Looking for advise on what I should build and keep my eyes open for parts wise. I want to build a 500hp street engine, likely never going to see the track yet I'm kinda hard on my cars (treat most stop lights like I'm at the track). I'm new to the Chevy/GM line, all my engine experience all though little is Dodge truck based so not sure where to start. What should I be looking at building 350, 400, 455 ??? Just looking for general advise for now, it would be going into my 80 Regal.
Engine Advise .... what to look for
- Thread starter ve3oky
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try to go with a LS motor..i'm doing a Gen. I chevy 350 build now and for the money i could've bought a drop in LS motor and been done. my partner just copped a 6.0L lq9/transmission/harness out of a escalade for $1300. he put another grand into removing his old motor (full size 91 blazer) and dropping this one in..cpu and everything hooked up nice..for $2500 he upgraded to a 6.0L vortec..i'm over $1700 into my build and i still have to buy heads, intake and have a transmission rebuilt..so that's another $1500...you see where i'm going..don't be cheap and get your money up and buy the motor ready to drop in..or one that's not far from dropping in.
hmmmm never really thought about a new style engine, might have to give it some more thought. Main reason I was thinking "old school" is because my Regal has little emissions crap on it, not cats, just some "canister" under the hood. If I go with a new style engine I would have to start thinking computer, cats, 02 sensors etc .... gives me more to think about, thanks.
If you want 500hp that is perfectly streetable without the ruckus and driveabliity issues a small block would give you then I would step right up to a big block. 454, 502. You can buy big block crate engines for reasonable prices with a warranty that are actually pretty mild. If you would rather have a hot small block then I would build a 383 or start with a 400 chevy. Of course that is all if you want to stay naturally aspirated. 500hp is certainly do able with a small block it just pushes that engine a little harder. The LS recommendation is a good one also, although I have no experience with transplanting one in a g body. Goodluck.
The great thing about G Bodys and today in general is that you have options.. many many many many options.
You need to start to think and be realistic about it.
What is your end goal with the car?
whats your budget?
whats your time frame?
etc...
you can build a SBC and have tons of option and combos starting with the block, bore and stroke
you can go big block and have options, used, crate, rebuild etc..
you can go LS which is more common of a swap now a days.
you can go GN drive train
the options are endless
You need to start to think and be realistic about it.
What is your end goal with the car?
whats your budget?
whats your time frame?
etc...
you can build a SBC and have tons of option and combos starting with the block, bore and stroke
you can go big block and have options, used, crate, rebuild etc..
you can go LS which is more common of a swap now a days.
you can go GN drive train
the options are endless
Thanks for the advise guys. Did A bit of looking around and seems theres a lot of 454's in my area looking for homes, so leaning in that direction.
a 454 can make 500hp without even trying, and still be very streetable. the torque is where its at. id rather have a 500horse bigblock then a LS 500 horse any day.
I own LS and big block cars. For torque and simplicity, old-fashioned big blocks are more fun, cheaper and easier to work on IMO.
Big block Chev is probably your best choice for a simple, reliable 500HP engine. Whereabouts in Ontario are you?
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