HarrisonTX Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Decisions decisions desicions. IMO the first step to a project is decieding what your goal is. I have a '79malibu that is a fun little 4 speed street car, with no a/c and no power steering, high comp. loapy cam... the works. Since i have 2 cars, im thinking i should take the driveability away from the malibu, make it more of a weekend streer/strip car, and have the v8z as my daily driver. I cant decide what i want to do with the z I have the makings of a 302, and really am wanting a 302 (chevy) with a built t5. Im not sure how to build this motor, thats where i want some opinions I know i want to keep the a/c system on, and working. I dont know if i want to use all close to stock parts, and just make a fun little 302, or I could sacrifice the low idle, and ad a single plane intake and a rated 2000-whatever RPM cam, and make it rap up like a real 302 should... Maybe. I could spend even more money on these pistons (they cost $300 used) get the dome milled off, build a mild TOUGH motor, and add a procharger. I dont want an insane fast car, just a little giddy up. I kinda want to use the 302 for what its good for, high RPM power Thro out some ideas please guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8dats Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 hey arent you a member at malibu racing? i too have a g-body(cutlass w/sbc). i basically want to do the same thing as you do with my cars. as for the 302.if you want to use it as a daily driver why dont you just run some flatops with mild compression and a midrange cam. nothing too crazy and pump gas. i know its not a specific engine combo and its just my opinion. if its for the street keep it simple and you will be happy with it. after all its still going to be a sbc powered z. oh yeah im a member over there too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I made the mistake of too many super modified cars at one time. Two Camaros with monster gears and high compression, and a giant tired 4x4. I had nothing to drive! Pick and choose the hot rod. (My vote is for the Malibu) Put a powerful mostly stock small block in the Z. Buy a complete 96-98 Vortec 5.7and add a small aftermarket cam, keep the FI. THis is the easy way to go since it uses all the JTR mounts. Zero fab beyond the book. Or even better, an LS series 5.3, one of the 285 hp motors from a 1/2 ton truck. Swap cams again and go to town! Both of these motors should be available low mileage for around $1000. Everybody wants the all alulminum LS1, so the truck motors are only sold for replacement. Another smokin' bargain is an iron head LT1. Pocket port the iron heads and add an aftermarket cam. My buddies '94 Impala put 297 hp at the wheels with no other mods except cold air and cat back. His pal with the '96 kept the stock cam but put AFR heads and a $600 set of headers on his motor for only 260 at the wheels. Any of these setups should put the Z solidly in the 12's, and be easy on the wallet as well as on the hard parts. A stock world class 5 speed should hold up to any of these motors rebuilt with the 5speeds.com countershaft stabilizer and an aftermarket shifter. Just don't speed shift or clutch dumps! While it's fun to dream about building the $10,000 supercharged 302, at least in my experience, if you want to have more than one car a more realistic expense chart is needed. Especially considering Uncle Sam's paycheck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonTX Posted November 30, 2005 Author Share Posted November 30, 2005 Yea, the idea is to take more of the driveability away from the malibu, since i have 2 cars, i dont need to worry about making the malibu a daily driver, i can just keep it for short trips to the store, or a friday night bruiser. Uncle sams paycheck... Yea, that has alot to do with it, im making right at 1,200 a month, which really isnt much, but i go to iraq in about 9 days, so the pay is about doubled over there, plus i dont really have bills, so i will have a little bit of money to pour into the z. v8dats: i cant use flattops, 302's take special pistons, that are all domed, so i will have to mill the dome, to get lower comp. I dont mind spending a little cash on this motor, i just dont know what i should try to get out of it... I could have a sweet roller all forged 302, or i could just make it stock. I kind of want it to be trouble free, and im not sure i can do that with a retro fit roller cam.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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