pparaska Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 An example of what it takes to build an over-the-top 1000+ hp SB Chevy V8: http://www.montygwilliams.com/ SUPER detail on the entire build and the choices made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nsadhal Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Hmm.. okay. Maybe the information I'm looking for just doesn't exist. As far as "Honda attitude", I do understand how wildly different this swap is from a Honda swap. I'm not asking for somebody to tell me "this engine makes this much hp and that engine makes that much hp". As far as automotive knowledge, I understand how engines work and everything. I have my own idea of what would make a good autocrosser or drag racer. I understand horsepower and torque. I was looking for someone to share any experience they have. Because of the complexity of engines, basic engine theory, while helpful, is not sufficient to determine the power characteristics of a particular engine. I'm surprised at how quick people are to say "LT1". Maybe I'll just go read one of those SBC books since it seems the consensus is that the Ford V8 swap is not worth the trouble. It just seems to me that there are so many factors that affect the desirability of an engine, and there's so many variants on the SBC. I would have thought engine selection is a far more complex process than you all are making it out to be. Anyway, thanks for your help. When (not "if", because I know I will) I run into problems, I'll know where to look. Edit Actually, after looking at chevyhiperformance.com, it seems that this is pretty close to the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Thanks Pyro. And Nic-Rebel450CA, Sorry for understating your quest. I do understand what you were trying to do. In fact, it seemed like somethign I had initially wanted to do, but after reading more, I decided it wasn't for me. I hope its working out though. Once again, thanks everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zcarjunky Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I am wondering what engine desigations are efi and what are carbs. I guess maybe I am a little thick or something, but when I hear SBC 350, all I hear is 5.7L chevy V-8. If I could find a LT1 in good condition, with a t-5 or t-56 tranny, what kind of things would I actually need to make the swap work. I prefer carbs for thier simplicity, thats why I put Webers on my 78 280. The fact is, I just don't understand EFI! I have a 77 GMC 1/2 truck, a 78 Datsun 280Z, and a 97 Toyota. I look under the hood of the GM and the Z and I see carbs, distributer, coil; I look under the hood of the Toyota, I see wires. To a somewhat archaic shade tree mechanic like myself, converting a 78 datsun with carbs, distributer and mostly vacuum run ignition to an EFI engine seems like a lot of work. So if I decide to go with EFI, what all will I need out of the donor car? I assume ECU and all the under-hood computer and wiring stuff, but I have the distinct feeling that my ignorance in the matter with end up costing me big bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKDGabe Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I'm surprised at how quick people are to say "LT1". It's been discussed once or twice before and without going into it any deeper than we have already... there it is! I really think the best bang for the buck is to find a Caprice with an LT1 and take the motor, put a T5 behind it and later upgrade heads and cam when you've got the money. converting a 78 datsun with carbs, distributer and mostly vacuum run ignition to an EFI engine seems like a lot of work. Don't let it scare you. I haven't done it (yet) but quite a few people have and they say that without prior experience it's not that hard. There's nothing wrong with carbs, I just wouldn't recommend it for a commuter and I can't afford to have a "weekend only" car. Just keep reading and you'll see pretty quick what it takes, I don't have all night to type and believe me - the info is here. Happy reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nsadhal Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 It's been discussed once or twice before and without going into it any deeper than we have already... there it is! I really think the best bang for the buck is to find a Caprice with an LT1 and take the motor, put a T5 behind it and later upgrade heads and cam when you've got the money. Haha, okay! I believe you The fact is, I just don't understand EFI! The funny thing about this is I just don't understand carbs! I guess I grew up with EFI... working on 90s Hondas and such. I'm sure I can go ahead and find some info on carbs if I need it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I am wondering what engine desigations are efi and what are carbs. I guess maybe I am a little thick or something' date=' but when I hear SBC 350, all I hear is 5.7L chevy V-8. [/quote'] Its like this, an