engine combo
 

i wanna build my L98 to make about 400 rwhp. its basically gonna be a track car but i want it to make peak power at about 5500 RPMs. i was thinking about getting Vette Aluminum heads and having them ported and polished and getting the full Super Ram intake set up. anyone have any suggestions? i dont want it to get to expensive. maybe like 1000-2000. ill be doing most of if not all of the work myself or with friends

400hp at 4000 rpms? let it spin a little bit more than that. work on making peak power in teh 5500 area. it is perfectly safe for your stock bottom end and it will be easier to make teh power.
the easiest thing to do would build a mild and reliable combo and then spray it.
vette heads would be a big help, comp cams has nitrous specific grinds available, and a plate system woudl top it all off nicely.

later
tim

i want it to be all motor

If its gonna be a track-only car why go EFI? Be much easier and cheaper to build and tune with a carb... I think you'll have a hard time getting an honest 400rwhp out of a 9.3:1 L98 shortblock naturally aspirated - especially at 5500 or less RPM's

if you wanna make good power at low RPM's you either need cubic inches of forced induction.

really a better question would be what kind of et's do you want to run?
there is a lot you can do to prep the chassis of a car to be a track performer. you can start seeing results now and when you put in a stroinger motor the car will already be equiped to put teh power to the ground.

later
tim

id be happy with low 12s for now. its not really gonna be track only. i wanna be able to take it out on like weekends and nice days.

I'd build a motor like mine then 8) you dont need 400rwhp to run low 12's in a 3300-3400lb f-body. Heres what I'd personally do...

I'd pull out that L98 that do a basic rebuild on it using the stock rods, crank, and maybe some cheapo forged pistons. Get your compression up around 10:1 or higher. Now once you have your shortblock get a set of Vortec heads. Swap out the springs for better ones, screw-in studs, have the guides cut down if needed. For a cam go with Comp's XE274 (230/236 @ 050, .490/.490, 110LSA) or if its a hydraulic-roller block go with something like the XR282HR (same specs as the hydraulic but with more lift). Edelbrock RPM intake, 750 Holley or Demon carb, junkyard HEI with a recurve kit and good coil/module...

For the car get some 3.73's, a 3500-4000RPM torque convertor, and some sticky tires. If you don't go low 12's you can punch me in the mouth. My car runs fine on pump gas and I could drive it every day if I felt like wasting the gas.

ok my parents are going to buy me Long tubes (solve my exhaust leak and give me better air flow) and my g/f is buying me new heads for my Bday. her limit is about 500 so i was looking at http://store.summitracing.com/partde...splayPrice%7C0 . think its a good buy?

oh and should i rebuild my engine before installing the heads or would it be ok to put them on then do a full rebuild another time?

those heads are $500 a peice not $500 a pair...

:shock: should have read more carefully

You can pick up a set of Vortecs for $200-300 used then do $150-200 worth of machine work to them and have a killer set of heads capable of 11's NA. Best bang for the buck heads.

but then i cant use my Accel super ram and i have to buy a new expensive Vortec intake

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...97802600QQrdZ1

expensive?

i wanna stick with TPI

I am running a 383 with the Super Ram and AFR heads and I can tell you I'm not making 400rwhp....maybe 325-350. If you want to build a solid street engine for $2000 you're in for a shock because you're gonna atleast need to double that figure if not more. I'd personally suggest either Vortech heads with the LT4 hotcam and a Holley Stealth Ram or get some Trick Flow or AFR heads with a cam that's matched for them.

for intake i would get a victor jr. and convert it to fuel injection. it woudl require a cowl hood to clear the TB properly.
converted carb intakes offer better air distribution and create a broader power curve than front loader intakes n/a.

later
tim

g/f decided today to get me a pair of heads but im not sure which ones to get. i dont wanna go Vortec cause i dont wanna spend the money for a TPI base and i dont want to switch to carbed. i was looking at the Trickflow 23 degree heads for about $1000 for the pair. my budget is like 1100 so if you guys have any idea just let me know.

Check out Canfield 195/197/200cc heads. Competition Products sells them for $1050 with good springs shipped. I've seen some crazy numbers with those heads out-of-the-box...