Picking a new engine
 

Im pretty sure my TPI engine is toast in my SS Monte Carlo, so i've been thinking and looking alot at different engines. What do you guys think?

Switch over to carbureator and get a 350, bore it .30 over to a 355, or bore it and stroke it to a 383, those are always nice bad a** motors. -Jeff.

For cheapness... ZZ4 ramjet...

My options, LSX motor.

That motor looks pretty good and a good price too.


What's the budget? What will you use it for? What kind of power do you want to make?

im looking for something no more than around 5k...its basically just for driving, not really racing, but id like it around 300hp. the plan for the car has always pretty much been the same- something i can drive to work when i feel like or cruise around in.

Bolt on LT1 !

Then the Ram Jet is perfect.

http://www.jegs.com/p/GM+Performance/749882/10002/-1

Is that a Gen 1 block with an EFI system?

that does look very good. does anyone know if i can use my TPI serpentine setup on that? i have it brand new in the box

I will go against the grain and say no to the RamJet motor. I have heard that they are not very 'upgradeable' and you may want that ability in the future.

I said LT1 since they are cheap and pretty reliable these days. Plus you may not have to get too much trans work done if your trans is already in good shape.

LT1 + heads/cam = 400 ish hp.

funny you say that i just got a brand new trans a few months ago. the only downside to the LT1 is that it would be used obviously, but another nice choice

It should be upgradeable. It's a Gen I block with Vortec heads, so cam, heads, etc. should be doable, and you should be able to tune it with the included ECU. I haven't heard either way, but it seems like you should be able to.

i say heads cam 355 LT1

or a neon motor

The ECU and tuning are the points of contention from what I hear.

Now I've never done it, and I've never owned one, so take it for what it's worth.

So you have a around 5k to throw around? Are you doing the engine building your self? You could do an Eagle 383 rotating assembly, with a set of nice heads/cam for prob around there.

I personally don't like the LT-1. After years of always having something go wrong with mine, I'll never get one again. It seemed like a concept that GM put out and fixed several issues over time.

Well then do a single plain and run a real dizzy. You can still do EFI that way too.

If he has an EFI setup in his car already, I wonder if he could just use that?

lol. i wouldnt say to "throw around", but thats the most i would like to spend. as far as building, i would like to think i could do it, but in reality i probably couldnt. but i can do pretty much any electrical work on someones house or shop that wants to barter ;)

Well you can pick up a non forged built shortblock for around 3 k, and get the stock heads ported for around 1.5 k.

how about a freshened up TPI 355 with a centrifugal blower?

Or a 4V modular ?

Single plane? Probably not a great idea for a mild-er street small block.

Ok well then get the stock intake converted to run a real cap and rotor.