Hey , I'm planning to build an 88 camaro drag car this coming summer and I need some help with the engine choice. I come from the tuner car scene and I'm new to domestic muscle cars. After doing some research I thought that it might be a better idea to go with a carb engine rather than an injected one. I looked into dropping in a small block 350 or 383 stroker in. Would this be a good choice for weekend drag racing? If not what would be the best choice. Oh and above all I'm on a budget. I have about 8,000 dollars to spend on this project in total. I can get the car with a broken engine for 500 if im going to drop in a new engine. So what engine should I use?

 

Figure on no more than half of your budget for the engine. A beefed up transmission is going to run you at least a grand, plus a higher stall torque converter. If it's strictly a track car, you can get by with fairly cheap exhaust (Hedman long tube hedders, simple mufflers if required at the track you're running at). If a street car, figure a good grand for exhaust.

The rear will need help. I spent about $1000 beefing up a stock 10-bolt and adding a posi (aftermarket gears and posi, aftermarket axles, support cover, welded tubes, and labor).

The suspension will need help. Subframe connectors should be considered a must. Plus poly bushings all around. There are more things like lower control arm relocation brackets that will help traction a lot. This all starts adding up, too.

You can make pretty good power with a $4000 350. You could do all right with a 383 in that budget range, too.

 

it is strictly a track car. so you suggest getting a crate engine? for 4,000 i can get a pretty nice crate 350. and what exactly does the stall torque converter do? what is it for ? like i said, i'm knew to muscle cars. oh and what do the subframe connectors do?

 

I had the money right now this is what I would do (engine wise), as long as it is track only. And you will definitely need a different tranny and some rear upgrades.

http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...10&CtgID=22980

with these heads
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294791970

Call a cam company and have them custom grind you something it won't cost much more than off the self, and you'll be making enough power to break stuff.

 

you can spend alot less than some would, tranny? a grand? man a turbo 350, sid neal builds them $400, have stood up to my 427 bigblock, and a buddy of mines 468, no probs.. converter check out alabama converter co.. you can pick up a converter from them for $300, any stall speed.. rear end, get a girdle, minispool, axles, bearings and long wheel studs. engine, depends what you want, track only car, go high compression, you can get an eagle kit for less than $800, good set of heads, solid roller cam, i think you can build a pretty stout car for 8K!
http://www.nealtrans.com/techinfo.html

 

Estimate how much you're going to spend and triple it.

I'm looking at getting a new set of heads this winter. That's another $3000 going into my engine along with other changes I'm doing to the car.

You can race a cheaply or as expensive as you want. Since the majority of us will be bracket racing, you can race whatever you want. Speed means nothing in a bracket race. You could run 15 second 1/4 mile all day long and still win. It just costs a lot more to go faster but it doesn't mean you're going to win.