Help with deciding
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Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Detroit
Help with deciding
I am trying to decide whether I should buy a crate 434 engine from nyes or Ohio crankshaft, or go with a 406 small block instead. I do have a set of brand new trick flow 202 valve 205 heads ported by tea I could use on the 406 and save some money. The other parts I have in the car are 3500 stall, 373 gear th 350, 850 quick fuel carb victor jr intake. The car will be 95% Street driven but I wanted to be a hot street car it'll only go to the track maybe once a year with some friends. I would like it to be able to keep up or beat some of the new cars. I'm not sure if the 434 would be too much for the street as I'm not trying to build a dedicated race car. The 434 from nyes is 630 hp I'm guessing 406 would be around 525 hp. Ty for any help I have to pull the trigger in a couple days. If I save the money on the 406 it would free up money to do other things to the car but I don't want to buy the 406 and wish I went with the 434 but I also don't want to buy the 434 and turn the car into a race car if if you get what I'm saying. Thank you again
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
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From: Wisconsin
You say you have 3:73 gear, but you haven’t said if you have strengthened anything south of the flywheel. This is important as it will determine what power level you can use vs what you want. 500 hp on stock drivetrain is about the limit and even that will be sketchy and you will want to run relatively skinny, traction limited rubber, so it acts as your safety valve. Guys on here have broken drivetrains on 350 hp.
If you want to run >500hp, be ready to upgrade the entire drivetrain, because if you strengthen one component, the weak point just keeps moving to the next component. Upgrading done right will probably cost you as much or more than your motor.
If you’re not upgrading the driveline, I’d run the 406 and not chase after getting every last hp, just drive it carefully and enjoy.
There are some very knowledgeable contributors on here that can fill in more details, but that’s about the gist of it.
If you want to run >500hp, be ready to upgrade the entire drivetrain, because if you strengthen one component, the weak point just keeps moving to the next component. Upgrading done right will probably cost you as much or more than your motor.
If you’re not upgrading the driveline, I’d run the 406 and not chase after getting every last hp, just drive it carefully and enjoy.
There are some very knowledgeable contributors on here that can fill in more details, but that’s about the gist of it.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Youngstown Ohio
Either the 434 or the 406 would be good street/strip choices. Both would drive about the same on the street, depending on your choice of converter if auto trans. It depends on whether you want a 10 second car or an 11 second car.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 94
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From: Detroit
Ty guys for your feed back and help. You are correct on needing to build the rest of the drive train to handle the power. I have addressed some of the areas but will need to address the rest. I spoke with Nyes I think I'm going to split the difference and go with the 427 SBC it has 550 horsepower. It also has a hydraulic cam and a 24 month 24,000 mile warranty and the price is in between the 406 and the 434. I'm essentially giving up 65 horsepower by not going with the solid roller 434.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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i would go with the 406 for longevity...500 hp is pretty fun. enough to have fun and not blow up your driveline if it hooks up at the track. I ran summer high performance street tires and they would never hook up with 450hp, and I loved that 327
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
like said, not much difference.
and I agree that 406, all things equal, should out live the 434.
cam is the make or break street manners.
hell, I would go 434 because, you know,
more power
I wish I had your problem
and I agree that 406, all things equal, should out live the 434.
cam is the make or break street manners.
hell, I would go 434 because, you know,
more power
I wish I had your problem
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,977
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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2016 C3 of Year Finalist
it is big block territory without the weight... I would assume it would need a killer cooling system
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Detroit
Are blueprint engines any good? I'm about to purchase an engine in next day or so and seen they have similar packages for 2 to 3k less. I'm not sure if it's just inferior product because you get what you pay for or if they make their money off of volume. Ty.
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