Andrew91GT

I did a search, but saw mostly carbureted stuff. Has anyone put a 9.8" conventional BBC with EFI in their car using the stock hood? I have a '90 formula and want to build a real sleeper! If you have an EFI BBC, regardless of whether the hood cleared or not, what intake did you use?

TIA!

Air_Adam

Depends on what kind of system you use for EFI... TBI, dry TB, etc. The 'carb style' systems will have all the same clearance issues that carbs have - so its very dependant on which manifold and air cleaner you use.

Now... My boss got a Ram Jet manifold for the 427 in his '69 Corvette, and we (meaning 'I') had to cut almost 2" out of the runners to get it to clear the hood in that car (it has an L88 hood, which is a 3" cowl) by about 1/4" or so. This wouldn't be such a problem, except the runners dont go straight down, they angle in, so now they will have to have alot of grinding done to make the 'new runners' match the base. Also have to modify the bottom of the plenum to clear the fuel rail (the RJ manifold uses one large rail under the plenum to feed all 8 injectors, not one rail for each side like TPI) when you cut that much out of the runners, and use a low-profile water neck to clear the throttle body, as the TB angles down.

Lots of fabrication needed to get the Ram Jet manifold to fit under a stock hood, or one with a short cowl, but if you can do that work, then its probably one of the best EFI manifolds for a BBC.

Andrew91GT

I would like to run a 4150 style carb intake with an elbow and am not opposed to milling down the intake or elbow flange for more clearance... but I really want to keep the car looking mostly stock from the outside.

Goals: fast car with low maintainence with crazy power in an over the top pro touring style. I want to be able to drive to the drag strip on drag radials, bust off an 8 second pass, and drive home with AC and tunes.

I have the luxury of having an E85 station close to my house, so I can use that as my pump fuel and in order to make big power (1500 hp or so if I want to) I want to keep the pressure ratio (boost level) low. To me, that means lots of cubes to get the airflow I need without heating the air too much.

To keep the maintainence low, I desire an air to air intercooler and a hydraulic roller valvetrain so I don't have to constantly run the valves and replace valvesprings as the solid roller eats them.

I initially wanted to do an LSX based stroker motor with twin turbos but I'm afraid the reliability will be suspect... I think I can make the power that a big block can but I think I will tear up a LOT more parts than a big block will and I'll have to run a lot more boost and rpm.

In any case, before I start building an engine, I want to have a pretty darn good idea of whether or not there are any fitment issues, as it's a lot of money!

The car still runs and drives so I'm not really excited about pulling the motor and borrowing a mockup to check.

I plan on running a tubular front suspension. Can you buy drop motor mounts or get a k member with drop mounts built in for these things? I'm borderline motorplate territory anyway but want to explore my options as I probably won't run it on high boost very often, but I want to build it once and be done with it.

5.0 Eater

iTrader: (2)

I am doing the EXACT same thing. I have a mark vi 7.4 out of a late 90,s one ton. I found a 4340 4.25 stroker crank and h beam rods with a set of srp pistons all new for cheap. The beast will be a 496 with patriot heads and a decent h/r cam. For induction I plan to use a vic jr efi intake with a custom low profile drop style elbo and a 90mm ls1 style tb. This will fit under the hood nicely but there is some clearence issues with the thermo housing. It can be done, just have to work out the bugs. The only power adder I can think of to make the power we want and still be streetable would be turbos. Biggest problem with a turbo setup will be the exaust out of the engine bay. A single turbo would need a minimum of 4" for the dp. There is no good way to do this exept to run it through the pass side wheel well and it would be a tight fit. Running ac will be nearly imposible. I plan to go twin 76s and run the dps under the heads but it will require a tubular k-member and some creativity. These are just my observations, use them if you can. I'd love to hear some other options if you have any.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Your fears about LSx reliability are unfounded.

Of course you have to start with the right block, and you're going to have to build up the rotating assy; but you'd have to do that with a big block at that power level, too.

5.0 Eater

iTrader: (2)

Lots of fabrication needed to get the Ram Jet manifold to fit under a stock hood, or one with a short cowl, but if you can do that work, then its probably one of the best EFI manifolds for a BBC.[/quote]
Edelbrock came out with the pro flow xt intake for the bbc. It's a simular design but a little shorter. Just an idea.
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...fi_chevy.shtml

Andrew91GT

I agree with you, I think a tubular K member is a must as well as dropping the motor in the chassis a bit. I am planning on going with twin Borg Warner S400SX3 T4 turbos... they are good for a bit over 100 lb/min each (75mm compressor wheels) if you push them hard which will make 2000 hp if I wanted to. I've been impressed with the S400 turbos, there is a guy local running 5.40's 1/8th mile with a single 75mm S400 T6 turbocharger.