L98, LT1 or LS1 are basically the same unless they've been seriously built, they're all fuel injected and 5.7L. But, since the SBC has been basically the same for over 40 years and there have been so many parts made for them, who knows whats been done to a motor. You can put fuel injection on a carbed motor and even dual overhead cams, which is why you can't find nice easy designations like SR20DET that tell you SR series block, 2.0L displacement, DOHC, fuel injected and turbo'd. It is kinda confusing, you just gotta start looking at the engines as a sum of their parts instead of what the factory designation is, except in the cases of the L98, LT1 and LS1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zcarjunky Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Alright, so look at the engine as a sum of its parts. What is a good sum of parts for this conversion. Its not a strictly street machine, so I want it to be able to tear into some of the faster street cars around, but I am sick of compromising performance for drivability. With the L28 in it, I can hardly drive it on the road cause its so touchy. If I were to find a 350 in the paper or something, what would sugest I look for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKDGabe Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 How much money are you prepared to spend and how good of a mechanic are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickSilverAWD Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 If you can find a 400 SB for a reasonable price' date=' use that. That engine is an incredible torque-producing machine and will produce all the umph that you can take. You won't need to invest in expensive heads or fancy cams to make a lot of power, although if you do you won't be able to wipe the grin off your face when you tear down the track. I've already bought and destroyed one of these when I was a teenager, so I won't let myself have another one. (I didn't destroy it too quickly, fortunately. I got plenty of thrills out of it)[/quote'] would the 400 SB still be used with the JTR kit? JTR website says the kit is for a chevy sb, so i would assume so but i would feel more comfortable with a definate yes from someone on here. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 OK, Let me chime in here... I've done a civic/ acura motor swap recently and it wasn't easy, wasn't hard, and certainly was NOT any easier than doing the 383 stroker in the Zcar... If I didn't already have a 500+ HP powerplant sitting on my engine stand, I'd be looking at an LS1 Chevy motor to transplant into a Zcar or 510. Here is why: The motor makes EXCELLENT power in stock configuration, and can make WELL OVER 400 wheel power with bolt ons...AND is OBD2 compliant, emissions friendly, and the amount of support out there for the thing is ungodly! Other advantages are weight, used parts market, and vendor support. I predict more aftermarket companies will start making parts for the LS1 since it was just approved for some circle track class racing in 2005. Edelbrock has made a commitment to provide intakes, cams, heads, and packages for the LS1 platform, Scat is now making a crank, and Eagle is making a complete rotating assembly. prices are not as cheap as doing a standard V8 Chevy smallblock build up... Yet. Prices are coming down, and building a 400 Wheel HP motor will be less than many think. We're building one for my 99 C5 Vette and I don't expect to have more than $5000 in everything, complete, finished, ready to drop in and tune. The Ford 302 is a good candidate IF you know how to fabricate. It has a pretty good support network on this site and I think that it could be done cheap, due to the huge parts availability in the Mustang world, and used parts are cheap. When we were researching a 347 Stroker for my Wife's 95 Mustang GT, we budgeted about $4000 complete for that, and that was with blower pistons and cam, forged bottom end... So building a super stout FI 302 isn't expensive... They have better weight distribution than the standard chevy Small block, and weigh less, but you have to sort the mounting, wteering linkage clearances, and there is no manual you can grab off the shelf at 2AM... The SBC is the absolute easiest and best for a couple of reasons... You can get parts cheaper than ANY OTHER swap into a Zcar (Other than common Nissan Turbo factory swaps of course) and you can tune the thing up with parts from WALMART... Which means that most likely if you are stranded in the middle of BFE, you can get parts... You also have the LARGEST group of support in any of the V8Z swaps.. Plus a manual from JTR. So at 2AM when you are on the crapper and you need reading material, you can take it with you and learn a thing or two while you make doo doo... Hope this all makes sense and helps... contact me offline if you want more... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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