Opinions on what to build

[patmckinneyracing]

Alright folks I'm really considering putting in a big block into my 1980 malibu. My 350 isn't having any issues since it probably has around 15 to 20k miles on it. Gets up and goes pretty good with the 373's and gets 18 to 20 mpg. But now I have that cancer eating at me that says to go big block. Yeah its more of a want than a need. So what are some of the goods and bads between the 396, 427, and 454 and which would you go with? I know I can find a 454 pretty easily compared to the other two. Problem is I'm 18 wanting more speed, but the malibu is the daily driver.

Now on the other side of the coin, I could just dump the money into my 71' Roadrunner project. Lets here the opinions cause I'm stuck on where the money should go.

 

[Blake442]

Doesn't sound like a very practical idea to me...

Taking apart your daily driver means you're without a car for X amount of time.
You get an impressive 18-20 mpg...kiss that goodbye and say hello to 8-10. I don't know how deep your pockets are, but for a daily driver, that hurts...

Seems like it may be a better idea to play with the Roadrunner...

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Learn from history. Don't start a two front war. I once started a 4 front war (I tend to not learn from history either...lol) and nothing good came of it. Finish the Road Runner before you do anything else to the Malibu. It is hard enough to have one project car in pieces, 2 is far worse (and if you are a msgngist like me, 4 is FAR worse!). All it does is split your resources between two cars and neither ever gets done.

As for a big block, I am not a fan. I would rather put an LSX in there instead. More power, less weight, and probably better reliability.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

what he said but gas mileage too.

 

[79gp455]

Ever consider a turbo setup for your Malibu? I think a turbo'd smallblock would give you what your looking for.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I have considered rebuilding and beefing up the current 350. The main benefit to this engine is that all it needed was a hone. It came out of an 82' pick up and is a 2 bolt main, and the top of the piston chamber had no ridge. So it's standard bore. As far as any major aftermarket set ups, I'd rather have a blower set up rather than a turbo or twin turbo. I might consider a turbo set up, but I would have to go back through the block to set it up for either blower or turbo.

 

[kartrac3r]

put the money into the gtx you wont regret it

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I wish I had a GTX. Don't worry Roadrunner's and GTX's are closely the same

 

[1980REDMALIBU]

A 350 is good for a daily driver !!!

put the money in the road runner

My First Car
1980 Malibu
4.4L 267cube
2.5 exhaust
daily driver