New here,just wondering if big HP Chevy's are safe/practical

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello everyone, while looking for a Z to start a V8 project on, I also came across these extreme horsepower smallblocks. There built by a company out of Arizona who advertises on Ebay (which is where I found their page). They have a couple 350's, 383's (i think) and a little bigger, all with horsepower ranging from 370hp, to 470! Any way, like I said, I'm new here, and fairly new to Z cars, so I was just wondering first off if these are (1) practical and (2) safe for the Z (structural integrity wise and such). Any help would be appreciated. The page is on Ebay Motors, just search for "chevy engine" and they'll come up as the first ten or so. Or I'll just give you the link right here: (just copy, then paste to address bar)

 

http://search.ebaymotors.com/search/search.dll?GetResult&SortProperty=MetaHighestPriceSort&query=chevy+engine&from=R8&ebaytag1=ebayreg&siteid=100&s_partnerid=2&categorymap=6000&category0=6000&combine=y&st=2

[JustAFantaZ]

Yes, I would say 370-470HP is doable because my motor was making around 380HP and I also sprayed a 150-shot on top of that. Nothing broke at the track on multiple passes. A stock R-200 3.54:1 rear and 225/60-VR radials mounted on 15x7 aluminum rims with a TH-350 tranny did just fine and I didn't have a roll cage or strut tower supports. Many recommend those though and I believe the tracks require a roll cage if you run in the 11's or faster.

 

11.922@124.18

[Guest 240Zduz10s]

those motors are very practical and would do well in a z.. the only time you come up with chassis problems is if you either have a very rusty z to begin with or you have a hi-po big block with big slicks and drag race it heavily.. with a 470 small block you would lose traction before you start twisting your frame up..

[Guest Nic-Rebel450CA]

with a 470 small block you would lose traction before you start twisting your frame up..

 

Of course, he will never twist his frame as the Z doesnt have one to twist!

 

If you are putting down 400HP+ then you would also be putting out some serious torque. I would not run that much power through any unibody car without some kind of reinforcement, regardless of how well it hooks up. You still send the torque through the chassis...