Im contemplating which engine would be a better for a weekend street car with *****. With all the advancements to small block would The Bigblock 454/502 Crate engine be worth the cost and trouble.
Looking at a tremec trans and this is a 1984 C-4 Chassis roller.
Dont be shy.

Well here is a list of cars I have had in the past,
1975 Cosworth Vega #1561. Overhead cam Fuel injected with headers stock from the factory. It was about 120Hp Emission restrictions killed at as it was ready to be delivered at almost 200 hp. Fun Little car. Cost more then a corvette at the time.
1988 Pontiac GTA Transam.
2003 Z06 vette
1994 Lt-1 Vette ( Cherry )
1996 Lt-4 Vette ( Beat )
1992 Zr-1 vette ( Cool car) went on the mod it somewhat, Porting, headers, chipped, had Rod knock so sold her before it got noticeable.
I also Had a 1970's Torinio felt just as fast as any of the above, would do a dual tire smoke on the freeway at 70mph. (50$)
Towed home a pretty nice project 1984 Minus Drivetrain. C-4 Hunting for a 1965 Nova.

 

Well, I really like this topic,,, IMO the most streetable hi HP/TQ package, dollar for dollar is the BB

you can make a ***** 2 the wall SB and have it be very difficult to tune,, ,or you can get a moderate CI-BB and get a much more streetable engine,, if you use the 1.5hp per cube rule,, I found that a moderate BBC will be a more manageable pkg,

IF, i were to build another engine for my 85, (that would be number 6) it would be a hi-cube BBC with a mildly aggressive Hyd-roller cam and I would ride the TQ wave

issues, header clearance, heater box, intake to hood and cross member

 

If you are going to go around corners, go small block. If you're going straight line, either one will do. Willie

 

Why would you wear that ?

You didn't mention CARB

 

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...php?f=32&t=151

 

Been here long enough to know better

being that I can fabricate most anything, maybe it's an itch I need to scratch,, dunnno

 

Thats Why I bought an economy 1984, Have Tig and Mig welders already here. Thanks for the linko.

 

When you don't need a bolt in kit from Jegs or Summit you tend to think along different lines to others that do.
Sort of
" what if I....."


Another BBC C4 link
http://forums.carcraft.com/70/679503...tte/index.html

 

I would not go with a crate motor, BB would make more power but you will need to setup the front end as well as the rearend for the additional power. If you a sensible driver, you would have no problem driving it on the street. Don't take it for granted that because you have a big block that when you are at the tracks you will beat all small block, your car has to be set up for the track.

 

Go Big Block Chevy with a moderate camshaft profile if you love huge low RPM and Midrange Torque.

A small block can beat a Big Block Chevy at the track neither with power adders.

Small block with modern performance heads.


But Bolt on A premium set of Brodex cylinder heads, Pontiac Big Chief heads, or if lucky enough to find original 1967-1969 L-88 Heads,

Chances are the Big Block will win the race if the driver is good drag racer.


BR

 

Compared to modern heads the L88 parts are scrap metal for anyone other than a collector. I did a very mild 555 BBC for a client with Brodex cnc ported heads mild roller and efi. Made 785 hp 750 ft lbs idled at 850 rpm easily reved to 7000 rpm making great top end and ran on pump gas.. do that with a sbc sometime... If you are really serious an alloy block for the bbc brings the weight a bunch closer as well. It is all a matter of money and time and what you really want. I doubt there is any Corvette off an assembly line that would beat the power to weight of the previous mentioned engine with an alloy block.. unless a C5 or C6 is wildly lighter than a C4..

 

Yep me 2, The equation in front of me is to spend no more than 20k preferably less than 15. That meant a near stock LT1 or C5. Or a ratty 84 with nearly all the budget left for mods.

I rember a cool artical on a BBC C4 called LT6 or something like that but cant find it.

 

Yes and no Dave.

I believe you too. You are a professional engine builder I know.

I knew a guy with this 1969 Corvette.

He built his own L-88 engine. 427 shortblock. Found used original factory 1969 L-88 Corvette heads.
Snowburst WINTERS LOGO casting Present on both heads.

Not Later GM repops.

No one local thought much of it at 1st.

But we all found out differently. Street racing.

That 1969 Vette idled with a heavy lope. Maybe 900RPM's.

850cfm double pumper Holley.

4-speed M-21 car.

I think if he had decent tires, he could ran mid- high 10's all day at the track with that engine. Ran that hard.

Heads were not ported either.

My late friend had a 1967, 1968, and 1969, all L-88's. He ordered them all new.

He told me that he ran each into the 10's.

They all got sold when he married around 1972-1973.

He wasn't afraid to race them.

Any Corvette he owned.

I often rode shotgun.

I was his eyes to see 2 miles ahead.

Total trust of faith on both our parts.

He also told me a few L-88's have been into the 9's. And 427 Ci. yet.

Maybe they are garbage can heads, all L88 engines.

But from what I have seen, and several reports of original owners,

They still command respect from many 40 + years later.

Modern perspective of real HP is changing...........

Unless you have at least 1,000HP, leave it home in the garage.

You are not going to win. Street racing. At least in Chicago.

Everyone has their own idea of Big HP.

Not many people can actually drive to the limit and control it though.

Especially on the street.

