Hey guys, I am looking to do an engine swap on a 86 Monte SS to put down 450-500 whp and have the whole setup pretty reliable. My budget is give or take $6500 for the engine and trans, but I have a couple of questions and limitations.
I would really like to make 450-500 whp with the stock hood. I am not the biggest fan of the cowl hoods, and I love the original lines of the car. I don't really mind whether the setup is sbc or ls, but I was wondering if a sbc can really make 450-500 whp under a stock hood, as sbcs seem rather inexpensive and extremely powerful/reliable, but usually with quite a bit of modifications, thus taking up extra height. My current thoughts are to get a used LS2 or LS3 from ebay, with the transmission included, and just work on the engine from there. For some reason I can't find any info on whether or not an LS2/LS3 can actually fit under the stock hood.
Is having 450-500 whp, or even 400 under a stock hood a pipe dream? Having the car as reliable as possible is the goal as well, so I'd prefer not to go the supercharger/ turbo/ nos route, but if the stock hood plan isn't possible at all, I'd like to hear other opinions on my project.
I would really like to make 450-500 whp with the stock hood. I am not the biggest fan of the cowl hoods, and I love the original lines of the car. I don't really mind whether the setup is sbc or ls, but I was wondering if a sbc can really make 450-500 whp under a stock hood, as sbcs seem rather inexpensive and extremely powerful/reliable, but usually with quite a bit of modifications, thus taking up extra height. My current thoughts are to get a used LS2 or LS3 from ebay, with the transmission included, and just work on the engine from there. For some reason I can't find any info on whether or not an LS2/LS3 can actually fit under the stock hood.
Is having 450-500 whp, or even 400 under a stock hood a pipe dream? Having the car as reliable as possible is the goal as well, so I'd prefer not to go the supercharger/ turbo/ nos route, but if the stock hood plan isn't possible at all, I'd like to hear other opinions on my project.