Engine Build Choice Poll Help!

[YGspider]

Sorry To make another Engine choice Poll but I seen alot of you help a few other members with good imput so I thought I'd ask the same of you 🙂

I'm thinking about a Engine swap. I'm leaning more towards a Carb setup to eliminate most of the computer problems that converting would make.

I'm bulding this car for a Cruiser .. I want it to be able to drive to the cottage and sport long road trips in the summer with friends with lots of beer in the trunk. But I also want it to get around 300-400 RWHP and still get around 15-18 MPG I want a 200r4 and the 8.5 posi. Basicly I want a sleeper that I can beat peoples cars that are about my age..... so about 20-30 year old price range.

My Top 5 Engine Choices are as Follows

 

[bill]

It all depends on your wallet....the faster you wanna go, the more its gonna cost in most cases. I went with keeping my olds powered with an OLDS! But I can see why u might wanna go another route. I wasnt after speed, as much as
cruise-ability. I think the boosted engine is the ultimate sleeper set up for the street. Its quite, but deadly.....and expensive!

But, with the right SBO build, the 2004R trans, and the 8.5 rear...you will be pretty happy with the results. But, it wont be as economical on the pocket as a SBC or a LS swap. Dollar for dollar, SBC is the easiest and most powerful option, although much lower on the cool scale, in my opinion...

 

[YGspider]

I'm willing to drop at least 7000 $ on this project My plan for this car is to keep it forever and keep building on it so really this is not about resale value either.

I like the 350 Olds But as stated its a more pricey Engine and with a 7000 dollar budget it might be less powerfull then a SBC.

I like the input already but how much $$$$$$$ would you have to throw into a SBO to get 300-400 HP and 300 torque?

 

[bill]

Wish I had 7g's to throw at my car! wow..... You could build a W-31 SBO with that kinda money and still have change left and it would be the king of the street.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSOwraNGZDM

If I had that kinda money to spend, Id keep the olds stock and buy an H/O!....

 

[84clonewars]

I'd go for good mpg + big hp + big tq = LSX. Find a good one throw a cam at it and be done is my opinion. I have a sbo 403, sbb 350 and sbc 350 with an LS 5.3 waiting to be built, if I only threw the money I spent on rebuilding the olds 403 on the 5.3 I'd be driving it by now but I wanted my H/O to stay olds powered.

 

[YGspider]

What is the best place to get a crate engine?

 

[snowmangaggift]

What is the best place to get a crate engine?

I got my SBC off Jegs, I'm not saying they are the best but I didn't pay shipping and they are easy to deal with.

 

[YGspider]

I like the look of the 290 HP GM Goodwrench engine on that site. I'm sure with a few extra parts you can get past the 290 as well?

 

[dogsht]

Ever go to a cruise in / car show with hoods popped? Old SBC first gens are everywhere in everything because they are the cheapest and most known by the average shop or novice hot rodder. Unless its a special manufacturer or model show it will be 90+% SBCs as they put them in everything old fords mopars imports to me its well less than inspiring in fact sometimes sickening when you see something that would be special (maybe a 70 440 6 car) but has been dummied down to do the motor the cheapest and maybe easiest often only because they don't want to apply themselves or do a computer search to find someone who really knows how to build that motor and any shop knows the sbc. Just food for thought.

You mentioned you would like the do a Buick Grand National setup because of power, mileage, cool factor, it came in a gbody so makes for & easy clean swap, whatever below are some links. You also mentioned you might like to keep an Olds motor in it so I have a link for that as well. Just decide what you really want (within reason as the space shuttle motor might be a bit much) and do that and not something less (unless realistic financial & other means leaves you no better choice) because its cheap & easy as you will be disappointed. (Not necessarily with the performance but with showing and the respect or appreciation of your ride by others)

One thing I looked at was resources that would be in attainable driving distance which is not always required but a definite bonus. So some are Ontario related.

http://www.weberpowerproducts.com/
http://fullthrottlespeed.com/index.asp+url+IND
http://turbobuick.com/forums/forums/sou ... tario.177/
http://www.turbobuicks.com/forums/buick ... ec-region/
http://gnttype.org/vendors/index.html
http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/
http://www.btrperformance.com/

 

[YGspider]

I went through all your links and I think all are great but I know If I get into a buick 3.8 swap I could get in over my head very fast I'd have to plan everything. With that being said yes the chevy 350 is a very Generic engine and I really want to do something diffrent.
at the end of the day I might just need to find a GN parts car if I do a 3.8 swap. which may prove very hard.

Another very likely choice is the Olds 350 or the 403 but they also require alot of skill and money to get going good.

mabey selling out and going for the chevy 350 is the best way for a younger guy..... they are a dime a dozen and can hold alot of power for not to much money.

To be honest thought dose anyone have a story of a 350 chevy beating a turbo buick???? I've never seen any videos on youtube. I dont wanna have to back down from turbo Buicks