Guys,

I am setting up some engine builds for 2007 I am looking for price and power numbers from you. An example is the 445 hp for 3999 engine story we did. Too expensive? Too cheap? Too Chevy? Give me what you want or tell me what you already built and how much it cost.

douglas

How about a budget OVERHAUL??

None of the strait from the JY to your engine bay. An actual overhauled motor that will last beyond the driveway. How about $2500 for a budget. Do one from each of the big three, but not a Chebby. Aim for 400 hp.

Or, (I know I'll get flack for this) how about a turbo 4? There are plenty of Turbo Coupes that would make nice projects.

How much power? Or do you just want to see a re-ring and bearing job. Machine shop or garden hose and degreaser? Cant really do fours in Car Craft. Sixes maybe.

douglas

See what you can do with a Mopar 400. Thoes suckers are a dime a dozen out here. How about the same 3999 bean budget as the shibby? And make it somewhat streetable.

Just a rebuild on the 400? Or are you curious about what can be done with them? What kind of a budget? And do you want to know about what to look for with a basic rebuild or what to buy?

douglas

I'd still like to see a Buick 455 built and a representative test of the new edlebrock heads either compared to some stock heads, standard or Stage 1. Perhaps some info on the block girdles for them for the high horsepower applications.   

The 455 build sounds cool but will no doubt be expensive. Id still like to see it though because well, Buicks rock.

How about a budget Ford FE build? 390s are still out in force here in SoCal so locating a decent core shouldnt be too hard. Its doing it on a budget that will be the problem. Just ask me, Ive got easliy more than $4K into an aluminum headed 428. Its still probably another $1500 from being in the Cougar yet. jeez.

Different is cool, but there is some stuff that is way too out there. Hot Rod's 400M build seemed way too impractical for example. Theres 'different' and theres 'a 460 could have been built cheaper and not been any bigger dimensionally'. To top it off, at the end of the day I still wouldnt take a 400M if it was given to me.

For the overhaul, a do it yourself, hone your own cylenders, down and dirty job. Show people a reliable engine can be built without spending a fortune or cutting corners to save money. I built my 355 this way for about $2000, it puts out in the neighbor hood of 400hp, and has been driven trouble free for 90,000 miles. Show us how to do better!

Some sixes might not be too bad. There are plenty of V-6 mustangs and F-bodys running around, show 'em how to make some power beyond wings and fart cans.

How about some uncommon builds. Whens the last time someone did a build on a 352 FE?  Or a Chrysler 413? I love Chevy, but I don't think there's too much you can do to one anymore that hasn't been done a thousand times.

Hey Douglas. How about a 472-500 Cadillac buildup? Car craft has never done one of these and it would be interesting to see what the cost to horsepower/torque figures it would create. Enough of the SBC, BBC and every other engine that's been done to death in the CC mag over the years. Let's see something really different! Thanks.  

I am still waiting on a small block Olds buildup.  It will be expensive...at least compared to a chevy or ford...but I would honestly like to see what is required to get 500 HP out of a 350.  Put a set of edelbrock heads on there...or just port a set of factory big block castings (A, B, or C).  Use whatever intake is required...probably a performer RPM...but a test using the Victor would be cool too.  Perhaps retrofit a roller cam in there.  Whatever...just get 500 HP out of a small block...or go more if you're feeling frisky.  No nitrous or blowers or hairdryers for starters...you can do one of those later.

The low-budget stuff gets old because it pretty much only applies to chevy or some fords.  I'm tired of reading about some super cheap heads that let a small block chevy make 400 HP for under 2 grand.  Cheap is great...but not everyone has a chevy (I do, but thats not the point...my other two are Oldsmobiles).

CSI brought up doing an Olds 350, and this other guy brought up the Chrysler 400.  Lets split the difference and do a late Olds 400 (not to be confused with the pre '68 400s).  Pretty much anyone can tell you that the '68 400 has some of the worst engine geometry of all the Olds big blocks.  It was something about changing production so that the 400/455 crank and rods would interchange or some sort of thing like that.  What it netted in anycase was an engine that is undersquared and the overall engine performance suffered.  I have set around trying to figure a way to make the engine better (geometrically speaking) without changing the whole block and rotating assembly.  These engines too are fairly common as most people have gone to 455's in their quest for more speed.  In my quest for being a cheap jerk and desire to keep the block that is original to the car, I would like to see what you can do with the late ('68-'70) 400 Olds.  Since the 455 is becoming less available due to attrition and other factors, a 400 Olds buildup may make for interesting print.

Just a suggestion - Bowser

I modeled my 355 SBC after an engine in CHP a few years back.  The core cost me nothing, about $250 dollars in machine shope fees,about $250 for rebuild kit including hypereutectic pistons and Comp Xtreme energy cam, $900 for SDPC kit with Vortec heads and Air Gap intake.  I reused headers,fuel pump,carb, water pump, etc. The engine I modeled it after was around 325hp/415lbft of torque. In my s-10 it has ran a 8.79 in the eighth mile and is dead reliable.  I probably have about 40,000 miles on this combo now and have never done anything but oil changes.  I know everybody gets sick of Chevy builds but I just cannot see how anybody could justify building any other brand with the cost differential.  I guess I'm lucky to have been born into a Chevy family. I built the whole engine for about the cost of a good set of heads for any other brand.  

My vote is for a budget FE mild performance re-build. Think of all the engines you'd be covering with one story: 332, 352, 360, 361, 390, 391, 406, 410, 427, 428, etc. The 390 seems like a good candidate - decent compression and plentiful. And ther'e something fascinating about an engine that has pushrods designed to go through the intake manifold  

I would like to see an FE too, high compression pump gas build.  I liked the other suggestion made, see what can be done with a garage rebuild, cyclinder honing and cleaning, good assemby practices and see what the engine can do reliably.  

how about a ford 289 for around $2500.  around 350 hp.  maybe a cheap rebuild of the short block and throw on some aluminum heads and a good intake with a streetable cam.  maybe hypereutectic pistons if the budget allows.  my buddy will probably try this with his 67 mustang and seeing it done would help get him motivated.  

Chris