Max Performance SBC For $3000.00

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02-28-2006, 09:32 AM
camaro_fever68

Max Performance SBC For $3000.00

I'm not a big fan of "How To" books because they are normally written by a writer that takes a lot of magazine articles and puts them together. On the other hand, there are some good how to's on some things. I'm just a bit leery sometimes.

That said, I got David Vizard's book "How to build max performance sbc on a budget" and read it cover to cover twice. I like his statement " I don't have an opioin, I have a dyno." He specs his cams like I learned years ago from some old engine builders at a speed/engine shop I worked at.

Has anybody else read this book? I would like to know what others thought of it. Give some opinions and reviews.
02-28-2006, 11:12 AM
shawnlee28

10 thumbs up!!!:LOL:
02-28-2006, 12:00 PM
rumrumm

Excellent book. Anybody serious about building sb Chevy's should own it (and read it).
02-28-2006, 04:00 PM
Hopper111

i own it and i'm currently reading it. I've read from the front cover to about 1/2 way into the crankshaft section of it. I'd have to give it 10 thumbs up as well. I've got another book called "How to build small block chevy for the street" and it's got a lot of good information in it. I'm planning to read both of the books and compare them. David Vizard has a lot of very good information that is proven. A++ in my grade book.
02-28-2006, 05:40 PM
erik erikson

Re: Max Performance SBC For $3000.00

Quote:

Originally posted by camaro_fever68
I'm not a big fan of "How To" books because they are normally written by a writer that takes a lot of magazine articles and puts them together. On the other hand, there are some good how to's on some things. I'm just a bit leery sometimes.

That said, I got David Vizard's book "How to build max performance sbc on a budget" and read it cover to cover twice. I like his statement " I don't have an opioin, I have a dyno." He specs his cams like I learned years ago from some old engine builders at a speed/engine shop I worked at.

Has anybody else read this book? I would like to know what others thought of it. Give some opinions and reviews.

The reason you are a bit leery is because you hit the nail on the head.They are only people's opinions.I tried about 20 years ago the same ideas.I have found it is almost always better to go out on your own with ideas.
02-28-2006, 06:13 PM
BigEasy

I wouldn't classify a $3000 small block in the "max performance" category.

I get to play with 9000+ rpm, 750+ hp (no power adders) small blocks (up to 441 cu in) on a regular basis... you can't build that for $3000. Try $30,000!
02-28-2006, 09:56 PM
hambiskit

I have that book and I thought it was well written, although I liked Smokey Yunick's Power Secrets better. Maybe because of the way it was worded, most of the information was the same.
02-28-2006, 10:34 PM
camaro_fever68

Quote:

Originally posted by BigEasy
I wouldn't classify a $3000 small block in the "max performance" category.

I get to play with 9000+ rpm, 750+ hp (no power adders) small blocks (up to 441 cu in) on a regular basis... you can't build that for $3000. Try $30,000!

BigEasy, you missing the concept. He isn't going max performance for any engine with unlimited funds. He is showing how to get maximum horse power for a $3000.00 budget.
03-01-2006, 08:03 AM
Hopper111

don't slam that book unless you've read it from cover to cover. He's not talking about using a 441 cui block. He shows you how to build the max performance out of the common blocks such as 350 and 400 and making variations of that using stroke.

Also the man isn't talking about MAX PERFORMANCE, he's talking about MAX PERFORMANCE ON A BUDGET. He shows people how to build the most power for the money that they have, not everybody is lucky enough to have 30,000 dollars to throw down in a motor.
03-01-2006, 08:44 AM
erik erikson

Books

I can't even remember the last engine I built for $3,000.It is all about engine evolution.You get 450 then 500 h.p. then you want more and more.You find yourself buying better and better parts.HORSEPOWER is a drug and you can't get enough.I have found this to be true over the years.15 years ago $3000 would get you a good I.M.C.A. modified engine.Today you will have that or more in your short block.I have lost track of what a really good street engine is.The last blown 540 that I built for myself cost more than my tow vehicle.A little more than $35,000.Why you ask because I can.Maybe I should see a shrink.I think I have totally lost track of reality.:LOL: :LOL:
03-01-2006, 08:55 AM
shawnlee28

Quote:

Originally posted by BigEasy
I wouldn't classify a $3000 small block in the "max performance" category.

