Thread: A poll for the Chevy guys, and others too.

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Ok, the old 'maro has got to go. One of the threads I did on it was about the color, with all the helpful information given by all of you the car will be painted Resale Red. It's time for me to start lining up some engine parts and I'm curious what the opinions are as to a powerplant for the car..... So, which combination is going to offer the best return on the dollar?


1. Big Block with a stroker kit taking it to 496 inches and a 400 hydro. Reworked oval port cast iron heads....

2. 540 inch Big Block, solid roller cam, aluminum heads, and all the other go fast goodies and a well built 400 hydro with hi stall converter

3. 355 small block, GM heads, hydraulic cam, 350 hydro with a shift kit.

4. Stroker small block (383 or 406), solid roller cam, aluminum heads, 400 hydro, hi stall converter and all the other go fast stuff



A bit of other info about the car....It will have coilover suspension, triangulated 4 bar, tubular A-Arms, 9" Ford rear, 6 point roll bar, frame ties, strut tower braces, a ton of body mods, 4 wheel disc brakes, dash full of Autometer gauges, and a bunch of trick stuff all over.... Weight will come in at around 3,000 pounds dry....

Unless you find an absolute HP nut the basic 355 SB will give you the best ROI in the engine room.

Plus, they're cheap to put together/

I agree. I don't think you could recover the additional money spent to go the big block route. If there was a $10,000 difference it might make sense, but I don't see that happening. I think the other components will be the big money bringers.

Don

Dave, Just my two cents, but the turbo 350 may not be a good seller with the high price of gas. An OD trans might be a good selling point, AND they tend to have a lower ratio first gear than the T350 so you get economy for cruising on the Interstate AND a strong first gear/

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

My 2 cents, Resale red needs something with a soul to get the money, ok just won't bring it. I think that it needs a heart, the BB stroker will be very streetable but yet have enough grunt to "raise a wallet" right out of the pockets.
There are a million out there with stock drive trains, yours isn't stock so IMHO the engine shouldn't be either.

what about a Twin turbo 350? that would appeal to a lot of people as the word Turbo usually does.

Can you post a pic to maybe get a idea of what it looks like? I think a pic of it will give a better feel of what it is/needs. If its looking plain than just the basic 355 should be fine. If its looking like a beast might want to set it off with some thing more "killer". Just my 2 cents. With the suspension youve added it can handle all the above.

Dave, You know where my mindset on motors has gone lately. I would get either an LS2 or a 6.0 from a late model GM truck or SUV. Put either an OD automatic or a T-56 6 speed in it. You would have a car that could be scary fast and still be drivable and get decent fuel mileage. These LS conversions have become bolt ins now with kits from folks like BRP hotrods: http://www.brphotrods.com/. This is the way of the future. Even if you don't like the EFI, now there are numerous options to use a carb with these new motors. For the money you would spend on a stroker big block you could easily do the LS. Best of both worlds!

Pat

I would have to say #4

I think I have to agree with Pat. Cheap gas isn't going to come back. A stock 6.0 makes nice power and will yield better mpg than any of the choices you mentioned. Hank

I have to go with the tried and true 350+.030 (355) but with an OD transmission in today's uncertain economic world for ease of sale. You'll get more potential buyers with cash in their pockets then tire kickers who just wont have enough more bucks in their pockets to go the big block direction. One - two years ago I would have gone the BBC with all possible, but not now.

The right Resale Red will IMO help move it (with a bit of sparklie stuff in it ) quick

I think I'd go with a 383, 700r4, 3.73:1, 30" tall tires.
Cheap gas won't be back, but I'd guess this won't be someones daily driver....

dave?? are you ok up there?? you have not by chance had a stroke?
a chevy motor?? didnt you mention once you was thunkin bout the idea of a foMoCo powered camero!

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I agree. I don't think you could recover the additional money spent to go the big block route. If there was a $10,000 difference it might make sense, but I don't see that happening. I think the other components will be the big money bringers.

Don

I'm with Geezer & Don, 355. Reliable as hell. People buy the complete package anyway. Won't get what you want after you spent tons in the motor. Keep it simple and fast. My 2c.
Bryan

Originally Posted by Matt167

what about a Twin turbo 350? that would appeal to a lot of people as the word Turbo usually does.

Hmmmmmm................