Hello gang, first post and love the site. So far found loads of information.


Now my question. I plan to purchase a 82 vette here in the next few months. Now I want to make this a pretty quick drag strip car with very limited street use. I am debating on what to do with the engine set. One option that I read up on from www.enginemasters.com is a 355ci block that Speed-o-motive had a hand in running around 430hp N/A and 800hp with a progressive nitrous system.

I thought about that setup as it would be great for the track and still have great daily driving as well. But then other options start to come up...


Summit racing has a GM Performance 454ci block pushing 425hp and 500tq with a forged block (pistons, rods and crank) and running 8.75:1 compression. With that setup I am pretty sure it can take a nice shot of nitrous or boost (supercharged or turbo) correct? Should be able to hit the 800hp mark if not better correct?

But then, Speed o Motive just never ceases to amaze me with their engine setups.


572ci Top Gun engine pushing 960hp and 768tq
Or a blown 540ci block pushing 1000hp



decisions decisions.


What would it take to drop one of these Chevy Big BLocks into a C3? Or should I go with a 350 to 427 based block?


What would be involved to put this into place? I know the transmission will have to be replaced. I am thinking either a fully built TH-350 or 4l60E (yes I want automatic tranny with a 3500 to 4000 stall converter)


Thanks for your help.

 

a very deep pocket/buy a car already built

 

yea figured that already. The engines I've looked at, turn key based, all run anywhere from $4,999 to $12,999. That itself isn't really a problem. I'm concerned with fitting for anything larger than a 454. And don't know much on the suspension or rear ends on the C3 vettes.

I am coming from a 99 LS1 Trans AM and pretty much knew everything that had to be strengthened to handle the mods I ran.


Thanks

 

The earlier C-3's lend themselves better for Big-Block motors (454 on up). If you want to keep a/c and other features, build a big small-block (406-434+). If you decide later to turbo/super-charge it, you will appreciate the smaller size of a small-block....IMO

 

you can drop a big block some members have done it
the IRS is going to be your problem if you hook all that power, you need to work on the rear end

 

12.5 CR on Shell 91 octane? Even with aluminum heads I find that hard to believe. Must be a monster cam.

Ya, ya, I know, there are people running 12.0 CR on pump gas and maybe with iron heads. I have never seen one!

Bench racing is a terrible thing.

 

On the rear end, what would need replacing, or do we have any vendors offering suspension/rear parts?

I know of the F-bodies I would have to replace the 10 bolt rear to a 12 bolt or ford *shivers* 9 inch.

What would be replaced on the C3 or where can I read up some information in regards to this?

 

Curious why you picked an 82 for this? 82s are all 700R4 automatics and had Cross-Fire fuel injection. For what you plan to do to the car, it may be cheaper to start with an 80-81.

 

YOUR A LS1 GUY.... run your LS1 setup from your T/A

1. it will be cool
2. it will be light
3. you could get away with the stock rear for a while. (bigblock slick NO WAY on a dana rear!!)
4. you could run a carb on the LS1 or run all the wiring and fuel system of FI
5. It will be fast.
6. you could buy the SLP 402ci with a 600 lift cam and AFR heads 4000stall and 150 shot of GAS.... you will be a 10 second daily driver!!!!

 

markdtn , it's to be mainly a strip car with little street use. May drive it to work once a week on a 'really good' sunny day or to shows/cruise in's, on weekends.

Holly505, yup I LOVE the LS1. Never had a complaint out of that T/A. I don't want to go computer driven (electronic fuel system, etc). Tuning gets too complicated it seems vs Carb based.


I like your option #6 And for a tranny, I had one guy mention to me to run a built 3 speed Powerglyde. Hmmm. Would be great at the track but I don't think so on the street. Any suggestions/pros/cons of this?

 

I'd agree with markdtn. An 80 or 81 will generally be cheaper than an 82, I think its' because of the lower poduction run. You're going to yank out anything that's different anyway.

If you're thinking e-trans (programable shift, etc), On the CFI board one of the members put in a 4L80E trans. That's a good bit bigger and beefier than the 60E. You might need the extra.

On the rear, I'd don't think the Dana 44 can hold up to what you're thinking of. I believe Toms makes a 12 bolt rear that replaces it. And I believe there are carbon fiber half shafts available.

 

Cool that's what I needed to know on the rear. So we're talking like a F-body 12 bolt or is things alittle different?? Any vendors that make these for the C3?

I figured the Dana rear would not hold up to the amount of power I am looking for. NA I hope the car to run @ 400 at the wheels. However at the track I will be spraying the hell out of it (200 - 300hp shots).



Thanks for the info guys.

 

I am not sure about a 3 speed power glide?? 2 speed Glide yes.
I am running a TH350 which is 3 speed. Works nice with my LS1.

As far as the rear... the dana is not as weak as the factory F-body rear... I have broken 3 F-body rearend using spray and slicks.

Slicks would be the problem when running the gas...with a Dana rear.

 

if you dont want or need the cross-fire intake and throttle bodys let me know

 

All corvettes should be converted to big blocks, courtesy of the US govt.
What the hell? If it is suitable to blow billions in Iraq, our national big block needs should at least be recognized and addressed first!

 

 

Ok, so on the dana rear, if I am running say around 400 at the wheels and running on drag radials, it should hold?

The more I think about it the more I believe that I shouldn't go over 400 ponies at the wheels. I want the car to still remain streetable to a point. I want to get an engine built to still handle at least a 200hp nitrous shot, but that part will have to wait till the rear is built to handle 500 - 600 at the wheels.

F-body 12-bolt would fit without any problems???

 

nevermind, answered my question hahaha. Was looking at Moser Engineering