This.

Horsepower numbers are just numbers; what it sounds like you're talking about when you're talking about a "fun" car is the driving-experience of the car accelerating in certain street conditions when you can wind it out a bit: open road, passing a car on a highway, on-ramps, powering through a curve, etc.

Under those conditions, smooth linear power-delivery and a rapid rise in RPMs from about 1500rpm-5500rpm are likely the qualities you'll probably enjoy most.

It is very easy to get those qualities out of virtually any C3; a big-block will come with them right out of the block, especially the Quadrajet-equipped versions. Even the most modest L-48 equipped versions can take an Edelbrock top-end kit that will give you that, though a 3.70 or numerically higher rear gear and an overdrive transmission might give you that right away without further engine modifications, but will complement further engine mods if you do get bored with what you've got.

More important for your stated goals, though, is finding a C3 in good enough condition that you can enjoy driving it, or focus on refining the driving-experience, rather than sinking tens of thousands into frame/birdcage/body/chassis/brake/interior repairs and having to not drive it while doing that work. That's where the above advice is coming from that is encouraging you to find the best-condition car you can.

But realistically assess your driving patterns and style; a 165hp C3 will sit idling in traffic, cruise the highway at 65mph, stand stationary at a car show and drive through the curves as well as, if not better than, a 600hp small-block you pulled from your cousin's old A/MP Camaro drag-car.

 

Must have been Fords.

 

but 500HP is 500HP. The big engines I dealt with were over 10,000HP but turned at a leisurely 17,000 RPM.

 

i've got both you guys beat. how about 200K rpm? but only a few oz/inches of torque-a dental handpiece. open wide!

 

Buy one with a 383 and overdrive trans.

 

I think you need about 400fwhp for a fun street car. A 300fwhp will sound and look the part but lacks enough guts for a lot of fun. A V6 Mustang makes 300hp as an example.

If you go with 400hp, you will enjoy it for a year and begin planning for 500, lol.

 

Hi Dan,

This depends on how you define "fun" car.

If you want to build a cruiser then I think 300 to 400hp will probably do with an automatic. A GM ZZ4 or ZZ383 will work. Gearing from 3.55 to 4.10 will help.

If you want something that will make you and other's take special notice then you will probably need more hp/torque.

Remember the more hp/torque you put in then the more you will need to modify the other systems to compensate. Brakes, cooling, traction, suspension, steering, etc. are all effected.

I have over 500 gross horsepower in mine with a 4spd and 3.70 gears and it is fun, but I have modified most of the other systems to match the power.

It is easy to get really deep into the project if you don't set your goals in advance. My goals were clear from the start.

Basically I wanted a pro touring C3 on a budget. So far I think I have accomplished most of what I was after.

JMHO.

 

It is my experience, that if your car weighs 3,000lbs - 300hp(flywheel) is enough to make it fun. But if your car weighs 4,000lbs - 400hp is the sweet spot.

So a 10:1 ratio is the measurement that gives me the fun factor.


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