I was around in those days and drove a really wild 428 cobra Jet. I don't remember getting any butt kicked by the 396. I also remember looking at the 69 396 camaro and was adviced by the performance shops that the 325 horse model had more potential on the street then the solid lifter 375 version. Like you I live back then.

The 396 with the square port heads just totally sucked on the street because of the large ports. The smaller oval port heads were alot more street friendly. That claim was also made about the 454 even with it's extra 60 cubic inches. It is something Lingenfelter always stressed. Up to a point the oval heads are better ON the Street.

 

Norval: Well now you've TOTALLY lost me. ON THE STREET? I have NO idea what you are talking about. I think you been watching too many "Fast and Furious" movies . On the street is meaningless to me. Street racing is a no-no on the forum, and I haven't done anything goofy like that since the early 70s. Back then the steets weren't full of nitwits on cellphones and wimmin driving SUVs so big they can't see over the steering wheel. I have NO idea what you would do with ANY kind of 60s performance car "on the street". What are you going to do...race Mazdas and Toyotas??? Blech!!!!

Now if you MEANT to say "street AND strip", we can talk
Note my signature. A well-balanced, GEARED car CAN give all those cubic inches a good run for their money. The trick is to gear it high enough so that the big heads and solid lifter cam can do their thing.
I would NOT go any bigger than 427 building a big block. I want all 3... RPM, horsepower, and cubic inches. Too big on any one of those hurts the other. Balance grasshopper...you must have BALANCE.
The abosolute MAX I would go with a big block is 500 cubic inches. Considering the power and RPM they can get from a Pro Stock 500, that would be more than enough for me. Of course, I could never afford a motor like that. But that would be my limit in CI.

428 Cobra Jet...oh no
I would have preferred it if you said 427 FE or even 429 Super Cobra Jet. The 428 was just a Mercury engine with some 427 parts on it.
It was made to compete with the Plymouth Road Runner in big Torinos.
By the time you got done hopping up the 427CJ, you could have just as easily bought a 427 FE and all the work would be done. I have only ridden in ONE 428 CJ that moved good. It was in a 1969 Mach 1 and had a WILD gear in it. Otherwise, those were loafing highway motors.

As to the 396/375HP, they were pretty uncommon in my area. The ones at the strip dominated in both Camaros and Chevelles. Again...gearing. You gotta GEAR those cars to let that engine breathe and get the job done.

Dep

 

Other then a odd few 99.9% of our cars are street driven. Why build a specialty car for the .1% that is racked up as strip mileage. We drive to and from the track and compromise all the time to make a good 1/4 mile pass?? That doesn't make sense to me.
Build a good strong motor for the street, something that will idle, run on normal pump high test with good bottom end and take that to the strip on the odd occassion you actually get there. I grew up with 456 gearing, no overdrive 12.5 compression, big solid cams, high stall converters and I will never go back to those times. The cars were dogs but today comparison.
None of this applies if the car is a trailer car to and from the strip but for those that drive and I didn't say race on the street big cubes is the way to go.
No way a little small block regardless of how tight you can wind it will match the big 540 in maners or pulling power, again on the street. NOT a race car.
I have spent 40 years hot rodding and nothing compares to our modern power adders and big cubic inches.

Again I am talking about street manners, not street racing, street manners and just plain fun to drive.

 

Well you lost me Norval. My fun is at the strip where it's safe and legal.
I know that most guys drive their Vettes on the street. Again...I see no point in hopping up a car to drive to the grocery store or to church on Sunday. People spend all this time, money, and effort asking a zillion questions about what aftermarket options will work best...and then drive up and back to Wallmart!!!???!!! Why not just buy a Cavalier or
Cobalt if that's all you plan on doing? It would be a LOT cheaper and a lot less complicated. Street manners...again...NO idea what you are talking about.

Dep

 

Dep you are frustrating as hell. I don't know where street racing came into this.

 

So Dep - you never enjoy a run through the gears off an on-ramp?

Or the pull out of the corners on a twisty road?

I doubt I'll ever see a strip.

Which is actually why I build for low end torque.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...156&forum_id=3

the story goes on.

 

Norval: Recognize this?

"Torque matters on the street, not revs."
Look on page 1 of this thread.
----------------------------------
Steve439:"So Dep - you never enjoy a run through the gears off an on-ramp? Or the pull out of the corners on a twisty road? I doubt I'll ever see a strip. Which is actually why I build for low end torque."

The answer to that is a definite NO!!!! I save race driving for a RACE TRACK. And the only corner I take is at the end of a dragstrip turning around on the return road. I drive a pickup truck on the street, but even if I had something that COULD drive crazy-fast and go around corners, I would NOT do it on the street.

Dep

 

Dep, I bet you are the guy I am cussing every morning riding in the left lane slowing down traffic.

 

I feel ya dep.

Dont know why I am building a turbo motor. Just am. Something to do that doesnt involve drinking or loose women, now that I am married and occupies alot of time and brain power while I am chillin over here in korea.

But I think if I wanted to build a crazy race car it would be a TCC race car. take an early LT1 C4 and turn it into a racer. Should be a good time

 

BlackRat: Sometimes I drive at almost 5MPH over the limit. Never more than that though.
Usually I go EXACTLY the limit. And I stay in the far right lane unless I'm passing. I wonder how many guys on here are ping-ponging in and out of lanes like Michael Andretti in a big race to get to work. I LOVE seeing cops nail those guys!!!
I also enjoy seeing their cars wrapped around a telephone poll. I know...that may seem harsh or sadistic. But better to have them kill themselves, than take out some poor innocents. I consider it "thinning the herd". Survival of the fittest. Call it what you like.

Jake: Don't get me wrong...nothing wrong with building a hot rod. It's how it's driven that matters. See above
Stay safe in the frozen Chosin

Dep

 

We have a name for your types. Old folks

By 2030, elderly people will make up 25% of all drivers and be involved in 25% of fatal accidents. So just by being old your endangering some poor innocents thats a fact too btw.

 

You guys are blowin in the wind talking about this stuff with him. He's an ex cop, they have to say this stuff or their pension gets cancelled.

 

Nope. I just get in the left lane and set sail. I see accidents every morning. 9 times out a 10 it is either a woman on a cell phone, an old fart or a kid in a rice burner.

But I guess we are getting off the subject here.

 

To get back in track on this subject i would think that a 6000 Rpm max is normal on a castcrank(alltough my engine builder spun it to 6500 with heavy 7/16"s and TRW slugs) and i would guess 700hp is the limit of safety.
2 bolt studded mains would handle that but you better not start pinging because it will go to the crapper real fast..
Get e nice set of lightweight slugs and Hbeam rods or a set of 3/8" truckrods properly setup with ARPs and you in buisness..Keep it light...