...and why would I mention that here?

Well, it has the 401hp 6.6 gasser in it.

No AFM, no nonsense, just 6.6 liters of grunt in possibly the most robust block and rotating assembly GM has ever built.

That turns into 523hp WITH JUST A CAM SWAP, and a pretty mild cam at that.

Heads... intake...

600 utterly bulletproof N/A hp in the perfect package for a C4?

 

I just replaced the u joints and suspension bushings on mine, and 400ish hp would be the maximum in my opinion. The u joints are small...compare them to the ones in your truck, they are twice the size in comparison to the C4. The biggest issue is the height and width of those 6.6's in the C4 engine bay. You'd need custom motor mounts, a 4" rise hood to get clearance (maybe more), a much more stout transmission, and you'd likely have to cut the structure to fit the wider block. I know the Lingenfelter and Callaway cars had a lot of power, even more than that, but looking at mine, I would be nervous at that amount of power in a C4. It seems in modern days, people are used to seeing big power numbers-heck, a new unoptioned C8 has near 500hp standard! I think 600 hp in a C4 would be too much. I have driven a Camaro SS (21 or 22?) auto (450hp?) and that was so fast it wasn't even fun on public roads. I got on it a few times, and it would happily send itself, and me, at felony speeds in literally a few seconds. Instead of ultimate power figures, I think the best power for a C4 is a happy revving Gen 1 small block at 375hp and 400tq. But yes OP, having been around those 6.6's, they are amazing engines, and it would be an incredible powerplant in a C4.

 

It's just a gen V LT engine. That swap has been done in a C4. Holley even makes a Terminator X and X Max that can run it. So really it wouldn't be any harder than an LS swap. That being said I think it would be cool and foolish at the same time. It would be cool to see but you could sell the 6.6L and build a turbo LS that makes more power and still have a couple thousand in your pocket.

As far as the U joints go the half shafts in C4's use 1350 U joints. Upgrade those to solid steel units and swap the shafts out for steel while you're at it. Lots of us here with well over 600 hp and with a little work everything holds up. The big issue would be the transmission. The one from that truck won't fit. Or at least not without a lot of convincing. You could go with a 4L80e. But the transmission would really depend on what you wanted to car to do. Just for the love of God don't try and build a 700R4 to do the job.

 

The only weak link that isn't easily fixable is the rear end. The Dana 44 is good for an L98/LT1... marginal for an LS... and scrap metal if combined with a built L8T, a manual transmission and sticky tires.

 

Three letters...

TKX

🙂


Edit: Doing some quick math in my head... a true 600hp (net) C4 would probably get jumped out of the hole by a C8 Z06, and then just waltz on by after that. 3000 lbs. vs. 3700 lbs.

 

That's not really accurate. I have a built LS with a 250 shot of nitrous and my Dana 44 is holding up just fine

 

Then that's pretty darned good news.

Manual or automatic?

I added an edit in to what you quoted because I forgot to mention I would be thinking manual trans and not automatic.

 

A Dana 44 would hold up but I would expect it to have limited life for launches at 600hp. Especially on a prepared surface with sticky tires

 

Mine is an auto. I built a 4L80e that I just can't seem to kill.

 

Even without AFM, they still like to spit lifters FYI... don't ask how I know.

 

You grenaded an L8T?

 

I personally haven't, but have several in the fleet that collapsed lifters at under 50k miles. Seems to be a QC issue on lifters in general.