I am new to the fourm and do not have a camaro yet but I am going to look at one today for a project car. I was wondering what motor options I have for a third gen camaro. I want something that will go to the track and kick *** but also something I can drive home and then go back and forth to work and school during the week. It will be a daily driver but also a strip car and I would like to be 12 second or lower on the track. I dont mind running nitros as long as my motor can handle it. I was thinking about a 350 block, stock 400 crank, 383 rods and pistons, with 150 shot of NOS but I dont know what heads, intake, carb, cam ect... to put in it? Basicly what I need to know is what kinda HP can I get streetable but not look like a dork at the track.

 

Building a big inch small block (383,395) is a good way to accomplish what you want to do. Build it forged and shoot some nitrous on it. This will easily accomplish your goals. The engine alone should easily be capable of mid to high 12's n/a, then you can spray your way into the 11's.

As for heads, there are dozens of manufactures. I have heard good things about Canfield, Trickflow, and I personally am partial to AFR.

Just keep in mind that the rest of the drivetrain, stock, (especially the rear-end) on a third gen are NOT designed to have a 383 and a 150 shot of nitrous connected to it without modifications.

As far as the intake goes, stick with something like a Performer RPM for a more streetable motor. I am not a carb guy, so somebody else will have to chime in here, but I think the general consensus is that a Holley is more high-performance oriented than an Edelbrock.

If you have an automatic tranny, get a GOOD stall converter from a company that custom builds one for YOU and your application (Edge Racing Converters, PI Vigilante). This will allow you to run as much stall as reasonable in your application.

The third gens are relatively heavy, and if you search for weight reduction topics, you may find a way to lower your ET there too.

 

Might as well buy a new steel crank, rather than rely on a crack-prone factory cast 400 crank.

 

thinks for the advice that is what I needed to know.