Obscene_CNN

Bladeless turbine

Like a tesla turbine? If you are using a tesla turbine, they aren't very efficient by todays standards, they were back when he invented them, but not now. They are much easier to make though.

HyperactiveSloth

Their "lack of efficiency" and "outdatedness" are common misconceptions.
Most of the disinformation regarding them is the result of people who built them wrong, tried to change them to make it patentable, or who just plain assumed they weren't good.
Nearly all corporate ventures to utilize bladeless turbines (BT) have tried to somehow change the design enough to allow them to patent it as their own, and have reduced their efficiency. The scientific studies done on them were to assess the original design, yet all known scientific analyses of it have left out key features of the design and only tested "the basic operating force".
Anyway, i'm not trying to start a debate on the worthiness of the design, I just thought I'd let you know what I'm doing if for no other reason than to show I'm really NOT an idiot trying to build a high-speed bladed device in my basement and blow myself up. I originally asked that everyone "bear with me", but I can see I had to give SOME explanation in order to avoid a slew of "I'm not even going to answer you because you can't make a turbine anyway" type responses.

Obscene_CNN

I have no problem with you trying to build any type of turbine bladeless or otherwise. Tesla turbines work great until you start putting a load to them and then their efficiency drops.

Best of luck

HyperactiveSloth

OK then..........

Any reccomendations of a common, relatively inexpensive, engine with a turbo suitable for gutting?

rprznt

Perhaps you could just buy a used jap toyota / nissan / mitsubishi engine, that came oem with a turbo. They get cheaper all the time as they age, so if you blow one up, then purchase another and continue with project.
BTW, this will an interesting feat of engineering, so pls post pics / design ideas for the HMT opinion.
Good Luck!

fork

chevy 350

HyperactiveSloth

What cars had a 350 w/turbo? (I googled it but keep getting drowned with results for the "350 Turbo Transmission" rather than 350 engines)

fork

none had a turbo but if you can make a turbine than you can surely make a manifold

Obscene_CNN

You might want to consider using a diesel engine for a test bed as a diesels exhaust tends to be cooler than a gasoline engine. This could save you a lot of grief trying to deal with high temperature metals and such. You might try getting an OM617 turbo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_OM617_engine .

They are rugged and can be pushed up to 20psi of boost with out fear of blowing a head gasket. This would be handy since you will probably will have to create a waste gate too ( Assuming a tesla turbine can generate a high enough boost).

USS