the optimal way to do it... I see efforts from producers like Tial to offer items to be tailored for the application, Aerocharger has shown that in a WELL DESIGNED system, they can prove to be a great setup... but we still have not seen a specific housing/compressor/turbine with the demands of a 2-stroke turbo system for a snowmobile specifically addressed.
In a turbo pipe ... I would hope that the issues of the user are taken into consideration... Some people want decent power on top, but really want a good grunty motor in the trees... willing to sacrifice that last speck of power for more user friendly traits throughout the powerband (eg's of some pro riders that fit this bill, Adams, Burandt, Rasmusen). Some people want to strictly top end power and every last drop that engine can muster (eg's Phelan, Davidoff, Story)...
One pipe fits all will not do the trick here... Nor does "one turbo system fits all" fit the bill.
IMO... look at the style of riding that ANYONE recommending performance part does, the location, altitude and experience level before you figure you should look to that person for guidance.
All too often I have read on the forums and talked to people that say things like... "My Race Gas T-800 makes 270 hp and climbs like no other...I can boondock it as well as any other machine out there"... In reality... I find that hard to believe.. Kind of like saying that your Funny Car makes a good rally car.
The world of performance is full of compromise... get more bottom end, give up some top...and vice versa... Make more power... make it more finicky...
Don't get me wrong...People like Adams and Burandt can ride the pizz out of a race gas turbo in the trees and bury all other people trying to follow... but are YOU Adams or Burandt??? Even close???
To me, a turbo-specific pipe should address some need... more bottom end response... OR more top end power... Faster spool... etc etc.. but in the end, it should deliver something that the customer wants to address and not just be an ambiguous "Better for Turbo applications"
I come back to my original question for the TURBO pipe makers...
I'd like to hear what specifically makes it better for a turbo or at least what the Mfg is trying to achieve with the pipe.
Shane S, Shane H, Gar, Derek F, Travis, Chris K, Junior, Erick, Brad, TJ, Dustin, and many other turbo kit and part makers that I see lurking on this thread.... chime in .... lets get a good level headed, fact filled presentation going here instead of all the voodoo talk and "chest-beating" that has been put out there for the customer to sift through.
