Technical High altitude engine build?

True. Here in Albuquerque we are at 5400' and DA is normally 7200' in the summer. Cars usually run a full second slower than at a sea level strip. Let that sink in for a moment. Sheesh....

In building a naturally aspirated car that's going to spend a lot of time at higher elevation (like mine) you can get away with another full point of compression, run a few more degrees of advance, and deeper gear the car to get it up an moving off the line.

As for power adders, a larger turbo can overcome the altitude and put out nearly the same power. A 10psi wastegate spring enables the car to build 10psi where ever its at if the turbo is large enough can push it in lighter air. Lag becomes greater in the lighter air. A supercharger car can be setup with smaller pullies to make the same boost but the engine is working harder to produce power and turn the blower. Also, smaller pullies equates to more heat. Nitrous tunes can be a touch leaner up here and are adding hp to significantly reduced engine hp.

If you can put together a combo that runs hard up here, when you take it to a sea level track hold the eff on. Just remember to run a bit more octane down there.

 

Thanks guys, all good advice!