Best Overall Engine?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
You can build a 496 BBC for about the same price as a 427 or 454.
With aluminum heads and intake, they dont weigh much more than a cast iron small block.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,921
Likes: 839
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
a big block with the right bottom end will be cheaper and make more power and last longer. strokers are nice but the rod angle isn't as good and bore wear is normally higher which will reduce ring seal faster. early pro stock motors used mostly stock bottom ends and held up well and approached 850-1000 HP no smallblock with a stock bottom end ever did that.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
THANKS! for the feedback!
I guess I want the speed and power...but also dont want to own a fuel station. I do have a 454 block here, but will need to build it-so that is cost...
how much suspension work is needed for a BBC? (will prob go alum heads too)
there is definitely something sexy to say about a "big block vette"
why build a 427 when I could do 454, or 489...?
also, what does an LSX engine go for? plus where are we at with additional costs?
I guess I am struggling with trying to find the proper power for such a light car......because too much means nothing but spin....and too little....etc...
Thanks,
Ron
I guess I want the speed and power...but also dont want to own a fuel station. I do have a 454 block here, but will need to build it-so that is cost...
how much suspension work is needed for a BBC? (will prob go alum heads too)
there is definitely something sexy to say about a "big block vette"
why build a 427 when I could do 454, or 489...?
also, what does an LSX engine go for? plus where are we at with additional costs?
I guess I am struggling with trying to find the proper power for such a light car......because too much means nothing but spin....and too little....etc...
Thanks,
Ron
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I vote for LSX just because it comes dry sump and they can be made out to 472 ci. Add a supercharger for even more fun.
To actually make a road racing car you need a bigger rear weight bias. My Vette is getting near 60% rear and 40% on the front. A local vintage racing 496 ci GT1 Vette can't keep up with my little 434 small block. He 300 pounds more and he is way nose heavy. We used to go together and even use the same tires and wheels. . His dynoed at 700 something HP and I might have something over 600. He had 60 more ci and I would still blow by him on the main straight.
To actually make a road racing car you need a bigger rear weight bias. My Vette is getting near 60% rear and 40% on the front. A local vintage racing 496 ci GT1 Vette can't keep up with my little 434 small block. He 300 pounds more and he is way nose heavy. We used to go together and even use the same tires and wheels. . His dynoed at 700 something HP and I might have something over 600. He had 60 more ci and I would still blow by him on the main straight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I'd note in passing that Zora was kind of horrified by the BBC in the C3 for a number of reasons but mostly a disruption of his weight distribution. The C3 is a beast with a BBC (I've owned a couple), but IMHO it's far more agile and fun with a hot SBC...
To get an answer to your question , you really - really - need to say what your budget is. Honestly, it's the only way to decide some of these options...
To get an answer to your question , you really - really - need to say what your budget is. Honestly, it's the only way to decide some of these options...
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I have never done either, so I can't speak from experience here, but I think you'll have to throw a good chunk of money at it to do an LS conversion properly, and a BBC conversion, although you will have to spend some money, will not hurt quite as bad. The fact that you already have a BBC is a big factor in why I say this. Another thing that I will say, based on absolutely zero experience, is that I don't know if I would bother to do an LS conversion unless I could score an aluminum block engine, which still command a nice chunk of change. The LS motors came out in '97, and were pretty popular by '04 or so, so it shouldn't be too long before the boneyards are literally flooded with them.
Scott
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Pioneering for conversions is pretty much over - the parts and kits (motor mounts, swap headers, etc.) are all now pretty much readily available and fairly reasonably priced. It's typically the other stuff that adds up - fuel pump and lines, driveshaft, etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 1,009
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Already happened, especially with the iron blocks but the aluminum ones aren't particularly difficult to find or horrifically expensive.
Pioneering for conversions is pretty much over - the parts and kits (motor mounts, swap headers, etc.) are all now pretty much readily available and fairly reasonably priced. It's typically the other stuff that adds up - fuel pump and lines, driveshaft, etc.
Pioneering for conversions is pretty much over - the parts and kits (motor mounts, swap headers, etc.) are all now pretty much readily available and fairly reasonably priced. It's typically the other stuff that adds up - fuel pump and lines, driveshaft, etc.
I still think there is just..........something...........about a big 'ol' big block!!!!! I have had cars with big blocks, and man, it's cool!!!
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I've done a couple of LS swaps now and they're not...easy, but they're pretty straight forward not the fab-fest that they were a few years ago. I helped with one early on and it was way beyond my skills. The last one was pretty much plug-and-play with the exception of needing to do a very small amount of frame clearance. It was an iron 5.3, including the trans and it really just pretty much dropped into a '70 C10.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Don't get me wrong, I completely agree! I had an El Camino with a 454 and it was awesome! But...
I've done a couple of LS swaps now and they're not...easy, but they're pretty straight forward not the fab-fest that they were a few years ago. I helped with one early on and it was way beyond my skills. The last one was pretty much plug-and-play with the exception of needing to do a very small amount of frame clearance. It was an iron 5.3, including the trans and it really just pretty much dropped into a '70 C10.
