Well guys I have been thinking of ways to keep my camaro.I sold the 400 I had to my buddy.I got 500 for it.I also got the great job of transplanting it into his cutlass!


Right now I have 900 dollars.All that is going to be spent on my 4-wheelers.I am hoping in the spring to start on my car.My dad says that I should build a big block and do it right the first time.Which would be great.Except I don't have the money for a big block.I have been thinking about going to a pick a part and pulling a 350 and TH350 out of a van.Putting my vortec heads,Different cam,Intake,Carb and headers on it.And having the TH350 rebuilt.He says I am stupid for even thinking abnout putting money into a worn out motor.The way I look at it the only money I would be wasting would be the cam.I can swap everything else into a fresh motor when I get the money.


What does everyone think.

 

If you dont NEED the motor I wouldnt swap in a worn out motor from a van. If your current engine is in good shape Id keep it until you can afford to get a fresh engine with either low miles, rebuilt, or even brand new. Then start building from there. I bought a brand new GM motor, 300$ carb (with my discount), new intake, even redid the exhaust completely (didnt need to be done) all for under 3k....this was including all odds and ends. You may not be able to spend that kinda cash Im not sure. I couldnt I had to get a loan. But I like the idea of having a brand new motor with brand new everything.

 

i agree, if it was me, i would put a fresh engine in.

 

nothing wrong with a high quality rebuilt motor...but for the amount you would spend on a pro quality rebuild, you can buy new crate motors

just a question why the bb? a sbc can be made to push plenty of power without even spending outrageous amounts, plus its essentially a bolt in job in a 3rd gen.

 

Do it right the first time save your cash until you can build what YOU really want BB or SB or SBB (406 my favorite)why put the time (which is money to me)and money into a junk engine I had a buddy of mine do that heard the engine run two minutes purchase it paid me to install it (time is money) it ran MAYBE 1 month pistons started slapping oil pressure dropped smoked had to pull it and rebuild mo money mo money mo money.Save and do it right the 1st time. LATER

 

My dad used to drag race to.He had a 69 camaro that was backhalved with a narrowed dana 60.The first motor he built was 400.It was a full race motor.And ran awesome.He wasn't going fast enough for him though.So he built a 454 that was bored and stroked to a 502 on alcohol.It had aluminum rods and all the goodies.He sold that car because the local track flooded and shut down.His car was setup for the 1/8 mile and the only other tracks where far away and where 1/4 mile.

One day we went to watch the guy race his old camaro.I will remember this forever.The guy was doing the burnout and my dad said he is reving it way to high.You don't need to a rev a big block that high.HE pulls up to the line it turns green mashes it and throws a rod through the block.I still have a piece of the aluminum rod.

He said he just wished he did it right and not wasted the effort on the small block.he does admit that it ran better than most big blocks.He hasn't messed with cars in a long time.Well not race cars.Right now he is restoring another 69 camaro and do a frame up on a 78 jeep cj-5.I hope one day I will be as good with cars as he is.


I am not sure what I am going to do.I change my mind everyday.

 

well is your goal for a strip car or for a streetable car, you gotta keep that in mind, not only in planning for power, but how to apply that power, i.e. suspension and driveline.

 

My goal is a strip only car.

My plans right now are this.(Like I said they change everyday)

Build a 383.If I am going to build a motor I might as well build the one I want.Whenever I get my taxes back I should have enough to get the short block done.For the tranny I plan on a th350.Hopefully a tci built one.For the rearend I want to find a posi 3:73 rear.I really want 4:10's.That will be when I put a 9 inch in it.That is a long way off.And the same for the suspension.There is guy here that is nearly pulling the front tires with stock suspension!