I get to play with 9000+ rpm, 750+ hp (no power adders) small blocks (up to 441 cu in) on a regular basis... you can't build that for $3000. Try $30,000!

Just so u are not confused,here we go!!!
swap meet block 4 bolt .030 over,9.000 deck height.forged ross pistons,10.1 compression,factory forged crank-0.020used 5.7 crower rods,stock reworked oil pump,moroso pan,crane cam 113801,crane lifters,1.6 intake rockers,1.5 exaust rockers,isky pushrods,roller timing chain,041s ported for n2o usebronze guids ,screw in studs and flat milled,vic jr intake ,with plate nitros kit,holley 750,re worked to a 830,k&n filter,hei with msd module ,20 deg total timing with nitros,msd wires and walker 1 3/4 headers with 18 inch collector extentions ,open exaust.!!!!!!parts $2500,labor $544 ,total price $3000.775 hp and about 650 ftlbs of torque ,now lets step it up another $1000 bucks and add a port injected n2o ,a 3 stage rev limiter and for $4000 we are at 890 hp and about650 ft lbs of torque ,soo for 4 grand looks like the 30,000 dollar motor u have will be several car lengths behind in the game!!:LOL: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ,this is directly from ol vizzard himself!!and just because I can already here the replies ,it was run on the dyno for the equivelent of 80 passes 1/4 mile passes!!:eek: :eek: then torn down and inspected and it still looked just fine!!!:eek:
03-01-2006, 09:07 AM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by shawnlee28
Just so u are not confused,here we go!!!
swap meet block 4 bolt .030 over,9.000 deck height.forged ross pistons,10.1 compression,factory forged crank-0.020used 5.7 crower rods,stock reworked oil pump,moroso pan,crane cam 113801,crane lifters,1.6 intake rockers,1.5 exaust rockers,isky pushrods,roller timing chain,041s ported for n2o usebronze guids ,screw in studs and flat milled,vic jr intake ,with plate nitros kit,holley 750,re worked to a 830,k&n filter,hei with msd module ,20 deg total timing with nitros,msd wires and walker 1 3/4 headers with 18 inch collector extentions ,open exaust.!!!!!!parts $2500,labor $544 ,total price $3000.775 hp and about 650 ftlbs of torque ,now lets step it up another $1000 bucks and add a port injected n2o ,a 3 stage rev limiter and for $4000 we are at 890 hp and about650 ft lbs of torque ,soo for 4 grand looks like the 30,000 dollar motor u have will be several car lengths behind in the game!!:LOL: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ,this is directly from ol vizzard himself!!and just because I can already here the replies ,it was run on the dyno for the equivelent of 80 passes 1/4 mile passes!!:eek: :eek: then torn down and inspected and it still looked just fine!!!:eek:

I hate to break it to you but there is no way a stock 350 4- bolt block will hold 890 hp.That is nothing but a bomb.It is not if it is when will it blow.Factory forged crank?041 heads?I smell poop.Who is confused?Do you believe everything you read?
03-01-2006, 09:11 AM
Dave Severson

Oh sure, now you add a big shot of nitrous and change the whole equation.... Not saying it won't make 775 hp, but I sure have seen a lot of these bottle rockets spit parts out the pan. I'm sure 775hp and 80 passes sells a lot of books, but I would say it is certainly not the norm....

With that little bit of labor he must have done all the porting, etc. himself. Most guys don't have a flow bench to do this. Bronze guides, boring, honing, zero decking and milling would eat up most if not all of the labor. I guess if you have your very own fully equipped machine shop and didn't count that as part of the total labor charge it could be done. Who's motor shop does this guy run, anyway???

Curious to see how long these motors last, most of these fairy tales start with once upon a time.......
03-01-2006, 09:27 AM
erik erikson

SORRY

Dave,I was a smart ass again.I am trying to quit but I can't.Sorry if I was a little smart ass to everyone.I tend to jump the gun when I hear crap like this.I must learn to express myself better.
03-01-2006, 09:46 AM
Dave Severson

Yup, me too. Just hate to see everyone think they cam make a 775 horse small block with junk yard parts that is going to live!!! Maybe I'm wrong, too. I'd sure like to be there to see the dyno runs!!!! Plus the number of guys who put the same combination together and say they have 775 horse!!!!!
03-01-2006, 10:02 AM
NTFDAY

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Severson
. I'd sure like to be there to see the dyno runs!!!!

