What motor to build?

[TYSON14]

As racing season ends time to build another motor. would you build a sbc a good 383 stroker or a 406 with good 4340 internals. Our would you build a 454 bbc and turn it into a 496 or a 509. Cause a rotating assembly is about the same. I no you cant turn a sbc into 434 without getting a aftermarket block. How big can you go with a stock bbc. You can get a short block for about the same price. well almost the same price there is about a 500 to 700$ differnce. My goal is to have a motor that does not cost alot to run.

[Tod74]

My goal is to have a motor that does not cost alot to run.

Big Block hands down.

[bjuice]

Question is..How much are you gonna allow yourself to spend on a motor ?

this will tell ya if a BBC or SBC is on the menu.

[TYSON14]

How big can you go in a stock block? How much horsepower can you pump out of a stock block? You can bye a bbc short block for about 4500 . But it comes with a dart block or a world block. i have a vega wagon 2440lbs with me in it and a sbc. it makes about 450 to 475 hp. it runs 6.70s in an eight mile. but we are still tuning it. I want to run low 6 or high 5 with out turning it to hard. So how much hp do i need?

[bjuice]

To answer your 1st question..stock 454 blocks have been .125 over.i owned and ran one...it is getting a little risky ( thin cylinder walls).....125 over with a 4.25 stroke crank made 511 ci..with bb2 heads and matched 454r made 800/850 hp..i along with others on here would feel much better at .100 over (max) with a 4.25 stroke...without using a wallace calculator etc..i am thinking this would put you in the 505ci range..

Now its hard to say where this would put your car ET wise..too many factors to determine this( chassis working ,gear,tires,tranny) etc...

but i will tell you this and here is a time slip and video of my 67 camaro street driven prostreet car at nearly 3100 lbs ran a 5.99 et at 114mph with a 1.32 60 ft with this stock block .125 over..

yes definatly ! you can get a decent BBC chevy short Block for $4500

this gives you an idea how quick my 67 camaro was with the 511ci for a Heavy street driven car (3100lbs)..the guy beside me was a 6.40 et DRAG CAR car at 2400lbs

so yes your 2400 lb car will lay it down if done right with the BBC

[img]http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb117/brianmcswain/timesheet.jpg




http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb117/brianmcswain/?action=view&current=100_0263.flv

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb117/brianmcswain/?action=view&current=100_0258.flv

[TYSON14]

5.18 gears 2speed powerglide and 32-14-15 tire. When i go threw the light at an eighth it is 6500 rpm.It also has strange axles and trans has been gone threw and been replaced with new race parts. It has a nos on it but not hooked up. it is a 200 shot

[gungho]

bjuice,that car seems to go o.k.,but man your reaction time? :lol:

[bjuice]

i'm old Dude !... i came from the days we had a flagman... :roll: ..lol

i am seriously thinking about a transbrake and electric shifter this next year...No way i am gonna try one of them thar Boxes... :roll: :?: :idea:

[mytmouz]

If you go bbc, you will have to get new headers, oil pan, valve covers, etc. Just something to think about. A 377 with good rods would put you where you want to be at that weight with the right top end, and be maintenance friendly, to boot...

[bjuice]

If you go bbc, you will have to get new headers, oil pan, valve covers, etc. Just something to think about. A 377 with good rods would put you where you want to be at that weight with the right top end, and be maintenance friendly, to boot...

Very Good Point all the way around !

[nofear57]

bjuice,I'm interested in more details on the 454. Can you tell us compression,cam specs,carb size and what the heads flowed? I watched your videos,sounded good and pulled strong. Thanks!

[Notalent]

How much money are you looking to spend? What kind of power are you looking to get? How is your suspension setup?

I would personally go with a 489-510ci BBC. All the power still may not get you to reach your goals unless you have the suspension to back it up. I will be building a 505 or 510ci here in the next month putting out about 600-650HP for my 1971 Chevelle....cant wait! :D

[bjuice]

bjuice,I'm interested in more details on the 454. Can you tell us compression,cam specs,carb size and what the heads flowed? I watched your videos,sounded good and pulled strong. Thanks!

the compression was close to 13 to 1..the cam was a lunati .722/.722 280/284 @50 ( cam part# 50225). Tom McDunnah has had some good experience with this same cam profile. the carb is a Bo-laws 1050 dominater that flowed over 1200 cfm.
the heads are a set of the BB2'S with 2.25/1.88's they have had extensive port work done to them..since they have not been flowed on a bench i would have to say they are in the range of 360/370 or close to the bb2x.
i have a port matched 454-r with much port work done in the plentum area shorten front runners etc....ALOT of head and intake port work ( by hand)

i put the car on Alcohol at the end of last year and stood it up on the back bumper ( no wheelie bars) had to lift... got back in the gasr and it still ran a 5.98et @ 117mph..it was on a 119/120 mph run at a 5.70et..on this same pass i broke a lifter...i guess the alcohol increased so much bottom end it found the weak link in my valve train.

Like i said before this is a true street car that i drive to local cruise inns'..thats why i put a new set of mufflers on it....it has all factory glass, lights,door regualtors. all steel except hood including bumpers, the heavy ford factory brake calipers and rotors front and back..She's a Pig !...i could take 400lbs off her real easy and it would be a 5.30/5.40 car but then it would not be a street car then...LOL

this little motor ran good..it hurt my feelings when she broke....i still got the block,rods and pistons....one day she may go back in a 69 camaro street car we got here at the house.

hope this helps.

