Thread: To Be Big or Not to be Big?

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Originally posted by lt1s10
or he could be sick! one or the other.

both

Originally posted by pat mccarthy
both

i can believe that.

Ok, after all that work, im changing the topic again... U guys prolly hate me by now.

I'm going back to a 383. I already have the block, heads, carb, headers, rings, bearings, gaskets, and seals for it. I can get the steel crank for $200 still.

Basically all thats left is cam, intake, and machine work....I don't see how i could turn this route down...

I was doing some calculating and for the money I can build a 383 about 1/2 as cheap as I can a big block...

I'm just in a position to get SBC parts a lot cheaper...Sorry if this is a let down....We had such a good thing going.

Oh yea, i got an H pipe and 40 series flowmasters put on my truck today, sounds awsome

Originally posted by Hopper111
Ok, after all that work, im changing the topic again... U guys prolly hate me by now.

I'm going back to a 383. I already have the block, heads, carb, headers, rings, bearings, gaskets, and seals for it. I can get the steel crank for $200 still.

Basically all thats left is cam, intake, and machine work....I don't see how i could turn this route down...

I was doing some calculating and for the money I can build a 383 about 1/2 as cheap as I can a big block...

I'm just in a position to get SBC parts a lot cheaper...Sorry if this is a let down....We had such a good thing going.

Oh yea, i got an H pipe and 40 series flowmasters put on my truck today, sounds awsome

the idea was to sell that and then you wouldn't have much in the big block. you need to do what ever you want to, but before you die, put one 454 into something, you'll never go back. thats like going from the out house to the penthouse.

What moves the car?? Torque.
Big Blocks are torque monsters- the more efficent your engine is the better it pulls & the less gas you will use to get there.
I would sell the stroker, and go with a BB- it's going to be a lot more streetable in a el-camino then the stroker....but it's your car. JMO....

Well...I agree that SBC cannot compare with BBC as far as natural power...However...I already have almost everything for a small block to be build.

Inch wise im not that far from big block inches...

For money purposes, I'll get away a lot cheaper with a small block because I already have just about everything.

The crank will run me about $200, the machine work $100, I haven't gotten a quote on the heads yet, about $200 on a set of pistons, about $200 on the rods that i want (bushed rod, not pressfit)

So for $700 bucks I'll have everything i need to assemble the stroker. Plus my tranny is built for about 400HP.

My only worry is the rear end. But that'll work it's way out when i find a good posi unit at a price that i can't refuse.

Which brings me to my next question...

SPOOL, POSI, OR LOCKER? I know spool doesn't let u turn much at all, and locker doesn't work until u already have some tire spin...

Originally posted by Hopper111
Well...I agree that SBC cannot compare with BBC as far as natural power...However...I already have almost everything for a small block to be build.

Inch wise im not that far from big block inches...

For money purposes, I'll get away a lot cheaper with a small block because I already have just about everything.

The crank will run me about $200, the machine work $100, I haven't gotten a quote on the heads yet, about $200 on a set of pistons, about $200 on the rods that i want (bushed rod, not pressfit)

So for $700 bucks I'll have everything i need to assemble the stroker. Plus my tranny is built for about 400HP.

My only worry is the rear end. But that'll work it's way out when i find a good posi unit at a price that i can't refuse.

Which brings me to my next question...

SPOOL, POSI, OR LOCKER? I know spool doesn't let u turn much at all, and locker doesn't work until u already have some tire spin...

have you checked, some of those el caminos came with pos trac.?

Hmm...How would i tell? I know this one did not come factory with a BBC in it...It came with a 350/350 factory. It is a factory air car though.

Originally posted by Hopper111
Hmm...How would i tell? I know this one did not come factory with a BBC in it...It came with a 350/350 factory. It is a factory air car though.

jack the car up and turn one wheel and watch the other wheel ,see if the other wheel turns the same way. if they both turn the same way then its pos trac.

I'll try that but i don't think it is posi trac.

I'm prolly gonna need to invest in a posi unit. Thats ok it all comes with time and territory. I bought this car because it was the PERFECT project car. It had problems that aren't out of my skill level to fix.

Hmmm......Anyone recommend a good posi company?

Yea...it's not posi...

What steps are involved in setting a posi in place of a factory set?

Any good places to start looking for a posi unit? Id like to run 3.73 gears, but I'm taking suggestions on what better gear to run.

Originally posted by Hopper111
Yea...it's not posi...

What steps are involved in setting a posi in place of a factory set?

Any good places to start looking for a posi unit? Id like to run 3.73 gears, but I'm taking suggestions on what better gear to run.

junk yd., trading post, news paper, a friend of a friend, and a repair shop that does this type work. i might take a chance on ebay for a few hund. dollers. or new. 3.73 is not a bad road gear.

AH i see...Ok i'm gonna start looking there too... My boss said that he can get me a 3.73 posi unit for about $350...does that sound pretty good? Not sure what brand it is, but he hasn't ever made a habit to buy cheap no name brands.

Originally posted by Hopper111
AH i see...Ok i'm gonna start looking there too... My boss said that he can get me a 3.73 posi unit for about $350...does that sound pretty good? Not sure what brand it is, but he hasn't ever made a habit to buy cheap no name brands.

thats about right for the posi trac, without the ring gear and pinion.