I am in the stages of getting a new engine and want to do it right the first time. I would like to get a turbo for it but currently can not afford it. If I get an engine with low compression and no turbo, how poorly will it run?

 

TheDon, it will run like poop stock with no forced induction. The reason you lower the compression with a forced induction engine is that a turbo and supercharger both "compress" the air increasing your compression expodentially....ie, my engine is 8.73 without my blower...but with my blower could go as high as 16:1...not that that is my actual final compression but that's an example of why you want a lower compression beforehand. IMO I would wait if you can and get the turbo on before you light em' up. Again, my opinion.

 

actually a low compression 350 or 383 will run good, and from 8:1 to 11:1 compression will only yeild about 3 percent more power, however it will increase gas mileage by ma higher percentage. you then have to run better fuel wich cost more though (catch 22?). a good compromise would be pistons that are 9:1 for a 64cc head with a thin gasket, and when you do the forced induction put a thicker gasket on and have the chambers opened up to 76cc. by yourself or have a shop do it for you. compression has less to do with total power, and more to do with effiecency and detonation. heads and cam timing are also part of the combination that will in a sense dictate your compression ratio. small cams with little overlap like a turbo cam would be wont mix well with high compression, neither do big cams like low compression.