Thread: A poll for the Chevy guys, and others too.

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A few thoughts:

Will twin turbos raise the price enough to pay for them? Will they require high octane fuel?

If the car has tubs and big tires, a big-inch smallblock might sell. Just do something with the top of the motor to suggest big power....a scoop....multicarbs...etc. Late model injection would give it an interesting look, too.

With the gas scare, and the result I am seeing in parts of the hobby already, I'd bet on the hot smallblock! Driveability, cost of the build, broader appeal,etc.

Well I chose number 4, but was teetering on number 3 also. But in reality I would have voted for "other" if there had been such a category. As gas prices continue to shrink my cruising schedule, I would have voted for a 350/330hp crate engine with a 200 4R trans. Plenty of power, easier on gas than either the Th350 or the 400. JMHO.

If you are going triangulated 4 link---use the smaller hp sbc as the rear suspension won't transmit the power of the bigger mills

well be like ever one and build a small block or build a 496 with a set of hyper piston cast steel crank with the 0 port heads with a take out gm mark 6 roller cam will make alot of power and will be not to$$ bad to build as for gas well if you drive it hard a sbc or a bbc will not make a diff

If you are going to sell the car don't spend big money on custom engine parts. You won't get it back. You can buy a decent 355 crate for less than you can build one. I have $1500. in my long block with mild cam and ported iron heads and every step of the way was done with cost in mind without giving up quality. There are crate motors with warrantys out there now for less than that. Just throw on a bunch of eye candy and spec a cam that talks to you a little and you will have a good selling point. "The engine is new and it has a warranty".

If I was keeping it I'd build a 496. I think Car Craft did a simple 496 oval port build a few months ago and pulled 600 horse on pump gas.

Tom

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

If you are going triangulated 4 link---use the smaller hp sbc as the rear suspension won't transmit the power of the bigger mills

Mine are a bit of a departure from the street rod stuff Jerry, played a lot with bar lengths and angles to get a decent hook and still have the ride quality the triangulated setup provides..... I'll put some pics up when everything goes together...

RamJet 350, 700R4
Technology sells

Just my humble option, but I think OD transmissions are going to be more and more of a selling / desirable feature...

I just went thru the same decision on a resale car , I went w a 496. It cost a just a wee bit more than a 355 or 406 (maybe $200) , BUT these days even w gas the way it is. Wow appeal is the thing w BBlocks and 4 speeds gathering the sales over Sblocks and auto's , people want to relive their youth w cars they either had or wanted, open the hood and start it up, BING! they hear the slight lope and see the huge VC's -...SOLD! Whatever the marque, Nothing says the sixties like a Big Block/4speed or 5 speed stick if you want overdrive that would probably help w todays gas prices.Just do not go wild w induction ,valve train and cams ,keep it simple (and cheap). Guys (and gals now) want a Big block, but not the hassles of a Race motor. Its all about the "LOOK" now.
Just to put it into perspective , the daily driver 60's performance car is dead. We/they drive to shows and cruises .Most of us will never see 2500 mi's in a summer season. In my cars thats about 2 maybe part of 3, 18 gal. tank fulls at $63 a pop @3.49 a gal to $83 @ $4.60 ( I HOPE it stops there) thats a lot of local shows and affordable (barely). Of course none of this means anything to the trailer guys the cars fuel cost means very little to them. A purpose built cruiser is another deal entirely as well. They would be a daily driver class car so a Sml Block w overdrive ,maybe w a turbo is almost mandatory.

I have to agree with Dgas. You don't build slapped together junk and the guy that's gonna buy your car is probably gonna keep it in a garage and drive on the weekends. If I was this guy I'd want the biggest bad a$$ motor I could find and it would have to sound that way too!! Even though I don't know as much about cars as most of you, I know that a rumbling big block is cool.

My opinion might not be all that valid though considering I drive a lifted TJ and a '96 F150 king cab as my daily drivers , each gets about 10mpg.

Sean

Originally Posted by Stu Cool

Dave, You know where my mindset on motors has gone lately. I would get either an LS2 or a 6.0 from a late model GM truck or SUV. Put either an OD automatic or a T-56 6 speed in it. You would have a car that could be scary fast and still be drivable and get decent fuel mileage. These LS conversions have become bolt ins now with kits from folks like BRP hotrods: BRP Muscle Rods Your LS1 - LSX Conversion Kit Specialist. This is the way of the future. Even if you don't like the EFI, now there are numerous options to use a carb with these new motors. For the money you would spend on a stroker big block you could easily do the LS. Best of both worlds!

Pat

This would be my vote, Dave. The Gen III and IV series engines are way ahead of the older engines in design and potential. They already have all the stuff we used to spend big speed buck on like aluminum heads and roller cams; plus they have 6 bolt mains to boot. No contest.

Originally Posted by falconvan

This would be my vote, Dave. The Gen III and IV series engines are way ahead of the older engines in design and potential. They already have all the stuff we used to spend big speed buck on like aluminum heads and roller cams; plus they have 6 bolt mains to boot. No contest.

well there is a contest they just do not drop in older cars it will cost money/time to hook at all up they can run and run better in stock form then the older sbc they are $$ to hook it all up. a bbc 496 is the best bang for the buck NO ALUM needed and not much more then headers cam and intake

Hard to beat the roi of a BBC vs mouse, and the Elky did just cost 80. to fill up the other day. But it is only for cruising, and well many SBC at my cruise in may beat me, none of them have that big cube sound, trip every car alarm in the parking lot, or cause people to run out of the bldg when I start it up. I'm reliving my teenage years, while trying to hook my 13 year old on old is good.......still. But certainly not for daily driving, thats what the Yukon is for.

Well, the poll came out with the mouse motor squeaking out (pun intended) a win..... So a skinny block it shall be....

Thanks to all for all the good input and advice!!!!!