I have an 1988 IROC-Z that is currently completely stripped. I am planning on dropping in a Big Block. Whats a good size to drop in that is strong & good to add peroamnce parts to it. I am just looking for peoples suggestions. Wether to go 454, 502, give me your feedback.

 

Won't comment on engine size. That's kind of upto personal choice and what you using the car for but one choice of headers for this swap are Hedman Hustlers PN 65370. They work with A/C, power steering, and both automatics and manual transmissions.

 

The car is goign to be pretty much a track car, but still street legal, so I can crusie it on weekends & run some ricers into the ground.

But Iam getting rid of the power steering, the enitre heating system & A/C are gone for weight purposes, and the motor is goign to be backed by an aftermarket built 6Spd, going to 4.11's in a FORD 9".

And the enitre car will have lexan windows, and fibetrglass parts as well for weight. I will be supercharging the enigne most liely with a Procharger Intercooled system & it wil have Nitrous as well.

 

Well then, my choice would be a 502 short block with the AFR big block heads. The 502 comes roller cam ready. Cam choice will be dictacted by the power adder. Supercharged motors like a different cam than NOS. I have no experience with both power adders on the same motor.

 

Any chevy standard deck big block from the '70s is a great place to begin. Plenty of parts available and won't cost as much as a 502. I'd get either a 427 or 454. The 396 is kind of like getting a 305 instead of a 350.

Speedomotive sells quite a few kits for the right price. www.speedomotive.com

 

how much money you got to blow...

454 Cheaper
502 more expensive

Personally right now I'm looking for a 454 that I'm gonna drop in.

 

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/487725
This is the best "feedback" I can give you.

 

If I was building a dream 3rd gen of my own, I would forgo the Procharger and Nitrous and put the money towards a new ZL-1 block. The new ZL-1 blocks are roller motors and are clearanced for larger strokes than the original. With the new generation heads available for big blocks (TFS, AFR, Canfield, etc) you could get an easy 600 naturally aspirated horsepower, totally streetable. With over 600 ft/lbs to boot. Some might say that's not enough but very few have driven a 600 horsepower car. I know that I would have a large learning curve putting that kind of power down on a road course, the place I would love to wring it out.

Anyway, since you are into a shedding pounds, consider a AJE Tubular K-member for about a 35 lb loss and Flamin' River sells a small lightweight steering box for 3rd gens in both steel and aluminum.

 

Awesome, ill keep the weight saving mods in mind. As far as the engine, I love supercharged engines, amazing. I am possibly even considering to put on a whelen blower.

 

my friend is in the process of dropping a 540 stroker in his 84.