i am currently deployed and have wanted to build my 86 into a drift car for a while. i would like to use a big block, but i am not sure just which route to go. big bore - short stroke high rpm? or just go with a stroker? anyone that has any expirence in this area would help greatly. (i know.....most people make drag cars out of f bodies, i like to be different)

 

I know nothing about drifting, but would you really want to make the weight imbalance that much worse?

 

how much more does a big block with alum heads weigh than an all iron small block ?

 

A couple hundred pounds, but the big block is longer so that weight is even farther out.

 

I thought a big block with an aluminum intake and heads weighed about as much as an all iron small block, give or take?

 

It does.

 

I dunno.. .aluminum heads are worth 50 lbs... and I've heard that the bbc's are about 200 lbs heavier before too.

You'd be better off going LS I think. But I think a stout 350 would do fine for you. As long as it has decent throttle response and a T56 or better bolted to it.

 

i had plans for a t56 to rest behind the motor. all great input, and i really suppose it doesnt HAVE to be a big block. but nobody really answered my question. what would be better? big bore and short stroke? or just get the low end grunt of a stroker motor?

 

Probably what you ought to do is go post on a drifting board and find out what engine characteristics you want in an engine for a drift car, then once you know that come back here and, knowing if you want midrange, high end or low end ask again and then you'll get some concrete answers.