i would like to know what is the best build up or how far can i get on a good build up for around 6000$. the car is a 1986 z28 with ttops and a 700r4 tranny. i an selling my fourth gen formula to do this build up so i want it to be done right. i would like it to make 300hp or more.

let me know your suggestions. Thanks


P.s. im sorry if there already a ton of threads like this.

 

go lsx! Their is a junk yard that is in bristal pa that only pulls out the good stuff , f-bodys vettes gtos, and other lsx vehicals. http://myworld.ebay.com/fparts/ iknow afew ppl that have gotten their engines from there and they are good. and close too.

 

thanks man. i wanted to go lsx but i wasnt sure if i could do that with my budget. but will that be an electrical nightmare?

 

Only if you're electrophobic.

Figure on spending half your budget on making the power, and half on handling it.

$3000 for Gen I SBC 300 HP is do-able, even with the stock 305; spend the other $3k on exhaust ($700-$1000 if yours is currently stock), transmission/rear end (torque converter, 10-bolt beef-up), suspension (poly bushings all the way around), and chassis upgrades (subframe connectors).

$6000 LSx swap is possible, but it will be bare bones. If you get a stock LS1/4L60E, you can spend a little more on the engine/trans, but you'll still need the rear end, suspension, and chassis parts, plus some aftermarket swap parts (engine mounts, for instance). Little things like instruments cause cost creep.

 

agreed. an lsx engine would be great but you made some valid points it would just be bare bones and i would still need to spend money on the rear and tranny. i want to build an almost complete set up for my money.

 

If 300 HP is all it takes to make you happy, consider a 305 upgrade:

Vortec cylinder heads w/intake, gaskets, bolts, rockers: http://www.sdparts.com/product/SD806...merIntake.aspx
$1100 (rounded up for shipping, probably less than that, though). Add $100 to have a shop shave the heads to raise compression a little (optional - if you may ever go with a 350, you'd want to keep them at 64cc chambers).

Comp XE268H cam & lifter set http://store.summitracing.com/partde...2&autoview=sku
$205 w/timing set (you don't need an expensive set).

Hooker 2055HKR headers, Magnaflow direct-fit cat, American Thunder cat-back:
$1200 (good exhaust will cost a good bit of coin - worth it).

TCI Breakaway lock-up torque converter (~2200 RPM stall):
$425

Add a little for things such as air cleaner, misc hoses and gaskets, you're a little over $3100. Now get subframe connectors, poly bushings, and you may have enough left over for gears & posi.

And you won't even have to pull the engine to do this (if you choose - I did something similar in 2001 and went ahead and pulled the engine/transmission).

 

thanks five7kid for taking time to look all that stuff up. that definently sounds like something i can do here at home.now i read that you cant bore a 305 to a 350. but what can you bore it out to?

 

also i see that the heads and intake setup you recomended is set up for a carb. can i just bolt on my tpi intake i have now?

 

You can bore a 305 to .060" over, or 3.796". do the math, that's a 315. Doesn't make sense to do that, though. If the block needs machining work, go get a 350 and rebuilt it instead.

You can't use that intake with TPI. I assumed you had carb, my bad. That kit is http://www.sdparts.com/product/SD806...keHeaders.aspx .

But, stock TPI doesn't handle RPMs well. So, Vortec heads http://www.sdparts.com/product/SD806...25Springs.aspx , but get a Holley/Weiand Vortec Stealth Ram intake. You'll need the other stuff, rockers, gaskets, etc.

As usual, building TPI costs more money.

A bit more coin, but another good TPI choice is http://www.sdparts.com/product/SD360...ripEngine.aspx . You're probably going to exceed your $6000 budget with it, though. You need to add runners, TB, and headers to get that HP level, and then you won't have much if anything left to upgrade the rest of the car.

 

so what im getting from this is its gonna be better to just go with a 350 witch i already knew but i know some people make some good running 305s. i could always find a used rear. to save some buck. now i personally like fuel injection but if i want a cheaper build ill prob just go carb.

on the other hand it would be nice not to have to pull the motor. but it will be easier than pulling it from any fourth gen...

 

Just find a wrecked 99-02 LS1 f-body and swap everything, 3-4k for the car and 2-2.5k to cover all the little add ups for the swap.

A 5.3 or 6.0 truck motor with aluminum heads would be a cheaper start.

Your forth gen Formula must have been an LT1. I have had bigblocks,LT1s,l98s,406 smallblock and nothing compares to an LS motor IMO,310hp stock with fuel economy.

 

A truck 5.3 or 6.0 might start out cheaper, but you need to switch over to f-body accessories, oil pan, and intake.

For some reason, LS1 f-body donor cars seem to go for no more than and sometimes less than LS1 engine/tranny take-outs (especially T56). But, I didn't really pursue that when I was looking for mine 18 months ago.

 

I think the donor wreck is the best way, you have most the parts you will need and you could part out the rest of the car for a partial refund on the project.

I hope to find a LS1/t56 donor car or I will use a aluminum block 5.3 and swap the cam for my 89 RS.

 

i will keep my eyes open on a wreck

 

ls engine is the best hands down. as long as u can keep and reuse all the parts of donor.

ps i have 99 z28 m6 fs, not wrecked, fs. sitting in my garage collecting dust. located in tx, clean tx title. is all stock,
black, lthr, ttops

 

Shop around and do a LSx swap. I would look into finding a 6L iron block that's in good condition. You could probably find one at a decent price. I know there is a guy on our local boards who has a 550 fwhp set up for less than 3000 dollars. The S10 he had it in was going 10s.

This is assuming you are capable of doing an motor swap.