Big Block Chev or LS1

[commodoreone]

:burnout:
In addition to my VY CV8 Monaro, I have a 78 Camaro with a 350 Chev (quite strong with approx 380-400hp at the flywheel). I am thinking about ditching the small block for a big block Chev, probably 454 or 502, maybe bigger.

My problem is I just don't know which way to go - should I look at a stroker Gen III which is a small block alloy unit and much lighter than a big block or should I go for the iron Big Block beast which I can squeeze more cubes into ?

The car is a weekend cruiser, so it is mainly for street use, but I would like to take it over WSID ocassionally. I want the donk to produce around 650hp/650 ftlbs at the flywheel on PULP.

Has anyone got any thoughts on this ????

[alto]

turbo or supercharge the current donk :bow:

an LS conversion would be rather pricey over a BB or FI setup.

[VT 2 EXEC LS1]

what about a cast iron ls1 408 stroker with a carburetter on it:driving:

[ProVK]

It would really depend on you budget, the more money you have will make the 600-650hp nicer to drive.

[V8R]

go the 502 and force feed it a little.. be a nice thing :)

[seracing]

a tuff big block of a stroked carb feed ls1

[commodoreone]

:yup: Thanks guys. Good thoughts - I must say I am leaning towards a strong dependable cast iron BBC naturally aspirated. Trick & Manswetto built the current SBC donk, so I may go with them again as the current package is pretty healthy.

Has anyone got experiences fitting a BBC into 70's Aussie or American classic ?

[chevypower]

also consider the Vortec 8.1 (496ci) with MPFI, hook it up to the 6L80E

[LX346]

If you want to make 650/650 then go a big block, I think you will need to go big cubes if you stroke a GEN3 and probably still fall short of 650ft/lbs, thats big TQ.

502 will get you there with a cam and carby change.

[debencha]

big block will bolt straight in were the small block was..you may have fun getting extractors,most stuff will be lhd.when i had mine hadprobs with front springs and breaking eng mounts,make sure you get the ones with the t locking arangment.anyway enjoy watever you decide

[MattJ]

I'd go an LS2 based all alloy 402.We've fitted a few recently with the last one making a good 350rwkw(approx 600 fwhp) on pump fuel using very mildly ported LS1 standard valve cylinder heads & stock LS6 intake with an 84mm TB.Runs like a dream with a nice healthy but street friendly idle due to our chosen ZE5 camshaft being up in the high 230's@50.Cruises along at 1600rpm in 6th & pulls like a train everywhere.With some angrier cyl heads & a 90mm fast intake you'd be heading towards 650fwhp
Big cube Old school carby'd engines are great but it's all been done before.What an awesome car it would be with some modern day technology.Just turn the key anywhere,anytime & smoke the tyres.Another added bonus is that if you like to corner fast the reduced weight of the alloy mass helps a massive amount over a fat block of yesteryear.We are actually prepping a similar combo for an HJ Monaro right now.

Regards Glenn

[commodoreone]

:cheers: Thanks Glenn, much apreciated.

How far can you stretch a Ls2, around 427 cubes ?? I'd imagine that would
lift the figures again ??

[MattJ]

:cheers: Thanks Glenn, much apreciated.

How far can you stretch a Ls2, around 427 cubes ?? I'd imagine that would
lift the figures again ??402 is a popular number.To stretch it any further you need to run more stroke.There is a crank available but 402 gives a much nicer bore/stroke relationship.The extra stroke would net more torque & probably not much more peak power.The other option is a C5R factory motorsport block running a larger bore but at $16k is a little on the expensive side.Australian company Kostecki is manufacturing an LS1 block which will accomodate a larger bore but don't expect much change out of around $8k.I've heard a whisper that a couple of U.S. companys are also producing big bore LS1 race blocks too.Either way it'll blow the budget right out.

Cheers Glenn

[MattJ]

We can get hold of genuine LS7 (not chev big block, current Z06 corvette) engines. They are 500 hp out of the box and can be made over 600 hp with just a cam swap.... We can have it here in about 2 weeks air freight!!

Tell me when to order. :)

[MattJ]

We can get hold of genuine LS7 (not chev big block, current Z06 corvette) engines. They are 500 hp out of the box and can be made over 600 hp with just a cam swap.... We can have it here in about 2 weeks air freight!!

Tell me when to order. :):yup: yeeehhh,I forgot about that new option.Comes complete turn key including dry sump & all for around 25k.Expensive but even the titanium conrods & dry sump would have to be worth 12k:)

[MattJ]

:yup: yeeehhh,I forgot about that new option.Comes complete turn key including dry sump & all for around 25k.Expensive but even the titanium conrods & dry sump would have to be worth 12k:)


You can actually get them as a complete long engine for around $13500 USD!!!

plus freight and dont forget to convert it to Aussie dollars and add GST.

Still awesome value for a world beating engine.

[commodoreone]

:wave: Thanks Glenn, plenty of food for thought. The dollars are getting a little on the high side, though. I am realistic about what to expect, but at those dollars it would be more cost than the worth of the car that it would go in.

It is a '78 Camaro, but I was looking to spend maybe $10-15K on a new donk somewhere down the track - either alloy Ls1 or a Big Block, perhaps a crate motor GM 502. I want to try to cap the cost a little, but am still looking for 600-650 hp and the same in torque

[myss427]

I have a CV8 Monaro series 3 and an A9X Torana with a Big Block Chev in it. It has approximately 700 horses, and there is no way your going to build that for under $12,000. My brodix heads cost over $6,000, let alone block, crank, rods, roller cam ect. Better to buy crate motors, lots of horse power for the dollars, and its all new and most times dyno proven.

[ProVK]

10-15k on the New Donk, what funds you got for all the support systems for 600-650hp ? Things like Trannys, Diff, Tailshaft, Radiator, Fuel System etc, it all adds up pretty quick.

[commodoreone]

:cheers: Funds for trans, diff,radiator etc would be on top, hence the reason to try top contain costs a little for the engine. I don't see me getting out of it for anything less for than around $30 K min for the entire modification.

It starts to really add up....