I will have to say this a ton of good stuff has been posted here. Along with some BS lol. Sooooo I will have to say just a few words lol.

Small Block great engines you can build them economically and produce great power from a small power plant. But things have changed a bunch over the years as I do notice that a few (DEP) lol still think the way to build an engine by old standards. Many years ago to build a High RPM small block was the way to go as you could build it with lots of compression since then you had far better gas and parts were even cheaper then and easy to find. I used to go by this thinking to build little Small Blocks that would turn upwards of 11000 RPM but there life span is not that great as you do have to tear them down for inspection and replacement of bearings and such because of all of the hard pounding they would take. It was even not uncommon to have to take a hammer to knock off the main caps because they have spread against the block and that is with 4 bolt mains mind you.

But again things have changed. Parts are more expensive gas is out of site and so it becomes more important to have a long lasting economical power plant that makes reliable HP. The only real way to do this as even Norvell has posted is with as many Cubic Inches as you can get. Now this will apply to a Small Block or Big block depending on what you like and how much Torque you want to have. When you go with larger Cubic Inches you do not need to run high compression to make your power and by doing this you also put less of a strain on the engine both in force during the compression sequence and also heat that the engine will make. Remember HP is heat. Also to get the power you will not have to turn the engine high rpm thus you do not need to run the tractor gearing since you will have the torque to move the car with the larger power plant. So by following the larger CI route you will have a high HP and high TQ engine that will live a longer and more reliable life and give you more enjoyment as well.

Now do not get me wrong here I really liked the sounds of a 512 Hemi and an 8-71 super charger spinning at 7500 rpm and going through the gears or even a destroked 454 down to a 410 spinning 9500 but these never were nor will ever be again reliable street power plants. We must change with the times and move along as the aftermarket is improving so much all of the time.

But the best part is to each there own build what you like and what you feel is the best for what you do. If you do not know this then speak to reputable engine builders and let them know what you plan to do with the car and your setup. Just have fun.

I would like to add one more thing. If you are going from a stock power plant to a High Performance one please take your time and get used to the car and its power as the forum would like to keep people around awhile.

 

some people get a new car with allot more power then they are used to or upgrade their power plant and its totally a different beast and most of them wreck them within a few weeks because they loose control (its not that hard to loose control of your car) I lost control once and almost ended up inside some guys house I didn't now the car's limits because I only had it for a few weeks get used to the car and the new power before you try to pull any stunts

 

400-600 miles at 8000-9000 RPM for 3-4 hours without overheating or having any major malfunction. Yep....I'll take that kind of durability any day of the week.

Dep

 

Even right now i have a few worries I have blown to many things over the years. trannys, Tom's best yokes, half shafts, and Posi units, u-joints. I always went with better stuff. Every time I drive I wait for some bad noise. I'm very proud of my 850 hp rated tranny. It's really been a trouper. 100's of runs down a drag strip with 10X28 slicks and high speed in lockup and it keeps on ticking.

Norval did you see the guy on the forum with wipple with 608 RWHP and 700 foot pounds of TQ with less ci than me?

 

Clif: I see you are using your Vette for truck purposes, since you are so hot on tork. C'mon, you KNOW you want this:

The Duramax Diesel 6600 has outstanding power and performance with targeted ratings of 300 horsepower at 3,100 rpm and 520 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 rpm.
520 pounds of it!!!! You can be the king of the county with that kind of tork!!!!

How come you insisit on limiting yourself on the compression ratio? Get some VP fuel and you can pop that compression right up to 12 to one or more. Don't tell me you're another one of those "budget builders" that has to beg the wifey for gas money just to drive it and all you can afford is unleaded regular!!!! I still don't get these "expensive, hard to find" parts that everyone keeps talking about. If you're talking 302 cranks, then you're right. But forged bottom end parts for a 350 mouse are a dime a dozen. NOTHING costs what it costs back in the late 60s-early 70s. But I still see the mouse being the best bang for the buck compared to other motors.

And if you're gonna build a big block, BUILD A BIG BLOCK!!!
Don't piddle around with a bored and stroked mouse with teeny tiny valves, when you can build a monster rat with gigiantic valves and monstrous ports. The whole benefit of the rat is the porcupine heads that breathe so well.

Dep

 

I missed that post of on the whipple?? To me that is the best power adder. If I went really nuts that is the unit I would buy. While my 8-71 is not as efficient I can easily pull 9 or 10 pounds of boost without pushing the motor and 12 if you lean a little more on it.
When I ran a nitrous motor with it's 264@.050 duration cam, 11 1/2 compression, 5000 stall converter and heads that didn't start working until 5000 I found I was always reving the motor to feel the rush. Nearly every light I was buzzing 5000 even on normal takeoffs. To feel the rush the motor had to be revved.
Once the blower was installed that same set of heads worked from idle on up, the rush comming right off idle. I seldom rev past 3000 today and I get the same rush out of the car as I did with the nitrous motor. I dumped the 4.11 gears back to 308's and never lost off the line acceleration, actually gain because the car loves to pull from low rpm. It is much nicer to drive.
I don't know if I am dreaming this or not but I thought if you put 14.7 psi through a motor it responded as if the cubic inch was doubled.
So your 427 would respond like 854 cubic inches of natural aspirated motor. I might be dreaming this but I thought that was the rule of thumb.
There are very few people on the forum running boosters besides nitrous and those who run nitrous imagine that the motor would feel like running on nitrous all the time, you get the idea what a blower is like.
George I would also dump the 700R4. It is worth money and switch to a tremec. The driving fun with a standard goes way way up. That 700Rw could just about pay for 1/2 a tremec and I would go tremec before a 6 speed for it's cheap cost, small size, strength and ease of installation.
Some day George you will break down and go with the whipple and regret you didn't do it earlier.

