I keep changing my mind on what motor I want to build, ok well I know what I want, but back in reality to what I can afford....

so I thought I'd see what you guys think, as many have done this before....

I'd really like to be able to dip into the 10's at least once, and a plus would be being able to pull the tires with ET streets (but I would not care about this if I can pull solid low 11's and pick up a 10.99 slip once).

It must run on 92 pump gas, and be at least barely streetable. Also the car is not exactly light... I don't want to strip it and make a race only car, but will replace parts with lighter ones if needed. I would also like to keep the RPM's down to maybe 6500 (or at least not much higher).

What I either already have or pretty much decided on:
I have:
69 camaro 355 in it, but this motor is not staying.
Batt in trunk
MSD ignition and Distributor
Comp Eng bolt in sub frame connectors, bolted then welded in
comp Eng slide-A-Link tractions bars (kinda like the cal-tracs bars)
TH400 tranny with a gear vendors over drive (not in the car just yet)
195 AFR heads (on this motor, but if I stay small block I would like to use these)
Vintage air AC unit
Aluminum Radiator
4" fiberglass cowl hood
Weld Prostar rims, 15X5 up front
15X8 rears for around town (drag radials maybe)
15X10 rears for ET Streets
PromaStar AL rear shocks (12 way adjustable)
Comp Eng shock relocator, tieing together the rear frame rails, and moving the shocks inboard of the frame
center chunk for 9" with 31 spline locker and 4.11 gears (gear ratio can change if needed)
stock type multileaf springs
rear disk brakes from a 95Z (going to bolt to the custom 9")
adjustable NOS kit 50-150 HP (I would like to use maybe in the 100-125 range for SB, or 150 for BB)
2 Complete fuel systems For the motor a Mallory 140 electric pump, for the juice a Mallory 110 pump feed from a 16 gallon cell in the trunk, then through a Mallory 500 filter, split to each pump, through -8AN and 1/2 hard lines up to the front to Mallory return style adjustable regulators, then back through the same size pluming to the cell.

Things I plan on getting/doing:
roll bar (do I need a roll cage??)
Mosier 9" with 31 spline axles
fiber glass deck lid
Considering a glass nose (fenders and front end)
no more than 3000 stall converter
shift kit
relocating the rear spring hangers inboard with the Comp Eng spring relocator kit for more tire room
mini tubing the rear to the frame rails (no frame alteration)
Proma Star AL 12 way adjustable shock coil overs for the front.
bigest ET-streets I can fit in side the frame rails on 10" rims

All this stuff so far has been done in very small parts (getting parts here and there when $$ permit) but the motor will be the biggest thing, and I only want to do it once (at least for a good long while)!!

not opposed to a big block, but when talking $$ which would be cheaper to get into the 10's?? (also remember I already have a SB in there with decent heads). Another power adder is also an option, I had considered running a small roots blower (but it must fit under the 4" hood) and the plate system on a 383, but I'm not sure that would be enough with just a 142 (as I'm pretty sure that is the only one that will fit under the hood). I would also kinda like the lighter SB for driving around town...

Also not opposed to solid lifters, but would like hydraulic better if it can be done.

is a BB needed?? will it cost more to put the SB into the low 11's than a BB change over?
what kind of HP am I going to need? (block and or rear wheel)
can I get that from a 383 with 150 shot and my AFR 195 heads?

any experience/advice/suggestions welcome!!

 

Look into American Speed I believe its called the Brutus 383. As I recall it put down over 500hp and was very streetable. So keep your heads, put on a single plane, big HP series carb and spray away.

 

so do you think 500 Block hp + 150 shot would do it??

also anyone have anything good or bad to say about any of these places for short blocks:

http://www.amerspeed.com/
http://www.badasscars.com/engines.html
http://www.beckracingengines.com/SiteFrameSet.html
http://www.enginefactory.com/500hp.htm

(mowtown block would be cool... )
http://www.theengineshop.com/engine2.shtml


http://www.speedomotive.com/550hp_sb...er_engine_.htm
(I've heard problems with speed-o-motive motors in the past, anyone with good or bad to say about them??)

 

well you can look at that 500 hp engine that is very street friendly and you had said that your car does not need to be that great for the street. so go with a bigger carb, single plane like a Super Victor and a big ole solid roller cam, and with those AFR heads and a 150 - 200 shot I would think you would be in the ball park.

 

also, I forgot to ask... would a small roots blower (like the 142) be worth anything on a 500 hp 383?? or just not worth the effort? (I know it would not give much boost, just wondering if the drop in power from lowering compression a bit would be more than made up for by the few pounds of boost it would make)

also do you know anyone that has ordered from them specificaly??

 

I believe super chevy and chevy high perf. have done tests on the small blowers. As I recall they added around 150 hp. I do know one guy that purchased a engine from American speed and he loves it.