A friend of mine says my engine's life will be shorter is I put a charger or turbo. Is this true? This is b/c our engines have a high compression ratio?

 

Yes, this is true. A good tune is very important, but on a stock shortblock it may last 40,000 more miles, or 40 miles, you never know

 

The short answer is yes. But that has alot of varibles. My stock motor lasted for several years and about 95,000 supercharged miles(total of 114,000). As I tell most people that want to go forced induction it can work right, but the tune has to be dead on, and the supporting systems need to be on the car(fuel,computer,cooling etc). If you go cheap and don't set it up right don't start. Wait until you have enough to do it correctly which can easily add another 2-3000 dollars to the cost of the blower itself. Also plan to start up a rebuild budget, because it will happen sooner or later. But once its all setup and the whine is purring under the hood it is a BIG RUSH! Hope this helps Good Luck!

 

Thanks. I was trying to figure out if I want to go that route or do a head/cam setup. Decisions decisions.

 

It is possible to make a blown LT1 last, but a good tune is required and some discipline. It's very easy to lean the motor out a little to get some more power or change the pullies.

The old standard is "Don't go forced induction unless you're ready to rebuild. It's not a question of if, but when." Mine lasted 3 years and finally gave up the ghost.

 

If you use Methanol/water injection to prevent detonation you can run full timing and your engine will last a lot longer.
The cheapest kit is 240.00 but for 450.00 you can have one with progressive variable controllers and a low fluid level warning light (very important) That's how the tractor pull guys get those insane boost levels.

 

I am sure that the Meth/water injection works, but I would say a good tune is better. Also I am able to run full timing. Like I said before get the motor "dialed in" first before you get on it. If its not running correctly get it fixed properly and the motor will make power and last.

 

I think it all depends on how those miles are spent. If your going to gun it all the time under boost, the motor will not last as long. If your going to cruise it on the freeway, it will go many more miles. I am somewhere in between.

Bottom line is that if your going to bolt on a lung, don't expect too many extra miles out of it compared to a N/A motor.

 

Yes bolting on a turbo will shorten the stock engines life. But hp for hp its the "softest"power adder compred to nitrous, charger or going all out n/a. Once built your turbo engine and maintain it, it will outlast a n/a engine of the same power because of its longer softer combustion burn.

EDS z28 yo made a good point. But also if you have a slower car you tend to spin it more and rmps kill engines. If you bolt on a turbo and learn to shift early you can increase the life while still being allot faster.