Eric G

Cheapest way to get 500HP out of a NA 406 sbc. to the wheels throught a th.350

95_LT1_6SPD

500rwhp all motor? Have fun, and it aint gonna be cheap.

DarthIROC

getting 500 N/A hp out of a 406 wont be cheap.

However, you can get that much torque out of it fairly easily.

transxtreme

Out of a 406, not too hard IMO, easiest way is to get some high compression pistons, nice cam, big heads. Or dance with the devil, and spray.

Eric G

I was thinking eldi aluminum heads. Eldi intake
Demon carb (850?)
comp cam, comp lifters , pushrods & rockers
10.5 to 1 CR pistons
H beam rods
Balanced bottom end

What do you think?

Maby stock rods, but if want to spray H beams would be nice.

Stephen 87 IROC

Aluminum heads yes but you might want something better than Edelbrock. HP is made from the heads. Too big and streetable starts to decrease.

Victor Jr. intake

Minimum 850DP carb

Depends on the cam grind but something over .550 lift and 260@.050 duration.

10.5 puts it at the extreme limit for high octane pump gas.

H beam isn't required but a good set of I beams should be used with good rod bolts.

Using any aftermarket rod or piston requires balancing anyway.

Now what about the rest of it? A stock TH350 won't last long. Converter stall will depend on where the engine makes power. I'm guessing something higher than 3500 will be needed. The factory diff won't last long without some upgrades or a complete swap.

The specs for my old 383 are still on my web site. It was pushing close to 500hp and I was running high 11's with it.

camaro75racer

As far as heads go your best bet is AFR's. Cam wise SOLID ROLLER all the way, there is an unbelievable diffrence in power over flat tappet cams and much better rpm ranges. Victor JR or Team G intake sounds great. If you wanna live dangerously (some of the hardcore guys on here will kill me for saying this) buy the cheap KB claimer pistons. Saw a guy "massage" the already almost non-existant skirts to drop weight and made almost 25hp over forged pistons just from less weight. Just some idea's.

AutoRoc

Vic Jr heads

Vic Jr intake

Hooker Longtube 1-3/4" headers

A cam reccomendation from many of the big cam makers. Comp cams, Crower, Lunati, Isky...You could do it with any KIND of cam but a Hydraulic roller or solid roller will help with extra power all over the powerband.

The higher the compression the easier it will be and compression doesn't cost anything really.(Until you fill the tank?) I'd trey 11:1 for a street car.

If money permits and you think that won't be enough, have the heads cleaned up with a more race oriented valvejob and some basic port work AND also have the intake manifold port matched to the heads. It's money well spent. Goodluck!

LiquidSkies

get a fogger kit if your looking for cheap speed. if you want the power there all the time, its deff not going to be cheap. heads and intake will make a great start. then move to cam and exaust. thats what id do anyways.

super83Z

You could do what I did:

AFR 195's : $1250

Rebuilt block with stock 5.7 rods (from a 350) and stock crank with forged pistons: $1000 after machine work

800 Holley DP :$400

No Name version of Edlebrock RPM air-gap from EBAY: $150 (polished)

solid roller cam retro lifters from Ebay: $150 (brand new)

10.5 compression : super unleaded all the time!

Jet-Hot LT's : $520

MSD distributor: $180

MSD box: $280

Car wont stay straight in 2nd gear at 2000 when you hammer the throttle (with Mickey thompson drag radials on) :PRICELESS

O I hope you know that the stock tranny and rear won't last long

MrDude_1

you left out 3 key things

heads
cam specs
results.... what do you run at the track?

DarthIROC

He mentioned heads He said AFR 195's

MrDude_1

hehe, you're right.

still, whats the last two?

Marc 85Z28

BAH! You don't even need 300rwhp to do that

To the original poster, I'd highly recommend AFRs heads. Someone suggested the AFR 195, which are too small to make 500rwhp. Sure they might make 500 crank ponies with a well setup 406, but surely not the near 600 crank HP you're asking for. AFRs competition ported 210cc would be best, especially on a larger inch SBC like the 400.