Thread: small block for the street

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Hi guys, I am new to the forum. I am sure there are plenty of you that can help with my question. I own an import specialty shop.
www.europeanroadandracing.com
I have done some stuff with chevys but don't know all the ins and outs.
I am working on a specialty car for the One Lap Of America. It will be powered by a smallblock chevy.
Main criteria. It needs to run on pumpgas and needs to make in excess of 600hp.
Should I buy or should I build?
I can build them but have no knowledge of what works and what doesn't to achieve what I am looking for. May be there is a builder out there that wants his name on the car in exchange for a great deal on a motor. Anyway, I am looking forward to the answers coming my way.
Thanks in advance,
Karl

600hp out of a small block is definitely feasible, but you have to know what you're doing........It takes an experienced engine builder with Chevy specific knowledge.

So, unless youre planning on running boost , I'd get someone to put it together if I were in your shoes.

It takes an experienced engine builder with Chevy specific knowledge.

That's what my concern was. I am sure there are lots of sources out there. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Karl

http://www.airflowresearch.com/

Do they offer only heads or complete engines?

Thanks

what ya goin to put it in? your Lamborghini Diablo
???????

I would start with a good seasoned block. 350's are pretty plentiful in the boneyards. 650hp seems a lot to get real reliability and endurance from. I would go to the URLs listed earlier in the forum and start getting parts. I personaly like Summit Performance. They have good parts at reasonable prices.
I would find a machine shop that is absolutely anal and will work with you, and has experience in small block Chevys.
The biggest thing is critical machining, balance, clean work, and a willingness to not cut corners.
I like cast iron heads. I prefer used ones. I also use the machine shop to rebuild the bottom end. I like to get the crank trued to the bores, and the heads squared to the block. I do not like going more than .010 under for crank grinds. I like high volume oil pumps. I like extra capacity oil pans. I make sure of pump screen clearance. I do not use additives with detergent oil. I do like synthetic oil after 10,000 miles.
I would also ask a lot of questions, especially with manufacturers. I have found, two techs give two answers on the same question. I have also found a lot of people write a lot of things that sound good.
Good luck in your project. I hope it works.

Originally posted by TRUCKGUY
what ya goin to put it in? your Lamborghini Diablo
???????

No, the lambo is plenty fast. It is going into an Ultima GTR a 2200lb race/streetcar. I tried to add a link
Let's try this
www.ultimasports.co.uk/gtr/pics/gtr71.jpg

Good luck in your project. I hope it works.


Thanks for the advice.

well if it just wighs 2200lb. just how fast do you want it to go?????

Originally posted by TRUCKGUY
well if it just wighs 2200lb. just how fast do you want it to go?????

The car will go well over 200 which is not that important. test in England have shown the car doing 0-100-0 in 10 seconds on streettires. It should be unbeatable in next years event.

Look for some books on small block chevy's. A lot of people at chevytalk.com told me about some books to get like 6 of them and they all said that it will save me thousands of dallars when I go to build my engine. I will try and get the names of them when I get up in the mourning. Also that is one badass car there man! When you said import I thought you ment Honda ricer kind but I guess not...

http://www.amerspeed.com/cgi-bin/showultimaengines.cgi This is the company that supplied the engine for the record street legal 0-100-0 run of 10.3 seconds in the same GTR. That was the 640hp engine, they now offer a 720hp engine. The page may be down, I couldn't get it to load, but maybe it will work later?

I am familiar with American Speed. Don't lt the fact that I own a Lambo fool you. I have 4 kids to feed too.
Their 640hp small block is 20k plus 7k fo the headers that go along with it. I can't afford that until I sell my Lambo racecar.

You can see my car at www.lambocars.com
Go to "site with frames", go to" car of the month", go to "car of the month JULY" There it is.
Thank you very much for all the help from everyone.
Karl

Well, how about an LS1 running a little boost? You can get a complete engine including ECM for 6 grand from GM. Supercharger kits add another 2 or 3 grand. I would think you could get it up to 450hp no problem, with a little more work elsewhere, you might get 500. It's not your goal of 600, but it's light.

I posted this yesterday but it didn't show.
I have checke dwith American Speed. I can't afford a 20k motor and 7k headers to go along with it. I have 4 kids to feed. At least not until I sell my Lambo racecar.
The car can be seen at www.lambocars.com
Click on the site with frames, then click on car of the month and then go ot Car of the mth. July. There it is. You have to excuse me, I know it's not a chevy.

Karl