How Much Is Too Much?

[Dwight]

If you want a 351w/408 about 420 rwhp it will cost you about $7000 - $8000.
FE BIG BLOCK; Keith Craft sell a 455 cid, over 500 flywheel HP, for about $7000. You can build a strong 351w for $5000 - $6000.
Mike Lane has a 408w for sale $5000. You can drive it before he pulls it out of the car. I have a 5.0 EFI and I'm getting close to 400 fwhp. I plan on getting it dyno soon. With 400 hp and a 2400 lb car, you do not have to fear anything next to you at a street light. But there is always something faster. Maybe that Honda with a wing.
Dwight

[Fred Z]

Joe............you might call CHP here in the South LA area.........they make great motors and can help you.............for that money they will build good hp, and it coms tested WITH a 2 year guaranty!! Hard to beat that!! their number is somewhere in the sideboards on this site.........they are no building mine and have heard nothing but excellent things about them! If you like, you can mention my name........but they may not be tuned into that, yet!
good luck........................
Fred.

[Fred Z]

Joe............you might call CHP here in the South LA area.........they make great motors and can help you.............for that money they will build good hp, and it coms tested WITH a 2 year guaranty!! Hard to beat that!! their number is somewhere in the sideboards on this site.........they are no building mine and have heard nothing but excellent things about them! If you like, you can mention my name........but they may not be tuned into that, yet!
good luck........................
Fred.

[Excaliber]

To me the question is not how much horse power, how much TRACTION and whats the right GEARING for the horse power.

If you can't hook up 400, 500 is rather pointless, see my point?

Going with to low of an overall 1st and 2nd gear ratio is just a waste of tires and time. The trans 1st gear ratio need to take into account the rear gear ratio for a reasonable 'hole shot' on 'street' tires. Well, unless your building a dragster only and plan on running slicks.

For maximum enjoyment (street 90% of the time) consider a cam shaft profile that works well with your cruising rpm, which is determined by your final gear ratio.

Say you go with a 5 speed with over drive, cruise rpm is 2200 at 70. Then you have cam with a profile of 3500-4000 and up. You'll find yourself down shifting to keep the motor happy, OR, cruising at 100 mph to get within the cam's profile rpm.

500 horse and ultra low rear gear\trans ratio will result in a wild ride with lots of tire smoke and a tail happy car, that WON'T be 'fast'. With proper gearing and tires 500 or more is quite managable.

[ByronRACE]

It's a tiny 435" big block with EFI and a hair dryer. I havn't made it past 1/3rd throttle without scaring myself; and that's on a driveway tune. I'll be at the dyno Thursday; intend to get the AFR right and do some short pulls to see what she's made of. Simulators say over 1000hp at the flywheel. Don't know yet. Project pics at http://www.racesystems.com under "project ludicrous speed"

And as far as power control...pulleys and blow-off valve adjustments can put me anywhere from around 400rwhp to probably 800-1000rwhp. Which would you rather have on a road race course? Which would you rather have on a drag track? What would you rather have available at the Silver State or on the freeway when that Ford GT pulls up next to you? Why compromise when you can have it all? In 30 minutes I can be anywhere I need to be for whatever I feel like doing...and won't be wanting for power.

[turnpike boy]

Originally Posted by grumpy

Lawler,
With proper suspension and tires, 90% of the small blocks cannot touch them in the 0-100 range.
grumpy

HAHAHAHAHAHAhahaaaa!!!!



Here we go again!

[ERA600hp]

Some where around 1500hp should about do it!!

HEHE

I had 675hp, with a lots of torque and I could light em up any time, any gear!!
I had 354's in the rear.
So be happy with what you want not everyone else!

What is going to make YOU happy when you lay your head down on your pillow at night to sleep?? Thats the real question??

Also, it's like the Old West there will always be someone younger and FASTER!!

The Royal Rhubarb

[jmarsey]

Originally Posted by grumpy

Lawler,
The FE 390/408o/410o/416o/428 (noted over bores) are fine items with a selected hydraulic cam package, alum intake and carb, electronics ignition, alum flywheel, etc........... for a very stable 400-420 HP and have the manners of a an old Ford Pickup as far as durability and cranking running manners.
With proper suspension and tires, 90% of the small blocks cannot touch them in the 0-100 range.
grumpy

That's what you think grumpy