Hey guys I just bought my 85 iroc z. I was wanting to do the BBC swap in it though. I was wanting to do the t56 trans swap while I am at. I was looking at a couple of options though. I have driven a silverado with the 8.1 vortec in it and that makes a ton of torque. From the research I have done there are very few companies that make aftermarket parts for them. The only company I could find that makes aftermarket parts for them is raylar engineering. I know the BBC swaps are not cheap, but what would be the most cost effective way to build the most amount of low end torque because I was also thinking about a 454. My goal for this car is to be a fun weekend car that I will take her in the movies and some weekends take the drag strip to have some fun. Oh btw I am planning on replacing the rear and installing sub frame connectors so that the car will actually stay together. lol Thank you guys for your input.

 

Drop in a 383 SBC

 

a junkyard 5.3 with an ebay turbo kit will be about the cheapest way to make more torque than you know what to do with..

 

No, the 7400 for the real win. I know from my 4.8 swap that there's no getting oone, installed and driving, for under $2000 even without a turbo. With the turbo it needs a 4L80E or it'll be either too thirsty or breaking 4L60Es.
Getting a Vortec 7400 is $225 complete at the salvage yard. That's the cost of the crankshaft alone for the 383.
The 8100 is a tall-deck, so then you need a $600 hood to clear it. The tall deck itself can fit, but when you have 3/4" between the carb (assuming you don't keep the EFI) and the hood, even with no filter, it can't breathe well enough.
For tire destruction on a tight budget, the 7400 is the only hope. Just plan on hammering the floorpan to clear exhaust manifolds, the headers are too costly. You can make good off-idle and low-end torque with manifolds, it'll pull well to about 4500, the headers really don't help enough to be worthwhile until above 3000 RPM.
And with the 8100, you're probably looking at race headers, the Hookers may not even be an option with a tall deck, IDK.
If you don't have to worry about emissions, the 454 can be done just as low cost as a 350.

 

Or, just put a 3500-stall behind an L31. That'll destroy tires, if that's what you want the torque for.

 

If staying SBC, I like the idea of a GM HT383 (or the aftermarket equivalent stroker 383 or 396.) It's a 1-piece rear main seal and takes the same flywheel as the 86-97 third gen or LT1 (depending on transmission.)

 

Grossly overpriced, not a good value for money, and still needs a cam swap.

 

I can't disagree that there are 383s out there for less, but it doesn't require a $400 flywheel to bolt to an LT1 T56, it's new, not reman., and there's no trips to the machine shop or starter holes to drill or any other "little stuff" to bother with.

 

I can't argue most of that, but the $189 stroker cranks are offered in a 1-pc RMS version at the same cost, and I for one can't fathom building a 383 without the cheap extra valve lift of starting with a HR block, to help fill the extra cubes. So no need to go with a $5k engine just to avoid a $400 flywheel, the cheapest cranks can give the same advantage.

 

383 swap cheaper than big block truck engine. ...........huh, must be nice to have those kinds of insane hook-ups.

Unfortunately a lot of us "budget builders" arent about that life and would rather get the $400 "turn key" BBC truck engine at the local salvage yard then attempt to low ball some dude off craigslist that wants $2500 for his "383" long block