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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: GUITAR1989 on February 07, 2011, 06:09:08 pm

Title: What engines are the best???
Post by: GUITAR1989 on February 07, 2011, 06:09:08 pm: Hey guys :) Ive been looking around alot at all the different engines GM offers...Theres just so many i cant tell what ones are the best. I know alot of people go with the LS1's but they seem so dang expensive...Are they really that much better? How do the vortec's hold up compared to the Ls1?

Im just wondering cause Id like a little more power. My 350's pretty mild and I get 16 mpg.
Im happy with it for now but when I start wanting to get more pewer out of it am I just gonna be robbed of my gas milage if I beef up my old small block? Thats why im thinking one of the newer fuel injected engines would give me the resaults i want..more power and decent fuel economy
Title: Re: What engines are the best???
Post by: eventhorizon66 on February 07, 2011, 08:35:52 pm: I'd rebuild and modify your current small block. Best bang for the buck. If you don't go overboard and make informed decisions you can maintain or improve on your current gas mileage as well.

http://www.amazon.com/David-Vizards-Build-Horsepower-Design/dp/1934709174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297132531&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Chevy-Small-Blocks-Budget-Performance/dp/1932494847/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297132531&sr=8-2
Title: Re: What engines are the best???
Post by: Psycho71 on February 07, 2011, 09:12:23 pm: Just watch how much $$ you spend chasing more mpg's. The initial investment can quickly exceed any realistic long term savings you might see, if mpg's are all you're looking to get out of an injected engine. of course, there are other benefits to be had from them too.
Title: Re: What engines are the best???
Post by: GUITAR1989 on February 07, 2011, 10:02:32 pm: Let me rephrase...Can I beef up my truck so itll eat hondas and acuras when i need it to...but still get decent gas mileage when im not stomping the pedle through the floor. and by decent i mean about what it gets now...about 16mpg...im not dreaming of an all out supercharged engine that gets 30 mpg :D
just a rice eater that gets around 16 lol
Title: Re: What engines are the best???
Post by: Lt.Del on February 07, 2011, 10:24:41 pm: Make that 350 turn into a torquey 383 by putting in a 400 cid crank/flex plate and boring it .30. You can easily get over 400 ft lbs of torque and 330+ hp. I'll race any of those Jap 4 bangers while they watch the letters on my tailgate get smaller and smaller.
Your mpg won't increase, but, when balancing the whole package, you'll be pleased.
www.delbridge.net/install
Title: Re: What engines are the best???
Post by: slammed79 on February 08, 2011, 01:38:34 am: I really want an lsx for my 74, but that is a long way off. Ideally I'd find a v8 z28 with a 6 speed and strip her guts, I'm watching local auctions for just such a car, but I still need a job
Title: Re: What engines are the best???
Post by: Captkaos on February 08, 2011, 01:59:16 pm: Quote
Let me rephrase...Can I beef up my truck so itll eat hondas and acuras when i need it to...but still get decent gas mileage when im not stomping the pedle through the floor

Realistically it should eat hondas now... But a lot of this depends on you budget...