So sick of the V8 or die guys...
Your funds, your car do as you please. One thing to keep in mind though is while boost is a great equalizer a bigger motor is going to respond to boost as well......someone posted a video of a slant running in the 10's with a turbo. While it is impressive IF you are after speed a v-8 is still going to stomp all over it....if it is turboed as well.....
chads Turbo 340 duster - YouTube
Not for nothing but if you are going to make a comparison you need to make it apples to apples, not apples to oranges.....Not to side with your buddies but reality is what it is......
But, but, but... how are you going to have an apples/apples comparison between two engines when one is SIXTY PERCENT bigger than the other to begin with? 225 X 1.6 = 361.
You can only try to make an apples/apples comparison by giving the smaller engine an equalizer.
Boosted slant six vs. N/A 360.
The other equalizing factor might be cost per hp. That engine in Ryan's car has no expensive, hi-tech parts, beyond the turbo, itself...
I contend that a 500 hp N/A 360 will cost at least as much to build as a 500 hp turbo slant six, by the time you get it in the car and operational.
By that, I mean, there are several things you'll need for that 360 to be effective that won't be necessary for the six. Things like a relatively-expensive valvetrain, etc... (high rpm cam, good valve spring$, etc...)
But, that's another story...
Frankly, I think it's pretty much a wash, on the cost of the two, but if there's any advantaage here, I'd say, goes to the six... Just my opinion, of course.