Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: South Lyon Michigan
Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please.
I want more power out of my 85 vette, my 355 motor has 16k miles since rebuild so the long block will just get new bearings, rings, etc. As far at the trans it is a really built up 700R4, 2400 stall. The rear end is a dana 44, 3.07 gears. The exhaust is Heddman long tubes with dual 2.5" exhaust, h-pipe, and bullet mufflers. The intake is a Edelbrock Thunder series AVS carb and a edelbrock performer RPM intake.
With the above mentioned mods what cam and heads should I get?????
I like to autocross as well as drag race and drive my car daily so a huge cam won't do for me.
I was thinking of a 232/236 hydraulic cam so I can still get decent gas mileage or maybe a solid lifter cam. As far as heads I was thinking of Trick Flow's 23 degree heads or maybe some Dart Pro 1 200cc heads.
Anyway my goal is low 12's and a good daily driver in the summer. Please let me know your suggestions for a head/cam package to go along with the above mods. Thanks for any input.
Also going from my 76cc heads to 64 cc heads should raise my compression about .8 of a point.
With the above mentioned mods what cam and heads should I get?????
I like to autocross as well as drag race and drive my car daily so a huge cam won't do for me.
I was thinking of a 232/236 hydraulic cam so I can still get decent gas mileage or maybe a solid lifter cam. As far as heads I was thinking of Trick Flow's 23 degree heads or maybe some Dart Pro 1 200cc heads.
Anyway my goal is low 12's and a good daily driver in the summer. Please let me know your suggestions for a head/cam package to go along with the above mods. Thanks for any input.
Also going from my 76cc heads to 64 cc heads should raise my compression about .8 of a point.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Milford NH
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (jp2002ls1)
You should let a few more people respond. There are a few drag racers and autocross individuals around that should have good input. I can tell you that with AFR 195 head and Comp Cam XR282HR-10 Hydrallic Roller camshaft, AFR dyno shows 450 # Tq @ 4500 RPM and 450 HP @ 5500 RPM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,970
Likes: 20
From: San Marcos Texas
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (69stingray)
a good set of aluminum heads trick flow/brodix/dart and a cam that size will make a world of difference. Be careful selecting heads with the right chamber size to keep your compression where you want it. Dont go with a solid roller if this is a daily driver, unless you dont mine adjusting the valves every 5000 miles. Switching to 3.45 gears will also help. With that set up you should be good for 400++hp... :reddevil
[Modified by chriswtx, 8:19 PM 4/12/2004]
[Modified by chriswtx, 8:20 PM 4/12/2004]
[Modified by chriswtx, 8:19 PM 4/12/2004]
[Modified by chriswtx, 8:20 PM 4/12/2004]
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 517
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From: South Lyon Michigan
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (chriswtx)
I am hoping for 400hp. I don't mind adjusting the rocker arms every 5k miles and I have heard that a solid lifter cam will add more power over the same size hydraulic cam and still be streetable. I just don't want to be bogging down or lose brake vaccum by having too big of cam. 228/234 is what I am now debating, this cam should be small enough to keep vacum and streetability. also leaning on the trick flow heads. Any input on this is appreciated, thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,970
Likes: 20
From: San Marcos Texas
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (jp2002ls1)
nothing wrong with trickflows, good heads for a street car. And those cam numbers are fine. A solid roller will not make more hp than a hydrallic roller unless you plan to spin your motor pass 6500rpm. For a street car use a hydrallic roller you will be very happy with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,172
Likes: 11
From: somers, ny
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (chriswtx)
Good set of heads and superram with the LPE 219 cam. No need to change gears either. Ran pretty good for me......check my sig.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 517
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From: South Lyon Michigan
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (ralph)
My carb and RPM intake flow much better than my TPI ever did, it has 6500 rpm potential and should flow numbers close to the superram.
As far as the cam, I don't think I have the money to convert it over to a roller cam setup (85 vettes didn't have roller cam motors), I will either stay with the hydraulic flat tappet cam or a solid lifter cam. How much does it cost for a roller cam setup?
[Modified by jp2002ls1, 4:34 AM 4/13/2004]
[Modified by jp2002ls1, 4:35 AM 4/13/2004]
As far as the cam, I don't think I have the money to convert it over to a roller cam setup (85 vettes didn't have roller cam motors), I will either stay with the hydraulic flat tappet cam or a solid lifter cam. How much does it cost for a roller cam setup?
[Modified by jp2002ls1, 4:34 AM 4/13/2004]
[Modified by jp2002ls1, 4:35 AM 4/13/2004]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
From: SouthBend IN
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (jp2002ls1)
hey JP
i used a 224-234@.050 112 LSA and 1.6 rr. I have the Dart Iron Eagles ( 180 cc ) , weiand stealth, and holley 750 VS carb.
I have 13" of vac at idle. I love the car it's streetable and seems to have plenty of power.
Mike
i used a 224-234@.050 112 LSA and 1.6 rr. I have the Dart Iron Eagles ( 180 cc ) , weiand stealth, and holley 750 VS carb.
I have 13" of vac at idle. I love the car it's streetable and seems to have plenty of power.
Mike
Burning Brakes
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Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (jp2002ls1)
Have you considered building a stroker motor (383 cid)? How about nitrous for when you drag race? If you upgrade to fuel injection, you could go progressive nitrous.
In racing, the only thing better than cubic inches is cubic dollars.
:auto:
Lowcountry Corvette
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In racing, the only thing better than cubic inches is cubic dollars.
:auto:
Lowcountry Corvette
www.LowVette.com
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 517
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From: South Lyon Michigan
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (mike 1985)
I have thought of nitrous but not yet.
Hey Mike, glad to hear your vette is running good, mine runs good but not fast which is why I want to do a good head/cam combo.
Now I am thinking of a 234/244 cam with Rhoads lifters to keep good low rpm power. Heads I am leaning towards are 195cc CNC'd Trick Flow heads. A 383 would be nice but I don't have the cash for it right now, my 355 will have to do.
Hey Mike, glad to hear your vette is running good, mine runs good but not fast which is why I want to do a good head/cam combo.
Now I am thinking of a 234/244 cam with Rhoads lifters to keep good low rpm power. Heads I am leaning towards are 195cc CNC'd Trick Flow heads. A 383 would be nice but I don't have the cash for it right now, my 355 will have to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
From: SouthBend IN
Re: Help me decide engine buildup for my '85 please. (chriswtx)
Hey JP you don't live too far from me, if your interested in my combo maybe we should try to get together soon, nothing better than 1st hand experience.
My opinion of a 234-244 cam for street driving is it's too big. If i did mine over again i would have went with the nitrous grind 218-230 @ .050.
My opinion of a 234-244 cam for street driving is it's too big. If i did mine over again i would have went with the nitrous grind 218-230 @ .050.
