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Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 5:09 pm
by Shagoneer
I've got most of the suspension for my camaro bolted up which means up next is the engine and trans. I'm pretty set on a t-56 for the trans. But haven't decided on an engine yet. So here are what I'm currently considering.

A Cadillac 500
A 454
An 8.1
An LQ4
Or an LQ4 with a 4.8 crank so that it revs stupid high.

If I go with the 500 or 454 I'll get a roots supercharger at some point, if I go with any of the others I'll probably set up some junkyard turbos.



So if you had a 68 Camaro with no engine what would you throw in it? If you have any suggestions I haven't already thought of let me know.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:14 pm
by bigun
Coyote Ford

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:10 pm
by tgreese
Chevy anything.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:05 pm
by SJTD
Maybe a 4BT.

A little tall but you were going to have a blower sticking through the hood.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:45 pm
by bigun
O O O O I know 401 AMC!

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:14 pm
by REDONE
twin turbo Wankel! :geek:

In all seriousness, that's one of the few cars you can toss a modern GM aluminum small block in and not be derided for it. If your end use is going in a straight line as fast as possible or just "comparing inches", then the bigger the better. Honestly though, twere it my car, I'd be looking for a L33 (all aluminum version of the 5300 vortec), so that I could drive it like the pony car it was meant to be. :)

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:33 am
by rocklaurence
LS 5.3L with a junk yard turbo.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:38 am
by HeavyMetalThunder_81
It depends on your intended use but I would say the LQ4 all day.
The Caddy 500 is torquey, but not really want you want in a light weight pony car.
The 454 is great, plenty of aftermarket. But they can be expensive to build and they're heavy.
The 8.1L have head problems and don't make all that much power for as big as they are. And again, they're heavy.
The LQ4 is the best choice out of the options you have. They're cheap, easy to find, lightweight, make great power stock, and are easy to mod for more.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:46 am
by REDONE
Another point for the LQ4, since I think the 398 was the biggest engine available in the car (in the SS, I may be wrong) and the LQ4 is about the same size. I'm not gonna do the math, but if you rebuild a JY LQ4, you could probably bore it to 398 and use original badges.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:09 am
by Shagoneer
You could have the SS package with either the 396 or 350. But they did make a 427 camaro so 396 wasnt the biggest option.
Part of why I liked the destroked 6.0 idea was because it'll make something with roughly 327 CI of displacement, which is another original engine option. Plus the destroked 6.0 would have an awesome rod to stroke ratio making it REALLY responsive to boost.

If I had the money I would buy a blueprint 632, but as thats out of the picture right now I'm stuck with engines I can get at the scrapyard.



Id like to make a few jokes about comparing inches at the drag track, but I think Stuka would ban me.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:22 am
by Stuka
Anything aluminum. And certainly not a cast iron big block, unless this will be a 1/4 mile car only. If you want to drive it a lot, go for a lighter engine.
Shagoneer wrote:Id like to make a few jokes about comparing inches at the drag track, but I think Stuka would ban me.
And ban? No. But lets not go there anyway ;)

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:08 am
by Shagoneer
The reason I was considering the Iron LQ4 is because ever being a giant iron block it is still lighter than the smaller 350 block that was most common in these cars. Plus from what Ive read the iron block can take more boost and spray before than the aluminum block.

Im really leaning towards the destroker since im reading about people pushing them to 9K rpm with only new rods, rod bolts, and a little head porting. And 9K rpm sounds like a ridiculous amount of fun, especially with forced induction.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:35 pm
by Stuka
I would be willing to bet anybody running those RPM is not doing so with forced induction, they are all NA. And having the engine balanced for those RPM is pretty much required if you want it to live at all. 9k RPM in a push rod engine typically doesn't last long without dumping some money into it, along with solid lifters, which suck for drive-ability.

Also, at 9k RPM most of your belt driven accessories will explode :P Not an issue for a race car with no accessories, but certainly an issue if you want to drive it on the street. You basically need electric steering, electric water pump, and run just an alternator with a big pulley to keep its speeds down (Which means not much current at lower RPM unfortunately).

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:13 am
by Shagoneer
So I picked up an LQ4 and after reading your advise and the advise of a couple emchanic friends Im going to leave the stock crank in it (until I have money for a forged crank), however ad the urging of a few friends Im going to get it bored to the bleeding edge of what the block is capable of 4.125, and then have the crank offset ground slightly, to give me a total CID of 396 just for nostalgias sake.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:55 pm
by Gumby
Damn... I was gonna say Duramax that thing out. Would be cool to have a sleeper with a little work it would be a beast.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:14 pm
by REDONE
Shagoneer wrote:So I picked up an LQ4 and after reading your advise and the advise of a couple emchanic friends Im going to leave the stock crank in it (until I have money for a forged crank), however ad the urging of a few friends Im going to get it bored to the bleeding edge of what the block is capable of 4.125, and then have the crank offset ground slightly, to give me a total CID of 396 just for nostalgias sake.
Schweeet! :-bd

Oh yeah, you got a pic of this car, or is this all just fantasy? :P

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:59 pm
by Shagoneer
What is a decent was to post pics now that photobucket is holding the internet hostage?

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:04 pm
by Shagoneer
https://ibb.co/hkV35R
https://ibb.co/kmbbQR
https://ibb.co/fwhY5R

I painted the frame and control arms blue so it will match the color of the body when everything is done

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:19 pm
by Stuka
Flickr and Imgr both work well.

Re: Engine choices

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 8:47 am
by Shagoneer
Image
This is the final goal, and this is what it originally looked like according to the vin.

And her it is as it sits now

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