Which Engine do you think???

Hi everyone,
just need your opinion on this. What engine do you think would be the best for performance on the drag strip for a 94 firebird. I want the most power i can get for a good price. Just let me know what motor you think is the best. thank you :)

First, you need to let us know what times you're looking for.

Second, we need to know your budget.

Still, a LS1 or LS2 is a good starting point. Then add cubic inches, heads/cam, forced induction, and/or nitrous as needed.

For a "pure" race car (trailered when not raced), there are plenty of good choices.

If this car was original with a V8, a small block would be a no-brainer. 406 (40) can make the most power from stock components, but the block is weak. A 383 is the most popular using a stock block.

What kind of budget? A big block would certainly make more power than the small block.

Tell us a little more detail about what you really want it to DO.

Jim

well this is no really price limit like say up to 6000 on the engine really and looking for one of the best?

id have to agree with the LS1 being a fantastic starting point. Seeing as youre going to be setting it up as a strip only car, youre going to be rebuilding the engine anyway, so you can probly save some cash buying a junkyard engine on the cheap. many places will have a "lemon" clause, where if you tear apart the engine and its blown, they will swap cores with you. ask before buying. do the sludge checks under the valve covers and in the crank case, and bring a breaker bar with the sockets to turn the engine over to check for any binding or "clunks".

use the money you scored to either modify or replace the existing heads and intake, get an aftermarket cam, headers, etc etc. there are lots of simple NA kits putting out around 450hp. you mght even be able to do it cheap enough to buy a turbo, and look at some real power. hard to say exactly with only the 6k to go on.

although you also need to look at the body, chassis and drivetrain. make sure they can handle the power, and put it to the ground. I forgot what year you said. but the mid 90's f-bodies had the zexel torson rear differential. which is an awesome peice for a daily driver, but only handles about 400hp reliably. they are prone to cracking at 450hp. so youll want to upgrade that. then there are subframe connectors which are usually a must in high power applications, and addressing the transmission and whatnot.

zz4

i'm partial to 383s.
i dont know why i like them so much, but they are great engines and i am looking into a stroker kit for mine.

Greygoose,

Good call! Dollar for dollar, 383 is the best small block out there today. it combines the torque potential of the 400, and adds in the durability of the 350 block. We sent one to Holland last year, for a Cobra "kit car" (I TOLD them a Cobra is a Ford, but they wanted the Chevy). It makes an honest 500 HP on 93 octane. They are now afraid of the car! He hammers it and it just spins around in circles. He he he...(:- Hey, he ASKED for 500 horses. I don't think he really understood what 500 horsepower is! He does now...!

We have had to rebuild about 8 ZZ-4s in the last year, with less than 10K miles on them. Very sloppy... (Hecho en Mexico)

LSx (not to be confused with LSX) is a GREAT engine. It's GM thumbing it's nose at the OHC world. It's also, however, VERY expensive yet. Cores are high, and performance parts are REAL high. Maybe, after a few years of them in production (and old enough to wear out), the price will come down. I doubt it, though, not unlike BBCs (not rare, but expensive).

Another hurdle for using LSx is the electronics. GM has introduced an intake for a Holley, but ignition can still be an adventure. There ARE ways, but not inexpensive ways...

IMO, since the '95 would have had a "conventional" small block, you would be ahead to stick with that configuration.

Jim

hmmm
never heard of LSx
what is it?

note:
there is a possiblilty that i have never heard of LSX and would like to know about it instead.


note 2:
is it an OHC engine?
i have some pics of a moser DOHC setup for a SBC.
i cant tell you how much i dream of having a MOSER DOHC 383 SBC with TPI
oooooh
so sexy


note 3:
yes, this is getting a bit rediculous

LSx = LS1, LS2 yada yada The current generation performance small block

LSX, decent car for a ......... Ford :roleyes:

LSx = LS1, LS2 yada yada The current generation performance small block

LSX, decent car for a ......... Ford :roleyes: i was gonna ask what you meant, but got it as soon as i started typing...
:grinyes:


here are my pics of the moser engine

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/GreyGoose006/moser3.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/GreyGoose006/moser2.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/GreyGoose006/moser1.jpg

it kinda looks like a Dr. Seus engine lol