A newbe all over again - 1979 Monte Carlo

[CaStylin]

Hey everyone... I'm CaStylin, 24 years old living in Houston TX

I will be receiving my fathers 1979 Monte Carlo as soon as I can get out to CA to pick it up and haul it back TX. He is in no need of it so for the most part it has sat for the last couple of years so I'm gonna make it into my next project car

Honestly, the car is going to need and get a complete overhaul (paint, engine, trans, braking system, so on and so forth) but I’m not tiring to restore it to its original state (115 hp, 200 TQ :? ) but instead turning it into another street monster that has an old style look but new age feel (more power, better handling, better stopping, Leather, new radio, new cluster, new hood… possibly a t-top :lol: )

I'm still in the initial stages on tiring to plan the build and this site came very highly suggested for info and help. In the end (or the end as planed at this moment) i would like it to have enough power to lift the front wheels off the ground for a couple of feet (not a full wheelie stand).

Of course i know i will need a transmission and a whole slue of other parts to support the power but i will work on that once i know how much power the parts need to handle

Anyway I have yet to settle on an engine but i have guestamated it’s going to have to be a +/-550hp... I will be doing a forced induction (likely a supercharger since i already have a turbo car) at the moment I’m thinking the GM 350 ZZ4 with the extra 60hp from the ZZ4 valve train package would be a nice fit and still give me room to move around the engine bay… If the GM 454 HO will fit that is also another consideration. IMO Supercharging either should put be close to my goal but yall would know better then I.

Any way thanks for the help in advance

CaStylin

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Welcome to the site! For your power and efficiency goals, have you thought about an LS6 crate motor from a Zo6 Corvette? 505hp with good idle quality and fuel economy. Hot Rod used one this month and I think it is only $6,000. It will be hard to do a supercharged ZZ4 for similar money by the time you are finished.

 

[CaStylin]

Thanks for the suggestion but maybe I’m missing something… When I was looking into newer engines the Z06 LS6 put down 405 HP and 395 TQ… it’s the Z06 LS7 that drops 505hp but they are still charging an arm and a leg for those

For the price (5.5k) for the Z06 LS6 it’s a nice buy (and much lighter and more MGP efficent then those I suggested) but is still about 150hp short of the goal (that’s with the upgraded cam and valve train that comes stock on the Z06 style engines). I believe the base LS6 cost about a grand less then the Z06 LS6 but loses the 60hp from the removed Z06 parts. it’s a con for the buy but it also is a pro becuase it gives me some room for a more aggressive build. Althought i see 550hp + LS6 builds they are usually not all motor and in the end with a LS6 I think I would still need to look into an F/I for the extra go

Again thats for the input... the LS6 is once again in the race to be choosen

 

[Blake442]

Welcome!