Forged crank. Is you have a solid lifter engine you should have one. If it sees 6000 RPM plus you should have one. If you plan on racing you should have one. Any power adders now or planned you should have one. The newer cast cranks are better than the factory cast cranks and some are advertised to hande over 500 hp but I feel if your building an engine approaching 500 hp you should be able to justify the expense of a forged crank. GM felt the need to have a forged crank and 4 bolt mains in any engine over 1 HP per CI.

 

Not much to add except I would include the word "inexpensive". Let me explain. You don't always have to go new and can often start with a good core to save a grundle of cash. Here's some examples: I have an acquaintence who specializes in grinding crankshafts. He is who everyone in the area uses from automotive to 24 cyl diesels. I can usually get a forged GM crank from him for a fraction of a "cast steel" aftermarket version. So what would you do?

Another, I've picked up several pairs of performance heads used, had them gone through, and used them. The set I have on my 540 are full cnc edelbrock victor jr heads and flow nearly as well as 325 AFR's. I paid $1600 for the pair new on closeout. I've even sold a couple pairs of heads here that were a smoking deal for the buyers.

I had a source I was buying "warranty return" zz502's from. I bought and rebuilt about a half dozen of these. Here's one now. Anybody near NM want a 502 Block + crank for ten bens? It took less than one minute to find. A gen 6 502 block is already set up for a roller cam, and can go 4.6 bore. For around $2000, you could have a complete shortblock!

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/pts/3005822387.html

The point is with a little work and patience, you can often find a few hidden treasures to help lower the cost of your build and still get durable and fast.

 

My AFR 195 heads are the old style not the eliminators. but they are the competition ported version with 2.08 valves. Bought them brand new for $1200 when the Eliminators were released. They flow better than the eliminators at a $300 savings. Bought my 3.75 stroke 4340 crank that was custom lightened by AMS for $450 because it was ordered then not picked up by a customer. Shop wisely.

 

 

What an incredibly arrogant and self-serving comment. Who defines what is "fast" - you? Simply not the case; just because a ride isn't fast enough for you doesn't mean it's not "fast". Congratulations; you just dis'd the vast majority of C1/C2/C3 owners...all owners of fast Corvettes.

Dis'ing a fellow Corvette owner's ride Simply Isn't Done - period.

I respect the enigne building skills, but this highlights what I've been championing all along - that there's a lot of power to be made for not a lot of money...and it's plenty for the vast majority of 'Vette owners...regardless of the attitude and claims to the contrary by a few.

I have to wonder if this was a post to genuinely help the community...or just an ego-driven "mine's bigger" fest. If you want to be an elitist snob about power, the "Porsh -a" forum is ---> that a way.

 

The purpose of this thread is to help establish some guidelines for those that are planning a performance build and try to guide them toward the right choices for their intended power level, RPM and use, not "an ego-driven "mine's bigger" fest". I felt this was a worthy discussion to have that will be very helpful to all members planning a performance rebuild to help them choose either economical components that match their needs or not build something that has inadequate internal durability for the power level, RPM or intended use they have planned for their build, especially if they are inexperienced at engine design.
The discussion about at what point you should upgrade internals is ongoing and interferes with threads in many instances.
I was in no way "dising another corvette owners ride" or disrepecting anyone and don't consider myself an "ELETIST SNOB" arrogant or self serving. The name of the thread speaks for itself and when your building a performance engine for a C2/C3 corvette I will stand by my statement. 210 HP may be cheap and durable but when there are stock corvette engines putting out 435 HP and GM put 360 HP in some of their 327's I don't think anyone would consider 210 HP fast. If it meets the owners needs and intended use that is great.
I have tried to put together a helpful, informative thread. I have not insulted you or anyone else. The above post is a personal insult directed toward me and BS posts like this is what gets many threads locked. If you want to contribute to the discussion that is fine. If you don't agree with something posted post a factual arguement to support why you disagree. If you want to insult me personally take it to a PM and don't ruin a helpfu, informative thread. Your post has contributed nothing to this thread.

 

Which is the point I made earlier - yet you did specifically insult a member's ride and by association many others based on YOUR standards. I did post a detailed, specific post respectfully disagreeing with your aphorism.

It was an interesting thread based on your opinion...right up until you actively denigrated another member's ride and the vast majority of the stock C1/C2/C3 owners. YOUR comment regarding the member's ride and by inference many others is the real BS in this thread...along with the orginal aphorism and opinions it's based on.

'nuff said.

 

Gentlemen, please pause a minute. The point of my post was meant to show that not everyone wants or needs a Hennessy twin turbo LS7 to feel "fast". For my design a base 185HP engine would fill the bill... I basically got 25HP for "free" with my purchase.

I was disappointed that 63mako missed my point, but was not insulted by his comment since he obviously didn't understand the intent of my post.

Thank you Bill for defending my decision to "go stock". And for understanding that "fast is in the mind of the owner". Now please make amends with each other so all of us motor weenies out here can get back to learning from both of you.