Brian

[michael1]

TYSON14, which ever way you decide to go if you like ISKY CAMS I'm very good friends with the owner and I will get you a pretty good price on their stuff. If you would like you can send me a pm with your phone number when you are ready and I will get you some prices. I will do the same for anybody else also because we all need to stick together here.

[nofear57]

Thanks bjuice for the info! Its good to here all the details of many engine combinations.

[Tod74]

When I had a lifter break it also busted the block... :( it was a 1970 512 casting 454 . I still have it too I figure I can always hard block it since it is a very small crack.

[maxpower671]

always build the biggest engine you can afford! this has never been more true..... esp the last few years.....

the big cubes will be more reliable in the long run..

this is coming from a long time small block fan, but even though the BBC is a bit more money initially, bang for buck, hands down, BBC!

[desoto30]

always build the biggest engine you can afford! this has never been more true..... esp the last few years.....

the big cubes will be more reliable in the long run..

this is coming from a long time small block fan, but even though the BBC is a bit more money initially, bang for buck, hands down, BBC!

X2 agree completely cubes & compression you don't have to tune it in when you've got it it's always there,& the BB is more robust although heavier. Less maintainance for the same HP Gotta be a good thing & more potential HP

[michael1]

Small blocks are good if you want to build an inexpensive 400 hp motor. But if you want to go fast a big block is the way to go.I'm building a 632 but I always had fun with the smaller motors too.Now days you can build big cubes for a descent price.Do it right the first time.

[TYSON14]

I just got a deal on a 383 stroker kit. A guy i work with needs some money so i bought some motown heads that have 2.08 valves in them. and some weisco pistons and eagle rods that have cap screws and they are light weight rods. So we will see what that will do? For the money i cant go wrong.

[Racefab57]

BIG BLOCK ,WE DONT NEED NO STINKIN BIG BLOCK, Just fun'in, Stay SBc,you've got the headers, etc, AND THERES A BIG weight difference.Stock block,build a 406,there killer motors! Or for a little more (aftermarket block) which you will NEVER be sorry you bought!!! Build a 454sbc,YES 454 SBC,Ill run any comperable (sp) bbc .You also already have a nitrous setup for the combo now WOW what a blast! And its easy on parts!!! Ive got a 472 SBC and its GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! D.R.

[zipper06]

BIG BLOCK ,WE DONT NEED NO STINKIN BIG BLOCK, Just fun'in, Stay SBc,you've got the headers, etc, AND THERES A BIG weight difference.Stock block,build a 406,there killer motors! Or for a little more (aftermarket block) which you will NEVER be sorry you bought!!! Build a 454sbc,YES 454 SBC,Ill run any comperable (sp) bbc .You also already have a nitrous setup for the combo now WOW what a blast! And its easy on parts!!! Ive got a 472 SBC and its GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! D.R.

Hey David do you have 18* heads on that motor so you can get enough air to that motor?

Zip.

[radicalz]

As racing season ends time to build another motor. would you build a sbc a good 383 stroker or a 406 with good 4340 internals. Our would you build a 454 bbc and turn it into a 496 or a 509. Cause a rotating assembly is about the same. I no you cant turn a sbc into 434 without getting a aftermarket block. How big can you go with a stock bbc. You can get a short block for about the same price. well almost the same price there is about a 500 to 700$ differnce. My goal is to have a motor that does not cost alot to run.



:D :D :D Tyson....BBC's have alot of torque stock great for transferring weight....but in the later years big inch small blacks are the rage....to be honest search some websites on the internet....I had searched almost a year b4 getting touch with the gentleman who built mine....John at Stroker Engine his website is www.strokerengine.com ...even if you want to ask him some questions John will try his best to answer them very inteigent chap he is :wink: :wink:

[russ67chevelle]

big chevy for more than 500hp for less go sbc...i cant say in words how my heart races in my chest when i fire up my 572!!!

i have a friend that has as much money on his tricked out 434 sbc as i do with my 572.his best is 10.30s to mid10s on motor.ive ran 9.70s @ 145 on motor on mine.he needs more head, ive got alot of mph for time cause of tight converter for nitrous & granted his car is heavier(about 700lbs more) my motor is 10 to one and can take big hit of nitrous comfortably when his motor is 13 to one and had piston height of like .990" meaning bad idea to spray!!!

i built the 400 in my 1989 one ton pick up with vortec heads intake 262 comp extreme cam...some day hoping my now 8 year old son wants to buy say a 80 malibu that needs a motor....refer back to beginning of this paragraph...lol

[TheRabbit]

big inch small blocks do run good, but build a bbc and you can always go biggger. start with a 540. Doesn't cost any more than a 509 and you can build bigger and bigger as time goes on! not to mention the extra hp and torque you'll have along the way!! i started with a 509 then went 548 now almost finished with the 632! No way is a sb gonna catch my 632!
If your like me you'll always want more hp/ tq so start as big as you can and it WILL SAVE U $ IN THE LONG RUN!!