dfw area any 68-74 2 door chevys?

[temp guest]

im looking for a project car, but not TOO project.

if any one knows of any cars that are affordable please email me

Nova
chevelle
monte carlo
caprice
etc

thanks

also, big block vs small block? which is better in the long run, as in more durable for about 500 rear wheel horses on pump gas, and how much should I be expecting to spend on a 600hp na motor.

thanks

[Toad]

First, you should change your years to 67-72. A lot of body styles changed after 72, and if you stick to 70 and earlier, you can avoid a lot of smog crap that will kill power.
Second, if you want durable power, go big block. There's no replacement for displacement! It looks like you're sticking to chevys, so go either 427, 454, or 502. The 427 is basically a 454 with a 396's crank, which is fun because you can spin the rpms up faster with the shorter stroke, though it won't have the torque that the 454 has.
Third, big horse power isn't cheap. At least a grand if you build it yourself, more if you buy it pre-built or have somebody else build it.
Lastly, how "project" are you looking, and what is your price range? I may have something.
Toad

[Mike G]

$1000 to build a 600HP NA motor? Man I want your prices, I couldn't even do that paying cost for the parts, head porting alone will cost you more than that.

[temp guest]

someone said its $10/hp so Im looking at $6k, but I would really like to be able to build a big block(im sold) "capable" of 10s for around $4k. I dont ever plan to take it to the track. just a weekend driver.

I thought smog stuff was 1974 ??

[temp guest]

hey toad,

I just saw that you may have something. can you give me more info please? thanks.

[temp guest]

guys,

what would you say is a good price for this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ksid=p3907.m32

its 20 minutes from me.

[Mike G]

Motor could sell for a little bit to help fund the BBC, depending on what the trans is it may or may not need to go, the rearend will have to go.. a 10 bolt will not survive long with the power levels you want.

Definitely take a look at it in person, see how much body work is really needed.

[CobyPhoto]

My older brother and I had a '36 Chevy 2 door with a 502 Crammed in it when we were in HS and College. Chopped and finished out it was one sweet ride. That 502 is a monster thou...you will need a mint to pay for gas on that thing now a days!

CJ

[Toad]

$1000 to build a 600HP NA motor? Man I want your prices

To get those prices, you've got to a lot of the work yourself. As far as head porting goes, I knew a person year before last that did bad a$$ port jobs for around 280. If you're spending over a grand for a port job, I've got some ocean front property in arizona you might be interested in as well.

I thought smog stuff was 1974 ??

Depends on the vehicle. My 72 truck didn't have anything, but an air pump was optional on my 70 chevelle. It was in 73 though that they switched to unleaded fuels, which killed power, and they also started throwing air pumps and cats on them around there as well. To be safe on a car, stick to 70 and earlier. Trucks can go a little later, like maybe 75ish. I know that dodge had a truck called the "little red truck" that was a performer because it didn't have the same restraints that the cars already had.
The last 426 hemi and 440 rolled off the lines in 72.
I believe the 402 was the biggest motor offered in cars after 72. Except of course for the super duty trans ams and firebirds, which still had 455 up to 76 (or 75...)
Nova's are fun. And if you want to have a lot of fun with one, shoe horn a 427 in one. Yenko did that in 69, and the car was considered lethal not only by Yenko himself, but also by the insurance companies, which at the time refused to insure them because they considered it to have too much power for such a small car.
You will definitely have to replace the rear end in that Nova, as well as beefing up the suspension to handle that much power.


Now... a history lesson. The bone stock 454 LS6 that was released in the 70 model year was "rated" at 450 horse. I put that quotes on "rated" because it was common at that time to under rate the power due to insurance companies and also to get into a lower race class. (Just like wrestlers wanting to lose weight to get into the lower weight class). The motor was actually putting out more realistically 550 horse. Now, chevy used that same parts on motors that went into different vehicles (still common today) and used a low rise intake manifold on the 454's so that they would also fit into the corvette. When you replaced the intake manifold, and put on some long tube headers, 650 was easy to obtain.
So there you go. 650 horse for less than $6k. It's just going to weight a ton (all iron), need high octane gas WITH octane booster as well, because to get those numbers you're going to need a LOT of compression, to the tune of 12 to 1, which needs 103 octane fuel to prevent pre-detonation. A full aluminum block with aluminum heads can run the same compression ratio, but on 93 octane premium pump gas because aluminum sheds heat better, but aluminum is also more expensive. Running a lopey cam can actually allow you to run higher compression on lower octane gas, but I don't feel like explaining that one. Just look it up.
Also, don't forget to not put too big of a carb on that motor. It kills the low end, and makes it bog down when you floor it. Remeber this formula; cubic inches multiplied by max rpm divided by 3456 equals the cubic foot per minute (cfm) that your motor can use at 100% effeciency. Now of course no motor runs at 100%, more like 80%, so take your total and multiply by .8 to get the cfm of the carb you should use. In example, the 454 LS6 red lined at 6500 rpms. So, 454X6500=2951000... 2951000/3456=853.877, or 854... 854X.8=683.2... So to keep it safe for if you go over red line, or are in some dense air, run a 750 cfm carb, max.



ok... well that's enough of that crap... I'm probably boring the bejesus out of all of you.

Toad

[Toad]

Originally Posted by Toad

To get those prices, you've got to a lot of the work yourself. As far as head porting goes, I knew a person year before last that did bad a$$ port jobs for around 280. If you're spending over a grand for a port job, I've got some ocean front property in arizona you might be interested in as well.

Wait, I just noticed that you were in Houston. There are some red neck hicks up here that can do that work for cheap. Must be a location thing. Pardon my previous french.

Toad

[Davidtxs]

this should make that nova fly
http://www.racingjunk.com/post/90698...NE-FRESH-.html
he also makes a 5.25 bore version that will go to about 867 cubic inch and about 1650 on the motor

seriously here is a link to the hot rod gossip classifieds
lots of big block stuff

[Huck]

My friend is selling a NOVA, but I dont have the info with me at work, but what are you looking to spend? They have it in OKC, I have pics at home of it too.

[temp guest]

i just found a place in garland that has some wicked bodies for some nice prices.

71 nova primered with 350 (not running )$3k
69 firebird with 350(not hooked up) $3500

rusted out 68 cougar with some beautiful 14in wide wheels and tires in the rear, no motor $800. Im gonna try and take pics tomorrow and post em up here for advice.