Big block or blower?

1993notchman · 11-13-2008

I have a 93 notchback. It is buil up pretty nice right now. It put out about 400 hp with a 125 shot. I think it will run in th 11s. I want to be in the 10s and lower. The car is carburated and I was thinking about putting a blower on. Will it be to much work and money to bring it back to fuel injected and then the blower and labor. I know nothing about this stuff so I will be paying someone to do it. I just want a really fast street/drag car. Option 2- Just drop a big block in it. I have been told it will be easier and more efficient to go this route, plus it will be naturally asperated and really fast. I posted a thread yesterday but im not sure where it went. I alos would like to stay manual. is that possible with the big block? Any help was and is appreciated.

BBFcapri · 11-13-2008

well-

in the mid- 80's hot rod or car craft did a story on a Kaufmann Engineering kit that made the 385 series a bolt in deal. with a stock 429 it ran in the 12's at sea level.

there are always BBF heads on ebay going for 1000 to 1200 a pair range for new compleste and aluminum.

if you spend the $650 for an aftermarket subframe with coilovers, ditch the power steering and A/C, go with aluminum heads your front axle weight will be about the same as an iron head 5.0.

and D and D performance T-56 Transmissions sells a T56 that is good for 650 ft lbs. and i know i have seen them for same that are good for 1000 ft lbs.

i just bought another Capri and am dusting off my 460 this weekend to forge ahead with my dream car.. (described above)

and to answer your question? do both!

84 GTNT · 11-13-2008

Reduce your weight and change the heads. but while your going that far go to a furl injection system now. The fuel injection can be remapped in an infinite number of ways to really pull the power out of those aluminum heads. A Supercharger and maybe a nitrous bottle biger exhaust system, maybe a crossover pipe and you'll get to those ten's and even suprise the street competiton in the process. Good luck.

BBFcapri · 11-15-2008

i just thought of something.

if you do go with a big block, don't forget the torque box reinforcements. they are cheap and cleaning up that mess would suck!

stang93mustang · 11-16-2008

Speaking from experience, the big block will be the most cost effective for what you want. You will not have to put a whole lot of money into the BB just to get 600hp.
The one thing that I will add is that using a manual trans would be fun to drive but if you are thinking just strickly racing, then you would more than likely want to go automatic just because in a high torque car and you miss a gear, who know's what will happen!!
In picking your trans if you go auto, do not use a C4, yes they are small and light weight, but no matter how much money you spend beefing up that trans, they are still weak. C6's are too heavy and require ALOT of HP to turn it. Put a chevy turbo 400 in there or go with a chevy powerglide. They make adapter plates to bolt these trans right in.

Fitting a BB with a chevy trans slips right in. You will not have to/ should not have to beat any sheet metal to get it to fit into the car.

I'm running in 10's right now without what I consider any major mods on the motor naturally aspirated. I know that I could be in the high nines with some more tunning.

Which ever way you decide to go, please don't forget about beefing up the rear in too!! Not just a gear change make sure your axles are beefier and use C-clip eliminators to avoid disasters.

1993notchman · 11-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang93mustang

Speaking from experience, the big block will be the most cost effective for what you want. You will not have to put a whole lot of money into the BB just to get 600hp.
The one thing that I will add is that using a manual trans would be fun to drive but if you are thinking just strickly racing, then you would more than likely want to go automatic just because in a high torque car and you miss a gear, who know's what will happen!!
In picking your trans if you go auto, do not use a C4, yes they are small and light weight, but no matter how much money you spend beefing up that trans, they are still weak. C6's are too heavy and require ALOT of HP to turn it. Put a chevy turbo 400 in there or go with a chevy powerglide. They make adapter plates to bolt these trans right in.

Fitting a BB with a chevy trans slips right in. You will not have to/ should not have to beat any sheet metal to get it to fit into the car.

I'm running in 10's right now without what I consider any major mods on the motor naturally aspirated. I know that I could be in the high nines with some more tunning.

Which ever way you decide to go, please don't forget about beefing up the rear in too!! Not just a gear change make sure your axles are beefier and use C-clip eliminators to avoid disasters.

Thanks for all that helpful info. Are you running in the 10s without nos?