The 500hp Stock-Block Test
Following low-boost success the pressure was upped in 3psi intervals. At 14.6 psi the engine produced 387 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. At 18 psi the numbers jumped to 425 hp and 286 lb-ft of torque while 20 psi brought 454 hp and over 300 lb-ft of torque. Don't forget, save for pistons, this engine is nearly stock. While all of this sounds as easy as cranking up the boost, understand that ignition timing was reduced to less than 18 degrees and tailored to each new boost level to accommodate a safe mixture. The tuning sequence was as follows: Drop ignition timing, dial in the air/fuel mixture then run full timing at the new boost level. Anything else could have easily resulted in a bent or broken rod from excessive cylinder pressure. A turn of the boost controller's screw brought 22.4 psi and 485 hp right along with it. A slightly rising boost curve produced a peak torque output of 324 lb-ft of torque at 7,800 rpm. The quest's final step for 500 hp was to increase boost pressure to 24 psi where the little B16A produced peak numbers of 507 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. As fate would have it, dyno time was concluded shortly after reaching the 500hp mark.
Don't forget 507 hp from a near-stock B16A shows what is possible with proper tuning. While safeguards like sleeved cylinder walls, block guards, head studs and other precautionary measures are never a bad idea, remember that a little tuning goes a long way.
 The most important aspect...  The most important aspect of any turbo engine is tuning. The best forged internals imaginable won't stand up to poor tuning. The FAST management system was used to dial in the air/fuel ratio to a safe 11.5:1 mixture along with 18 degrees of timing. Each high-boost run was made using race fuel and with ambient water flowing through the Spearco intercooler. |  Both the normally aspirated...  Both the normally aspirated and turbocharged B16A combinations were run with Lucas synthetic oil. |  Once the engine was properly...  Once the engine was properly tuned, boost pressure was increased from 9.4 psi (325 hp) to a peak of 24 psi where the boosted B16A pumped out 507 hp at 7,900 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque at 7,700 rpm. When tuned right, stock blocks rule! |