 

Yes, the 3.75 stroke is BB stroke & it transforms the engine. See the stroke used in 427 BBC & 426 Hemi. BB power cleverly disguised as a SB.

 

And the dep picks the wrong BB too. The debored 396 was put in for one reason.

 

The major malfunction statement - no NASCAR engines ever have malfunctions?

Would you take 800-1200 miles at 4000-4500 RPM for 6-8 hours? Just trying to find out what you durability criteria is.

Don't want to get uppity, but you sure have a lot of criticism for other peoples (REAL) builds, while not posting, that I can find, anything about your real build. I know you want a hi-rev SBC that will wipe out all the strokers. Is it built anywhere but in your mind?

I don't know about others, but your constant carping is beginning to wear thin. Hey, but then I'm just a new guy .

 

Geez, lots of running backs in this thread. Never saw the ball picked up and run so much. Too bad they are running in the WRONG direction
I never said NASCAR motors NEVER had malfunctions. But the majority of them DO run a full race without major ENGINE malfunctions. If I can get the performance AND durability of a NASCAR motor for my car, I would be a VERY happy camper. I already know the performance isn't possible. There's a reason why those engines cost in the 5 figure price range. But I think I can come pretty close on durability.

glen242: Since you admit you are new, I'll go easy on you.
First off, there are a LOT of people on this forum that don't even OWN a Vette. So I am already ahead of them. Secondly, there are a lot of people on here with signature lines so long it looks like the Declaration of Independance, all describing every nut and bolt on their motor.
I will NEVER do that. Right now most of my car is ripped apart and I just recently picked up a (bare) small block for it. Unlike many, I am in no rush to get it rolling. That big rush usually ends up with the many posts of "why doesn't my engine run as good as it should?". I'm taking my time and doing it right. And I'm not sending it out to be done. It will be built by ME.
The complaint about carping...hmmm...I prefer bass to carp
This place is here to talk about stuff. NOBODY gets muzzled unless they misbehave. You don't like a lively discussion, YOU leave

Dep

 

Let's all get togeather in a circle and sing "Combaya"....

 

DepWad, I was being facetious. Been here longer than you, so I feel it gives me the right, maybe wrongly, to criticize posters that go out of their way to belittle others looking for advise. It seems that most of what you post is based upon some fantasy engine you are going to build. Get it built, post numbers, and then tell people they did wrong with their builds.

I know, from past posts, others have said..Dep, he likes to stir the pot as a way for explaining your, in my opinion, bad behavior.

You remind me of 'GEORGE'.

We are supposed to be here to help people, not make fun of their dreams. You don't seem to grasp the difference between constructive critism, and belittling.

Frankly, if you were posting when I first came on to the Forum in 1999, I never would have joined!

Think about it! I'm sure you will have some smarta** rebuttal.

 

Glen Glen Glen lol. You see Dep is in his own world so we take what he says with a pound of salt and just keep going. I know I know that salt hill is getting pretty darn big by now.

 

Surely, you jest.....where's that "dupe" flag anyway....

 

Big G:
I'll drink to that!!!

This place needs a


-----------------------------------------------------
BTW...to whom it may apply...I never belittle others or make personal attacks or CALL PEOPLE NAMES (DepWad).
I ONLY attack ideas and opinions.
Seems like some on this thread only understand constructive criticism as long as it AGREES with what THEY think things should be. I don't play that game homey

Dep

 

I swear this place is being taken over by the touchy-feely types

 

<------------ He's also wishing Dep would get a motor running, and then give us some hands on practical advice!! Build it, then, and only then, will I respect your opinions. We are waiting Dep!

 

What ever happened to having your own opinion on what's right and what's wrong. Geez...Some of you people on here are getting pretty thin skinned.

Dep if you want a high revving 302 go for it, I have to admit, I knew a guy in high school with one in a 69 pace car and that was one of the sweetest sounding motors I've ever heard. But.... when you get it built come on down to Ga and I will chew it up and spit it out with my 383

 

 

Heck...I'm waiting too!!! Problem is, I am also getting hitched and moving from Illinois to New Mexico. That kinda puts a crimp on buying big heavy parts that I have to transport out there.
It's already going to be a hassle transporting the Vette without a steering column. Anyone ever steer a Vette on a trailer using a vice grips on the steering knuckle???

Dep