Author Topic: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade  (Read 14503 times)

Offline Russ130

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2009, 11:09:09 PM »
I'd go with #2 or #3 and favor #2. Forget about building a motor if you can buy one with the same output already built. The motor you have probably has dished pistons and you are going to want flat tops to increase the compression and therefore the power. So now your looking at a master kit and sending the block out for some work. You can call that a grand right there. Why bother just get the best you can afford for your budget already built and you'll be better off. If you have enough for a 454 or better then get it cause down the road if you really want something insane that would be the foundation to start with. Just my .02

Offline campcrf

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #16 on: February 09, 2009, 10:40:47 PM »
i suggest to build the bottom end very well, then you are open to all sorts of options....   dart pro heads work very well for a well built bottom end with an air gap wiend intake...
        ( if you build a 4 bolt bottom end with forged everything properly, later on down the road it will handle "almost" everything you want to throw at it)     ....   just my 2 cents   ....
   Good luck on your build.
-smile-... Just because its contageous

Offline hilton850

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2009, 04:29:51 PM »
If you're looking for power and you have a little money to spend check out the dyno numbers for chevy small blocks at the AFR website....http://www.airflowresearch.com/chevy_dyno.php

I have a set of these on a 383 and they are very impressive.  I don't have much experience with other aftermarket heads but I know these absolutely blow the doors off stock heads.  bolt on a set of the 180 cc heads, edelbrock performer RPM air gap intake, comp cams 280H cam (or the roller version if your budget allows for a little more power) get a good carb and set of headers....you'll be looking at well over 400 hp and good torque too. this is basically the 350 dyno test at the top of the AFR page.  I like the 406 combos myself.
'84 Sierra 3/4 ton.  4 on the floor, 4 wheel drive, upgraded to FM radio and steelhorse seat.  383 stroker under the hood - 430 hp 440 ft-lb.  custom rust holes in the bed and both rockers and cab corners.

Offline campcrf

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2009, 05:55:12 PM »
wow hilton... you have a very good set up aswell... good to hear people are still building these strokers... 
-smile-... Just because its contageous

Offline choptop

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #19 on: February 10, 2009, 07:30:10 PM »
This was my $3500 engine upgrade   ;D
76 C10 Choptop,76 C10 Swb
85 C10, 85 K10, 85 K20,86 C10,86 K10 (all extended cabs)
86 C30 extended crewcab

Offline 78 Chevyrado

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #20 on: February 10, 2009, 07:40:13 PM »
This was my $3500 engine upgrade   ;D

Hey man it's all covered in ecto-plasm!     J/K  looks like more than $3500...
Kenny

1978 C-20, 350/400, 3.73, Graystone Metallic, Raceline Renegade 8 Wheels - 18x8.5, 275/70R18 BFG KO's

Offline choptop

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #21 on: February 10, 2009, 08:09:18 PM »
This was my $3500 engine upgrade   ;D

Hey man it's all covered in ecto-plasm!     J/K  looks like more than $3500...
I really lucked out on this one. The guy had more than twice that in it, but didnt put out enough horsepower for him.(Measly 425 hp) Its enough for my choptop tho
76 C10 Choptop,76 C10 Swb
85 C10, 85 K10, 85 K20,86 C10,86 K10 (all extended cabs)
86 C30 extended crewcab

Offline eventhorizon66

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #22 on: February 10, 2009, 09:38:55 PM »
Very lucky find, chop!  But I wonder how you can put $7K into a big block and still end up with only 425hp (even though that's nothing to sneeze at).  Is it a 396?  Low compression?  Smallish cam?  Those are aluminum heads, right?  Considering an initial investment of only $3500, I wouldn't be able to keep myself from figuring out how I can close in on 500+ hp, especially if it's a 454.
'85 C10 SWB 350 700R4 TKO600

Offline choptop

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #23 on: February 11, 2009, 08:04:06 AM »
Standard bore 427 4 bolt main, steel crank, Rehr Morrison race prepped closed chambered heads,( I wish they were aluminum) balanced & blueprinted rotating assembly, 7/16 rods, Keith Black Hyperutectic pistons weight to within one gram tolerance, the block has been decked .100 and the intake and heads are flow matched. It has Erson Roller Rockers with stainless steel valves, a 280 H cam with matching springs, an Edelbrock 2-0 intake with a Holley 750. Its wasnt built for high hp, it was built for longevity. I asked the same question to the guy I bought it from, his answer was " Do you want to thrash on 500 horse for a few hours or 400 horse all day?" He explained that this engine has more horsepower at lower rpms (2300-4500) than most engine pruducing 500hp or better. I think peak hp on it is 5300 rpms.
  It was built by a race shop here locally. I really cant change much with out having to have something machined such as the intake. Every component is matched to another
76 C10 Choptop,76 C10 Swb
85 C10, 85 K10, 85 K20,86 C10,86 K10 (all extended cabs)
86 C30 extended crewcab

Offline hilton850

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #24 on: February 11, 2009, 09:37:06 AM »
choptop, sounds like a sweet setup.  I'd love to put a 427 in my old truck...to me those engines have the most nostagia and are kind of unique.  Do you have it in your truck already?  I bet it feels like more than 425 horse because of the torque.
'84 Sierra 3/4 ton.  4 on the floor, 4 wheel drive, upgraded to FM radio and steelhorse seat.  383 stroker under the hood - 430 hp 440 ft-lb.  custom rust holes in the bed and both rockers and cab corners.

Offline eventhorizon66

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #25 on: February 11, 2009, 12:13:02 PM »
Agreed, 425hp in a 427, isn't the same as 425hp in a 350.  MUCH more meat under that torque curve.  But my answer to the question posed would be "I want to thrash on 500hp all day...of course."
'85 C10 SWB 350 700R4 TKO600

Offline choptop

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #26 on: February 11, 2009, 02:47:23 PM »
Agreed, 425hp in a 427, isn't the same as 425hp in a 350.  MUCH more meat under that torque curve.  But my answer to the question posed would be "I want to thrash on 500hp all day...of course."

I agree. This engine is built more for longevity than anything else. Kinda like a bigblock for the circle track.
76 C10 Choptop,76 C10 Swb
85 C10, 85 K10, 85 K20,86 C10,86 K10 (all extended cabs)
86 C30 extended crewcab

Offline SUX2BU99

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Re: $4000 to spend on engine upgrade
« Reply #27 on: February 12, 2009, 01:35:57 PM »
Sounds like an awesome engine to me! I would love love love a 427 in my truck. That's my favorite engine size (whether it be Ford or GM). Just something about those numbers 4 2 7 say performance to me.
85 Chevy Silverado C10 short, wide, yellow, 2wd. Lowered, 60-over 350 with Dart Iron Eagle heads and Comp Cams XE268 cam, TH350 w/ shift kit, 3.40 Gov-lok 12 bolt.