I've done a couple of LS swaps now and they're not...easy, but they're pretty straight forward not the fab-fest that they were a few years ago. I helped with one early on and it was way beyond my skills. The last one was pretty much plug-and-play with the exception of needing to do a very small amount of frame clearance. It was an iron 5.3, including the trans and it really just pretty much dropped into a '70 C10.
Scott
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
My Ideal engine starts with this.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DRT-31264444/
Then this.
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...83&CtgID=28761
Then these.
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...D=28707&CtgID=
and one of these.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-11-704-9/
That will get you started. It will bolt right in. Might need a new hood for the intake to match this though. Lighter than a small block.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DRT-31264444/
Then this.
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...83&CtgID=28761
Then these.
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...D=28707&CtgID=
and one of these.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-11-704-9/
That will get you started. It will bolt right in. Might need a new hood for the intake to match this though. Lighter than a small block.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
63Mako....I like your style!!! I was thinking 489....buddy has one in his chevelle and it is wicked!
Bill....thanks the 348 runs great. no issues. very reliable...just stock power so 260HP and prob 320TQ or so....why you interested? she will need a new home....
SO the burning question:
1) cost of LSx swap? general....ie, electrical, etc. how does it break down...
2) what mods will be needed for the BBC? (since the 348 is in there now)
3) what is possible weight difference between LSx and iron BBC with alum heads?
Shoot me your thoughts...
Thanks,
Ron
Bill....thanks the 348 runs great. no issues. very reliable...just stock power so 260HP and prob 320TQ or so....why you interested? she will need a new home....
SO the burning question:
1) cost of LSx swap? general....ie, electrical, etc. how does it break down...
2) what mods will be needed for the BBC? (since the 348 is in there now)
3) what is possible weight difference between LSx and iron BBC with alum heads?
Shoot me your thoughts...
Thanks,
Ron
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Since you're throwing fuel milage into mix, that would be aluminum LS engines. My current Vette's, actually a C6 ZO6. While a lot of it's the 6 speed Tremec gearing, even at 7.0 litres(427 cu in), no problem getting 25-26 mpg highway at 70 mpg all day long. The smaller LS's, do even better.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,672
Likes: 199
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
The best engine for a C3 is what I have 
. Don't get me wrong, I dreamed about building this motor for years and finally had enough coin to do it and I went ahead and spent quite a bit of money. But I am very satisfied with the outcome.
I first wanted a an LS motor and my friend took me over to a pile of blown up LS motors that guys had been putting power adders on and they blew up, he steered me towards what I have now, a 600+HP small block, with a bullet proof 5 cap 4 bolt billet splayed cap block with the appropriate parts to go with it and top end to match like T&D shaft rockers, AFR 227 heads blah blah blah. I'll never have the coin to build anything like it again.
Now talking about big blocks, sure they are the cats azz but I opened the hood on my buddies 427 '69 big block and I just could not believe how cramped up it was in there. No room for anything, I like the motor but I like some room to work too.
The best bang for the buck for our C3's because mine was so f'ing expensive would be a Dart SHP block and 3.75" crank with some nice ~ 285-300cfm heads and you have yourslelf a 550HP monster in smaller form and it bolts right in
. Don't get me wrong, I dreamed about building this motor for years and finally had enough coin to do it and I went ahead and spent quite a bit of money. But I am very satisfied with the outcome. I first wanted a an LS motor and my friend took me over to a pile of blown up LS motors that guys had been putting power adders on and they blew up, he steered me towards what I have now, a 600+HP small block, with a bullet proof 5 cap 4 bolt billet splayed cap block with the appropriate parts to go with it and top end to match like T&D shaft rockers, AFR 227 heads blah blah blah. I'll never have the coin to build anything like it again.
Now talking about big blocks, sure they are the cats azz but I opened the hood on my buddies 427 '69 big block and I just could not believe how cramped up it was in there. No room for anything, I like the motor but I like some room to work too.
The best bang for the buck for our C3's because mine was so f'ing expensive would be a Dart SHP block and 3.75" crank with some nice ~ 285-300cfm heads and you have yourslelf a 550HP monster in smaller form and it bolts right in
Last edited by MotorHead; Aug 20, 2011 at 09:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
The best engine for a C3 is what I have . Don't get me wrong, I dreamed about building this motor for years and finally had enough coin to do it and I went ahead and spent quite a bit of money. But I am very satisfied with the outcome.
I just could not believe how cramped up it was in there. No room for anything, I like the motor but I like some room to work too.
The best bang for the buck for our C3's because mine was so f'ing expensive would be a Dart SHP block and 3.75" crank with some nice ~ 285-300cfm heads and you have yourslelf a 550HP monster in smaller form and it bolts right in
. Don't get me wrong, I dreamed about building this motor for years and finally had enough coin to do it and I went ahead and spent quite a bit of money. But I am very satisfied with the outcome. I just could not believe how cramped up it was in there. No room for anything, I like the motor but I like some room to work too.
The best bang for the buck for our C3's because mine was so f'ing expensive would be a Dart SHP block and 3.75" crank with some nice ~ 285-300cfm heads and you have yourslelf a 550HP monster in smaller form and it bolts right in
Much like my own build ** Lots of LS stuff already on CF, the search engine will get you plenty of reading