 

Reread post #20. It was not meant to insult anyone or anyones car. If anyone took it that way I apoligize as that was not my intent. My last Vette was a totally stock 72 W/ a 200 HP L48, 400 turbo, 3.08 posi. It was not fast by anyones standards but I enjoyed and appreciated the car for what it was. Wife and I cruised in it regularly and it was fun. My 1997 30th anniversary RS camaro with a 3.8 auto was faster than the 72 L48. It wasn't fast either but enjoyable and funto cruise in. This thread is not about that. This is the Tech and performance section. Those that want extra power well above 210 HP are the ones this thread is directed toward and the point of it is to give them some pretty solid guidelines as to what power level you really need to spend more money or be concerned about durability. There is nothing worse that putting your hard earned money and valuable time into a new build and having it self destruct prematurely because you were trying to save a few hundred bucks. Lets get back to the thread and quit the insults and bickering please.

 

People that can be satisfied with there car as a good looking cruiser or feel there car is special regardless of its power level are the lucky ones from a money stand point. I got rid of my 69 Z/28 in late 1972 for a 1972 L/48 auto car with 6,500 miles. I did it because of my troubles with both the law and of course insurance costs. I figured with the slug i would keep myself out of trouble. One night after 6 months of owning the car it would only do 110 on the freeway. It was quickly gone within a week. Now in 72 nobody was running around with a gps the car was probably really doing 100 mph at best or less. My father had huge bricks of 57/58 imperials that would at least show more then 110 on the odometer. so would his brick 59 golden comando plymouth.

Almost everybody and there brother that has an L-48 comes on this forum with help me with more power. Telling someone there 210 hp is not fast is just the truth.

There are no class rules in street cars to put up with. Its as simple as build the engine big as possible keep the rpms low an the engine lives generally a long life. RPMs cost replacement costs in valve train at the very least.

 

I remember test driving a '77 back in the mid '80's and being quite disappointed with the performance. It wasn't specific to the vettes however, it was just the trend of all vehicles in general from that era. Anyone who believes they were/are fast in stock form is deluding themselves.

Thank goodness for replacement parts!

 

I hope a member with a late model C3 tries a turbo or pro-charger on their low compression motor. There are some articles using junk yard 4.8s and 5.3s that made a lot of hp. I would think a turbo'd or pro-charged set up would put some guts into one of these motors and not do any damage. The set up on the 4.8l ran about $2200 and was all ebay stuff or locally fabricated. The motor never came apart all the way to 1200hp, lol.

You could easily take one of the C3 low compression 190hp motors and get 450hp without hurting anything. If it doesnt last, you can use better internals on the next rebuild and still have numbers matching. Just an idea and maybe not a good one, lol.

 

I would not boost one of those 40 yr old 2 bolt cast bottom ends.
Maybe they could survive with a few lbs probably not for long though

LSx has a much stronger block and components

 

Ok, what's considered "fast?"

 

That's a good question.

 

Well said. Perhaps the owner(s) of CF should create a 'girlie' section for those who think 210 horsepower is breathtaking.

Where in the forum rules is that stated? Has this 'politically correct' crap now filtered down to pollute subjective opinion of automobiles?

 

I like having some performance threads on the forum. Im not interested in locating an original radio **** or turn signal, and dont read those type of threads. If another owner is happy with a 200hp motor, he can skip threads about high performance engine builds. The Corvette has always been the cutting edge of American Iron. I will not get into my opinion of American engineering back in the 70s and early 80s. I do tire of people defending a 190hp V8 as if it was designed by god and must be left untouched. The newer Camaro and Mustang V6s have more horsepower than most vintage small blocks. There ought to be threads that help members update their vintage cars to modern specs. If your into original and numbers matching, you dont have to read threads about performance upgrades.

 

Who do suppose are doing the defending? Why those who bought those slugs. Same thing about those who defend slushbox transmissions as the epitome of sportiness...those who settled for one. Same thing goes for the rubber-bumper crowd.

Performance, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It just so happens that some folks are meant to view either of them through jaundiced eyes. No wonder their viewpoint is cockamamie.

 

In racing, the guy with the deepest pockets decides what's "fast" - you either ante up or stay on the trailer.

On the street, it doesn't matter because someone with more money, more stupid or both will seriously spank you sooner or later.

For your 'Vette, whatever characteristics makes you grin is plenty "fast" for you. Power, handling, throttle response...and the driver all make up "fast". If you want "MOAR", go get it - but if you're happy with what you've got don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't be.

A thread about performance engine design is great - one based on a demonstrably false aphorism and associated opinions...not so much.

 

I really don't think any insult of disrespect was intended. If 210 horse is fast enough for him then he got cheap, fast and durable. If not your in the right spot. Fast is the perception of the driver. I though my new truck was quick, untill i got the new engine in the vette. It's all perception.