I'm looking at a callies crank, oliver rod, JE or CP piston engine with a Dart block. 4.25" stroke by 4.500" or 4.560" bore if I can do it so I can stay with readily available shelf pistons. Heads haven't been chosen yet but I'm leaning towards some RHS CNC or RFD Victor pro CNC heads... in any case I'm going to have to wait a bit, that stuff is expensive!

Turbo placement will probably be up front in the corners somewhere, and I'll probably have to trim a LOT of sheetmetal to make things work, but I'm ok with that. Battery and coolant overflow tank will have to be relocated for sure! I haven't decided if I want to try to do the exhaust like the newer outlaw cars where it exits out the fenders behind the front tire, but I think it would be pretty stinky! lol

It's cool that you're trying the same sort of idea, I'll have to keep you updated with progress and such as I make it.

Andrew91GT

To have ANY chance of making it live I would need a 6 bolt block and heads, obviously a lunati pro type crank and a set of billet rods and good pistons go without saying. I really want to run e85 because it's cheap and it's pump fuel that I can easily get and as such I'll be octane limited. I really need to keep the cylinder pressures reasonable and the air charge temperatures down to have a shot at keeping the engine alive when pushing it hard.... and that's why I'm leaning towards a big block. The bigger the engine, the less boost and rpm I have to run to meet my power goals, both of which trend toward higher reliability, right?

In any case, it appears the shortblocks are pretty comparable in price. The heads, maybe not so much!

Andrew91GT

Edelbrock came out with the pro flow xt intake for the bbc. It's a simular design but a little shorter. Just an idea.
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...fi_chevy.shtml[/quote]

Could you make a block off plate for the thermostat housing and then drill and tap the front of the cylinder heads and return water from there to the radiator instead? That would give you more clearance for a front facing elbow.

5.0 Eater

iTrader: (2)

Could you make a block off plate for the thermostat housing and then drill and tap the front of the cylinder heads and return water from there to the radiator instead? That would give you more clearance for a front facing elbow.

Yes That was one option I recently came across, I'll go that route if I have to. I'm still leaning toward a roots blower style if I can find one with the right design.

I plan to run the vic jr. intake over the proflow because I kow it will fit, and because it will perform better under boast. A couple months ago Jegs had the vic jr. efi for BBC on sale for 250 but i missed out.

As far as the lsx stuff goes, I would of run a 6.0 iron motor instead of the bbc but I came across a great deal on the core and I found the rotating assembly on ebay. There are several turbo lsx cars locally and they make awesome power and reasonally cheap too. Use the stock crank and get the h beaam rod and mahle piston combo off ebay and you bottom end is safe to around a 1000 hp. I have seen a few at 7-800 horse that get down the track in the 9's all day long.

I think the cool factor would be way higher on stuffing a twin turbo nearly 500 cid monster under the stock hood, over using a lsx motor. Besides the fact that the larger head, main, and rod bolts, and massive main caps (mine is a four bolt on all 5 caps) would handle the stress of 1000 hp much better.......food for thought

1BADRZ28

iTrader: (2)

The only possibilty of it working would be to lower the engine with front and midplates while using a rack and pinion and a tubular cross member. Other that that you will have a hard time fitting that set up under a stock hood. 2 1/4 cowl maybe. My bbc needed a 4-6 inch cowl to fit with one dominator and it was lowered only .5 inch into the chassis.

Andrew91GT

9.8" or 10.2" deck block? What intake manifold did you use? Any spacers? What air cleaner? Where did it hit?

I've been looking around for a bit trying to find a crank centerline to top of block measurement (no, not top of cylinders but the front and back lifter valley rails) so I can estimate how much taller it is than my 305 TBI engine.

In any case I'm all about the rack and pinion and tubular front suspension for max turbo kit clearance.

1BADRZ28

iTrader: (2)

Mine is a 9.8 deck with a Dart intake, 1 inch spacer, Dominator, no air cleaner. I couldn't get a sbc with a super victor and double pumper to fit under the stock hood.

5.0 Eater

iTrader: (2)

It will fit. The bbc vic jr intake is just under 6in tall at the carb flange. My elbow is 2.75in tall at the tallest spot and it angles down as it comes forward where space is limited. A dominator, spacer and most likely a hi rise intake would be several inches taller than my setup. In a week or two I'll do a final fitment test and it will be settled.

I measured the bbc to sbc china wall to crank center height at less than an in difference. Thede motors are longer and wider but not much taller.

Andrew91GT

Good info man, thanks! I look forward to hearing how the final fitment ends up!