5.8 Swap in the works, questions.

[Mustang Bob]

if you build a good enough engine you dont need any boost to run 12s.

[Mercracer]

if you build a good enough engine you dont need any boost to run 12s.

Sure..... a big enough engine and you can push a CV into the 9's...
With a street cruiser, it is much easier to have a 12 second 4000lb car if you add a little boost... No reason to sacrifice driveability.

[P72Ford]

if I understand this correctly, its basically moving X volume of air through a pipe of Y size. Decrease the size of the pipe (more restrictive engine), and the pressure goes up assuming the same volume. Conversely, increase the size of the pipe (improve the engine's airflow characteristics) and the pressure goes down for the same volume of air, yes?

Basically, yes.

I really don't want to get too crazy with theory...

But cross sectional geometry of the flow area is, in my opinion, the most important factor. Just to have a "large" cross section doesn't mean much. An appropriately sized cross section, with the correct geometry can easily move more air than just any old larger cross section.

We can use laminar flow in a pipe, where there is a nice parabolic velocity profile, as an example. For laminar flow in a pipe of a fixed cross section, a low volumetric flow rate (low fluid velocity... or poor flow, if you will) will yield a high pressure in the pipe. A large volumetric flow rate in the same pipe will yield a lower pressure.

But generally speaking, you can picture in your mind that if you have a larger, or better flowing area, the compressor that is creating the pressure gradient will have a harder time bringing the fluid to the same gradient. The compressor will have trouble "keeping up" if you will.

However, if you have a smaller/ poor flowing area, the compressor will easily be able to "keep up" with the fluid motion, and create a larger gradient.

It might take a little intuition, but most people can probably understand that with ease.