Brian

 

I hope I did not say an L88 was not a fun car engine combo it is even if old tech but just appreciate it is old tech the only thing. The most breath taking out of control car I ever drove was a 65 Chevelle a buddy of mine and i put an L88 4 speed into it. On the outside bone stock small block with the V8 badges and hubcaps a real sleeper. Not a ton of either bite or stopping but sure did generate a bunch of smiles and tons of Oh sh#t moments..LOL The 555 was installed in a 70 Chevelle with 4:10's and a M22 we broke the b pillar with 750 ft lbs I wanted to put a cage in it but owner wanted a sleeper until that happened.. i am a motorsports professional as a career but a hot rodder at heart while I do very top end engine efi stuff given a choice for a personal car give me 2 4brls and a 4 speed vette any day of the week for a personal car. If it would fit under the hood of my coupe it would be there for cool factor alone.. Fast is a feeling as much as the actual speed. someties the 50% out of control is the big rush as opposed to actually some terminal velocity. An engine car combo that moves around a bit and gives something to pay attention to is a bunch more fun that todays traction control abs active suspension stuff while no doubt faster allows an accountant type to drive well over their skill level without any real thrill of hanging on for dear life the real rush. A couple years ago I dated a babe who complained about no cupholder in the C4. I told her to be quiet and hang on..LOL.. It is a Vette not an SUV... My personal opinion is the latest of the high tech sports cars have brought the tech to the point you lose the man machine thrill it out thinks what you want to do and does it for you. while not a Dodge fan in general i do like the idea the Viper has no traction control and very little to get between you and the car. A 700 hp big block C4 would be a Viper killer along with most anything else in my mind and make the driver drive!!!! I have a very close friend that just sold his 98 Reynard Cosworth vintage Indy car and never did anything to the chassis in 3 years of owning it because it was way faster than he was as delivered and he was a very accompished driver. every session he drove it he just tried to be as fast as the car was capible knowing whatever he did it still had more to offer given a chance. So please do not get me wrong hot rodder is #1 deal the motorsports high tech is what i do for groceries and mortgage payments only... Hope this helps explain where i am coming from and what i think the real vette experience is all about. If I won Powerball and had hundreds of millions would never buy a C6 or eventual C7 but more likely to buy a C1 or C2 if that makes some sense.. If there was one thing only to love about the c4 it is the fact you sit down into it rather than ride on top of it.
Dave

 

It all depends on what you want and what you consider streetable. A BBC in the 540 to 598 CID range will make huge power and torque at low RPM ranges (less then 6000 RPM), and it will be very streetable. The same power in a small block is possible but it will be much less streetable.

I just finished a 555 BBC for a 1969 Camero that made 640 HP at 6000 RPM and it idled and drove almost stock.

The advantages of a BBC are big power and torque at streetable RPM ranges, the disadvantages are weight and making it fit in a C4. Determine what you want to use the car for and then build it accordingly.

I like the idea of an all alum fuel injected BBC in the 555 or larger range stuffed into a C4, expensive but fun.

 

Dave,

No Cup Holder in a C4?........

Oh my gosh............its the end of the world, I must sell my C4 and buy a fat oversized and way underpowered SUV...........

I dont like SUV's.........really dont. They are a big part of the reason Pontiac is Dead and the Trans Am has faded into the history books.

People Bought SUV's instead of Pony cars and Sports cars over the last 20 years.

I drive a small 4 banger Ford Ranger daily all beat up with 406,000 miles now on it.

I still wont let that truck die and get say a FAT SUV.

I am the Nostalgic type too Dave.

I love my C4, my 87 Vert, everything about it.

Just its not a Callaway TT Corvette. LOL.

My late buddie left me an engine he never did install into his 85 Z51.

This 410 longbock stroker engine with Brodex Heads. Fresh on the stand and never fired up.

I know it will surpass anything the TPI L98 can do in power.

My lesser goal is to keep up with any C6 running flat out.

My dream is to to have the same HP , 634HP as the supercharged LS9
ZR-1.

Normally aspirated my car on pump gas with EFI.

See if I can actually make it happen.

I dont want 1,000 HP , not yet. My 87 Vert has no 10 point roll bar.

LOL

Brian

 

Cubes rule,,, nuff said

Trying to get lots of air to make the sharp bends into a SBC intake &ead is the biggest factor, if you go Supercharger then the sharp radi issue is nullified to a point. But in a not shell, you cna only get so much air into a SBC efficientl

 

These are just toys anyway if you gotta have that BB torque then go for it, I think it would be a blast. Dont have to do much to a BBC to make it run hard at all. Mild cam, some bowl work good luck with much out there keeping up with you.

Torque is king on the street.

 

He is right about a big block but I have a 434 small block and a fellow member has a 461. There are numerous 420+ cubic inch motors on this forum and they are streetable. I love big block but it is easier to put a small block in a C4. You can build a big cubic inch small block that will run with the 18*/15* heads and since the power range can be determined by the cam profile, timing etc. Remember these motors are fuel injection.

 

I agree. Majority of these C4s are street driven anyway, which means the closest things to corners they will be seeing are left and right turns at intersections.

I've always looked at that 454 crate engine and wondered "what if". For a street car and the right intake, that would be a lot of fun and durable without having to turn high rpms to make a tidal wave of torque.