An LS motor might be better to start with.....
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/build-a-turbocharged-600hp-ls-motor-for-under-2500-1693906759
On E85, you could probably kick the boost up and make an easy 700 hp.....

Here's another build....
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pr...roject-cars/1404-how-to-boost-a-5-3l-ls-engine-611-horsepower-alternative-fuel/

Running on alcohol, you can build the motor up to 11.0:1 static compression ratio and run without detonation. That's about what the Alcohol Funny Cars in NHRA do, although they are on 100% methanol, not 85% ethanol. Personally, I might cap such a build at about 9.0:1 and intercool the boost until I could run 15 lbs without detonating.
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An LS motor might be better to start with.....
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/build-a-turbocharged-600hp-ls-motor-for-under-2500-1693906759
On E85, you could probably kick the boost up and make an easy 700 hp.....

In terms of power I agree an LS would be better, however, I live in a fairly rural part of Nebraska so an LS is not so easy to come by for cheap. Sbc 350s, even vortecs, are easy to find in salvage yards here. Not to mention an LS would be far more expensive

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It'll work but man alive Im not sure a stock gen 1e piston (or the crack prone heads) is going to like (no offense) a couple rookies playing catch-up on a carby boosted setup. You better jet that SOB pig rich and take huge amounts of notes as you dial everything down.

I havent SEEN an old school blow through setup in at least 16yrs, except a couple Dodge Daytonas.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-1211-e85-carburetor-conversions-tech-questions-ask-anything/

How are you guys planning on monitoring things?

Talk to Jim (Nailhead) he has a home built turbo SBC he did on the cheap. I bet both Erics have some experience converting carbs to E85 too

 

We were planning on using an O2 sensor to monitor air/fuel ratio so we don't go lean and toast things. Like I said in my first post, it's not built for longevity, it's more of a build it and see how much power it makes and how long it lasts before it scatters part numbers. That being said, as wrong as we do things, we don't want to do it so wrong that it doesn't work at all.

Edit: No offense to being called "rookies," that's what we are. I do have some experience with small block chevy engines, I built one a while back for my pickup that runs very well, however it's naturally aspirated, and boost is a whole new ball game.

 

Some more articles for ideas and tuning hints:

1,000 HP for $1,000:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-1009-cheap-turbos-from-ebay-on-a-350-small-block-engine

Stock Ford 351W to 1,000+ HP:

How to Push a Junkyard 351 Windsor Past 1,000 HP! - Big-Bang 351W

Trying to blow up a turbo'd stock Chevy 305:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/engine-masters-ep-13-asks-much-nos-305-take-305-take-nos

A budget idea is twin used turbos from 4 cylinder engines on a V8... and as seen above, E-85 hassle isn't needed to make good power...
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Maybe we should just build a 14:1 motor with some good heads and a decent cam and get high 400s for horsepower naturally aspirated on E85

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If you want to do something 'hoon-worthy'; grab (2) junkyard turbos from 2.5-3.5L engines (watch out for some of the 90s dodge daytona stuff, they have a weird flange) , a vortec motor, knockoff Vortec intake, use a carb 'box' from someone like Vortech, and run it on 93 octane until you get the bugs worked out. Use a SNOW methanol inj kit and a WBO2. Hell skip the intercooler, just have fun with it!
If you dont blow it up; THEN go E85 with better heads and a boost happy cam.
If you can score a low mileage diesel pickup single turbo, you can go that route too.

Weld up some manifolds out of schedule 40 Weld Els and be done - shred tires and collect speeding tickets. Just make sure whatever you're putting this in is SAFE. That it turns and stops decent.

I had a bunch of friends that were doing JYT (junk yard turbo) TT302s in their 5-ohs 20 or so years ago.
B303 cam
GT40P heads
Rising Rate FPR
Usually a cobbled in intercooler that honestly wasnt worth it.

Pretty stone-age stuff, but it was good for 450-500 ponies, until you split the block or fragged the trans

 

After reading everyone's opinion we might be better off using a high compression NA engine on alcohol

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What are your goals with this?

500hp is nice to say you have. But you need to think about what that additional stress means to the rest of the drivetrain. If you put the peak up high a majority of the time you will be running let's just say 350 hp.

Better to build an engine with a low peak with flat curve. Torque is what moves you.

Now with that in mind a low rpm spool turbo and engine built with 380-400ft/lbs peak torque around 3000 can be done using junk yard parts and it will be reliable. But to do it right you are realistically talking $2500-3000. Closer to $4500 for reliable parts.

That being said you can take a junkyard 454 run different heads and make some nice numbers for cheap by making it into a 468. With peak torque around 3000-3500 you can have your power and rthee85 if you want more power a 496 is always an option. $468 can be built for around $3500 and 496 around $4500.

Or just keep you eye out for a vortec 8100. These engines make torque right off idle and peak around 3000. While they are not a LS they also can actually be found in a junkyard or Craigslist in front of a blown transmission.
They can make impressive numbers when the gearing is done correctly. A few simple things can get you to 450 hp and 500 ftlbs with a flat curve that will have you snapping axleshafts for 200,000 miles. A entire truck can be found for $2000 (salvaged for1/2 that) and engine refreshed(seals, sensors& some bolt on's)for a total of $3000. If you want that higher number you can get there in stages allowing you to run the thing instead of having a $4500 hit to your account.

 

Im really not a 'special fuel' or high-compression fanatic (unless it involves hairdryers, leafblowers or other spinny boosty things). My personality has always gravitated to the smoother idle sleeper with a small roots or vortech/turbos. Don't know why, other than I like the idea of not needing gnarly valvesprings, tempermental tunes, being hamstrung by fuel quality, and pulled over by the cops often.
64Nailhead's father/son G-body is so clean and yet its got enough bite to settle a grudge pretty easy. Take a look and see what you think: https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/g-body-80-cutlass-457746.html

That being said, I think everyone should A. Ride a rigid Harley, B. Shoot a 12ga, C. Drive a 4speed, D. Experience a high compression, nasty idling, fights with me in traffic, tempermental as #### engine at least once in their life.

My life experience has given me enough of A and D. But a boosted V8 that pulls like a freight train and stomps street cars after comfortably idling in downtown traffic? To me thats the epitome of cool right now.
You could probably build a junker turbo engine with some 76cc smogger heads on a forged shortblock with a big single turbo for pretty damn cheap. Throw a TPI intake on it and Megasquirt