fc_soldier

I was going to have a fully built 396 shortblock built with a goal of 550 at the crank. Cost for the block done by the pros $5500. Then your going to need. New heads cause you can port them all the way out but I dont think your going still flow any where near what you need to. So A set of AFR 227 heads will run you about $2000-$2700. Cam add another $400. Rockers add another $300. And I dont think your headers are going to cut it anymore thats about another $750.00. And a computer tune for that beast will be $650-700. So total you are looking at just over $10000.00 in motor. not counting odds and ends.

So I saw that math and decided. How much is my motor worth now. I sold all my performance and stock LT1 stuff. I made about $5000 and than I took a loan out for $5000. I have a $10000 budget. Im doing a LS2 swap. Ill have about 450-475 (Headers and Tune) HP without even touching the motor and be 200 lbs lighter. I bought everything and got a dana 44, Im still under budget. LSx series motors make big numbers with just a cam,springs, and tune.

Your in a crossroad. That big of a motor isnt built for street NA. I say if you want the power. Rebuild your motor to a 355 forged low compression setup, refresh your heads, and buy a carrol supercharger setup or procharger. Or you go my route and cam it. Start to finish is about a month for mine with wait time. Ill finish my build in about 10 days.

Once you want more than 450 chp then money goes up a Sh*t TON.

88BlackZ-51

500chp wont be an issue, but 600chp will.

chevyforever

It's just a matter of the money you're willing or able to spend.

Look at my link I posted above:

http://www.tpis.com/pages/402lt1

Top notch parts (that are really $$$), but possible...

And I think Sonny Parks (CF member sonnyinVA) also reached the 600 chp goal with his heavily modified C4 LT4!

I think this is basically what you brings there:

- 396, 408 or 410 LTx block (with good forged parts)
- big heads (e.g. AFR 227 heads)
- heavily modified LTx intake or better custom sheetmetall (like hogans)
- 58mm or monoblade TB
- solid roller cam
- Jesel shaft mount rockers
- big longtube headers (1 3/4" or 1 7/8")
- programmable custom EFI setup
- custom fuel supply
- internal friction and heat barrier coatings will help, too
- and all the small other things...

Regards
Rico

88BlackZ-51

Is that it? $12000- 15000 later you might hit 500rwhp. Alot have tryed to hit the 500rwhp with an LTx, and most have failed.

Plus who wants a solid roller. Those days are kinda gone as far as I am concerned with the LSx motors.

My 421 should make 550chp/530tq with a small cam, and small heads. No substitute for cubic inches. Yes I could of easily hit 600chp with a big set of heads, and a much bigger cam etc.....But mine is a SBC1, and not a LTx. Seems that the LTx are cube limited!

Just my 2 cents for what it's worth. If you have an LTx, and your looking for big power n/a ditch the opti, and go with a distributor and get the cubes in something that starts with a 4 rather then a 3.

96z51

what cam do you have?

cv67

Lots running solid rollers on the street these days. There is so much misinformation and internet "sky is falling" info about them out there most dont. Check the valves once or twice a year thats it. If you run a big hydraulic roller Id do that anyways just for general principle.
Once you drive a nice SR motor you never go back.

5abivt

88z is pretty much accurate in all of his post.

There are 3 ways to do it.
1. rpm
2. cubes
3. fi

I chose the rpm route with my 2nd buildup. 88z chose the cubes route.
I chose rpms mostly because I have money I like to waste and I wanted something more exotic and something that sounded completely non-typical of a big v-8. Im also a tech head so if theres a sexy cool high tech and exotic part out there, I want it Was it the easiest way? nope not at all. SOmebody with a budget can EASILY build a low compression LTX or sbc and bolt on a huffer and blow us into the weeds. Sometimes I wonder why I didnt do just that.

88zs motor would easily hit 600 imo if he went 210 or larger and used an aggressive solid roller. That's not easy to do on an LTx because of our reverse flow cooling blocks. Our options just aren't there. His motor will idle better, get better fuel mileage, have better throttle response and be a better motor all around than mine will.

If I had to do it all over again with an unlimited budget this is what I would do. This was my builders opinion to do so as well but I was too confused with how exactly to go about getting all the accessories to work etc....

Aftermarket SB Block 400+ cubic inches.
lowest degree head possible with massive flow numbers (I forget.. 18, 15 or 13 i cant remember what my buidler suggested)
custom sheetmetal intake made for the heads.

My builder told me if I went that route I'd 'easily' get another 100 hp out of my 600 hp build. I chose to limite myself with the Ltx platform. It's whatever floats your boat I guess. For me its an LTX that screams 8000 rpm with a Nascar firing order. it may not be the most hp making mill but it will sure as hell sound sexy. and thats to match the looks I already have

MK 82

I know a builder that can do a killer blower motor. You just have to leave it there for 3 years and drive people nuts talking about it.

littlesk8cracker

do you think he could put a dry-sump system on that motor? i dont know anything about them and he probablly doesent either, so i was wondering what your opinion on it was? (hahaha just having fun )

BrianCunningham

that's alright nether does he

5abivt

shhh dont tell anyone !!!

aboatguy

I believe your goals are acheivable and realistic;however,it won't be easy or cheap. Karl elwein, advanced induction and a few others probably have the answers your looking for

if I were In your shoes I'd call Ron at AI or ED Wright at fastchip and see what they thought would work. .........and what the cost would be


Fast cheap reliable. Choose two

Red Rocket

Have a similar cam and the AFR 195 Eliminator heads in the Competition version with the 58mm TB and 42# injectors in my 396. Sitting at close to 530HP/520TQ on last mail order tune. Need a dyno tune.

Raced two weeks ago at the Texas Muscle Car bracket racing challenge. A guy in a 600 HP Z06 was running in the pro class with me where you have to dial in the 11's. He was on street tires and never could make the 11's and left the competition.

With this set up, I can do a lite spin thru water box, launch at 2500 RPM's and be consistent on my 11.5 dial in. MPH is 123-125MPH. 1.75-1.80 60'.

aboatguy

This one has to be close to 550 and its just a 355 on ported stock castings.....
96 SS AI 200cc heads & mild solid roler on 355.L