Re: nitrous in Alfa

[Ed Lutz <montjuic@domain.elided>]

I cant say specifically about using it in the Alfa but can pass on some 
general nitrous info. I used it pretty extensively in the past in a Detroit 
muscle car (1970 Dodge Challenger, built 383, aprox 600hp with NO2). In 
general, the load on a motor is much like a turbo or supercharger except it 
generally hits harder. A basic nitrous system is all or nothing, meant to 
be used at wide open, or near wide open throttle only. If you hit it at 
small throttle openings it doesn't really work right. You get power, but 
the mixture gets wonky (technical term) and the power delivery isn't good. 
Some newer systems have a staged delivery that allows them to be used 
before you hit full throttle but they still don't really work like a turbo 
or supercharger in that you wont find them useful for mid range, part 
throttle general power increases. These staged systems are meant to allow 
the nitrous to come on slower to keep from braking the tires loose. The 
drag racers can hit the juice sooner without over powering the track. Now I 
did use mine for a shot of power between corners (the car was NOT a drag 
racer) but you really need to be sure your pointed in a straight line. I 
guess the trick is to just be sure this is the type of power you want. If 
you decide to go forward with it, then be careful. Nitrous will thoroughly 
trash a motor in a few seconds of screaming detonation if things are set up 
wrong. Start with an overly rich mixture and experiment in slow stages. The 
killers will be the added power breaking rods or the crank, and detonation 
destroying the head, pistons, rings, etc. I have no doubt that an Alfa 
motor could be set up with an NO2 system, just go slow and careful. You've 
never heard detonation like a nitrous system gone wrong.

Ed

At 10:52 PM 3/29/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 17:39:55 PST
>From: "m williams" <gturismo62@domain.elided>
>Subject: nitrous in Alfa
>
>Would anyone know if it is possible to fit a nitrous oxide system to a stock
>Alfa 105 2-liter engine without damaging it?  For such a beautiful car, a
>puny 110 HP(at the Flywheel?, not the wheels?) does not do it justice!!  I
>don't want to compete with Camaros and Corvettes, but would like to have
>another 25-50 HP on demand without totally rebuilding the engine to get it.
>Would modifications still  have to be made just to withstand the use of the
>nitrous?  All advice and suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks
>Mark
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