Mike-
I've yet to see any turbo system that REALLY uses any considerable/measurable amounts of HP from a motor. I will agree w/ you on the issues regarding parasitic losses of a S/C vs. a turbo. However, most turbos serve no real " problem " in regards to power losses in the parasitic area. They may add backpressure to the system, but as long as the exhaust path is efficient enough i.e. 3" or larger, the turbo is fine. S/C have long been popular w/ the drag racing crowd for many reasons, including reliability and simplicity. This is also usually the big block/small block crowd, who will sacrifice 25-50hp for a 200-300 hp gain. That's why you see most imports w/ turbos, although some silly people like those Jackson Racing s/c's. I'm still hesistant to consider a turbo for my 80, on the grounds of underhood heat and complexity of the system. Most OEM/Aftermarket wastegates were not designed w/ the extremes of 4Wheeling in mind. I doubt many cast and/or SS manifolds would appreciate being heated up to 1200 degree plus, then dunked in icy river water or mud... you don't see that kind of stuff often on a race track. The Safari system may be different, and I understand that they use a fairly beefy manifold. But I still think that the intricacies of a turbo system and the delicacies are too large to deny. Wastegate springs, blow-off valve springs, boost controllers, they are all factors and pieces that must be bulletproof for a turbo system to be 100%. I just don't feel like any aftermarket people make pieces like that yet. Some may argue the point of Pikes Peak racers and Baja and such, and I'll quickly point out that those vehicles are SPECIALLY designed and engineered for such extremes. Some of the manifolds for turbos on Pikes Peak cars cost in excess of $8k. That's JUST the manifold. The wastegates are fluid-damped to prevent g-shock loading of the mechanisms and so-on and so-forth. Anybody w/ a Safari turbo system that really wheels it hard? I mean Rubicon trail, Moab Rim, Tellico hard? For more than a year? I'm curious to know about the long term durability of the turbo system, say 2-5 years... Anybody? If someone can show me evidence of that system holding up to that kind of use over the years, then I'll look hard at designing one of my own... I've got the access to the piping, wastegates, blow-off valves, I/C's engine management and such... the Safari Kit is actually pretty simple and easy to duplicate...
J