Safely behind some bullet proof glass. :D
03-01-2006, 01:09 PM
73RS

Now Dave, you have to remember were talking about Chevies not fords, so sure they can hold up to 750 hp, it's a chevy. :LOL:
03-01-2006, 02:52 PM
Dave Severson

yeah right!!!! **) **) like I said, I like my fairy tales starting with once upon a time!!!:LOL: :LOL:
03-01-2006, 03:14 PM
BigEasy

The title of the book is "Build a MaxPerformance SBC for $3000" not "Get all you can out of a SBC for $3000"

shawnlee28... if you're stating that stuff as fact, a motor that YOU built and own, not something that someone told you about... I'm waving a huge BS flag!

You couldn't get much more than 450 hp out of those heads without nitrous.

And I don't have a penny in the motors I work with... I'm on the crew.
03-01-2006, 04:28 PM
hambiskit

I was on the wagon once........
03-01-2006, 05:30 PM
camaro_fever68

Quote:

Originally posted by BigEasy
The title of the book is "Build a MaxPerformance SBC for $3000" not "Get all you can out of a SBC for $3000"

shawnlee28... if you're stating that stuff as fact, a motor that YOU built and own, not something that someone told you about... I'm waving a huge BS flag!

You couldn't get much more than 450 hp out of those heads without nitrous.

And I don't have a penny in the motors I work with... I'm on the crew.

The name of the book is: "How To Build Max Performance Chevy Small Blocks On A Budget"

This book does have a lot of good ideas that I know works because I learned it a long time ago and been doing it. Now a stock block holding up for a long period of time at 890hp, Hhmmm Wouldn't try it. He says he put a stock block on the dyno and kept pouring the N2O till it blew. 1027hp and cracked down both lifter banks. I do know that enhancing a engine to run on N2O does show more power than not.

A lot of the builds he shows can be achieved for close to what he claims. He shows how to make templates and explains how to "home port" a few heads like Chevy and Sportsman. Most of the builds he shows are not over exaggerated. The highest naturally aspirated engine puts out 575hp. With 14:1 CR and a Comp Cams 304-TLS6 solid lift cam topped with sportsman II's, I can see it happening.

I sure would like to be there in person to witness some of these engine builds and what they pull on the dyno. Just my 0.000002 and not worth that.
03-01-2006, 06:58 PM
shawnlee28

Kenny bernstien ,warren johnson and alot of other top racing teams motors blow on the line,any motor $100,000 or $100 dollar junkyard motors can blow at anytime.I agree stock parts wont live long at all,but I have seen the big dollar motors blow em too!Just depends on how much cash u got to blow parts up with .:LOL: :LOL: :whacked:450 hp is exactly what the hp was without nitros.
03-01-2006, 07:05 PM
Hopper111

no one has mentioned that the 3000 dollar combo isn't the only combo that is in this book. he has several others that are under 2000, and one that is under 1000.

For something like 556 dollars he put out just over 300 hp and 321 ft/lbs tq. That's a good little number for the youngster that is lookin to have some fun and learn a few things while on a budget. Also, all of Vizard's tips are not about HP, there are also a ton of tips about how to make what your doing last longer.

A man i knew once said, "When you decide to build for horsepower, you are in the larger scheme of things building it to break." When u build that big gnarly bad-to-the-bone motor, if you get any kind of balls into it your going to break things because performance parts are not made to last and anyone that says they are is full of...well you get my point. If they were made to last then race teams wouldn't have 5+ motors on hand just in case. Hell, even the local sprint car teams in podunkville, oklahoma carry 3 extra engines just in case because they anticipate to break something. These engines are the ones that you only wish you could afford in your street car. ($3200 crankshaft, $5000 in a set of heads, $3000 for that aftermarket block, ect...)
03-01-2006, 07:07 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally posted by shawnlee28
Kenny bernstien ,warren johnson and alot of other top racing teams motors blow on the line,any motor $100,000 or $100 dollar junkyard motors can blow at anytime.I agree stock parts wont live long at all,but I have seen the big dollar motors blow em too!Just depends on how much cash u got to blow parts up with .:LOL: :LOL: :whacked:450 hp is exactly what the hp was without nitros.

The point everyone was making there sport was a stock block won't handle that much h.p.Also the bare block the Pro drag racers use cost $3,000 or more depending on the class.