Cant deside whether to build a boosted small block or build a NA big block. My end result that i want is a 500hp cruiser. What motor would you go with?

Big block. just for the cool factor. jim

Dustin,

BBC pretty popular up and down Puget Sound.....

Whatcha got
Car specifics
What parts/diff etc

I like the Mouse Motor but something like my 70 Elky....Rat Power on the way.
BrettD85 built a 454 last year....I talked him outa SBC...he's not looking back...
First track outings this year on street tires...13.0s

Horsepower is meaningless for a cruiser. HP is a function of torque (and RPM) so you should be looking for torque. As should everyone else with a street driven car. Ever see someone with a street car that has a single plane intake? Laugh at them.

For the money, it looks like a small block stroker is the way to go, or an LS engine. For cool, go with a big block.

Cant deside whether to build a boosted small block or build a NA big block. My end result that i want is a 500hp cruiser. What motor would you go with?

A boosted big block.You would have tire frying torque at low rpm and easily attain your goals with a baby blower packaged under the hood.You could run a tighter converter and less rear gear for e-way cruising vs the SB with the same power adder.

I built a 500hp smallblock. Now I worry about durability. With a big block rods and cranks are safe to 700hp.

I vote for a large cube small block for real torque or better yet a modified LS2. A recent magazine article on a crate LS2 right out of the box with no accessories turned 461 hp and 440 torque. A head & cam change easily went over 500 hp and with a overdrive auto or 6-speed get 25+ on the highway.

That to me would be good. I have a '70 with a BBC. Based on some reading in the past 6 months, my car will have an LS2 in it.

My $.02.
E.

big block all the way. get a cam with a wide lsa and have instant torque wherever you want it. I love my big block and will never go back. rolling at 30 mph there's nothing like boiling those tires.

big block all the way. get a cam with a wide lsa and have instant torque wherever you want it. I love my big block and will never go back. rolling at 30 mph there's nothing like boiling those tires.

I agree. Big block baby. I switched from a small block (which are great), but go with the big block and never look back.

I just installed my last small block just to get my car rolling this summer. I'm in the process of building my big block and all my small block stuff is for sale. When I finish my 496 the 350 currently in my car will also go up for sale.

Big Block. Without a doubt.

Big block with over drive, mine can do barely over 20 mpg sometime 18 highway all the time.

I have both small block and big block. I perfer the Big Block for the fact of just having one and you do not have to turn the RPM's to get satisfaction. However, for less money, I can achieve just as much on higher RPM's with the small block 406.

BigBlockMSG
70 Chevelle

I have both small block and big block. I perfer the Big Block for the fact of just having one and you do not have to turn the RPM's to get satisfaction. However, for less money, I can achieve just as much on higher RPM's with the small block 406.

BigBlockMSG
70 Chevelle

Hmmmm, last time I checked, you need to buy cylinder heads to make a 406 'go.' So how is this going to be cheaper than a budget 454? It ain't gonna happen.....

My end result that i want is a 500hp cruiser. What motor would you go with?

one of the new LS crate motors :D F.I. & Overdrive Auto or Stick

you get the WOW factor when you open the hood & Great mileage along with Tire Smoking performance !!

I bought a small block last year with the same purpses in mind. Go figure this year I am look to buy a big block. Learn from my mistake do it right the first time and get a BBC.

If it's going to be a street driver, like everyone above says, you need torque, and torque only comes from cubic inches, and it works best with a long stroke engine. Yes, a 509 would be great, but I really think (based on YOUR comments) you would be happiest with a 496 (1/4in stroked 454). Built for the street (NOT for the strip), with the right combo, AND a relatively high geared rear (or an OD tranny with a relatively low 1st gear), you would have plenty of torque for the street, plus a final drive and lower rpm that will be MUCH MORE compatable for the Interstate.
I'm looking at this, as well as taking into consideration today's gas prices, so as to arrive at an acceptable compromise.
With a 3.07, or even a 2.73 12bolt rear and a 4sp (or God help us and a T400), out of the hole acceleration won't be earth shaking. BUUUUUUUUT after rolling 10-20mph, the higher geared rear will wind for a long time and allow the torque of the 496 to work very well on the street.
Whereas, with an OD tranny (auto or manual), a slightly lower rear gear could be used, and when shifted into OD, that would make up the difference for not having a higher geared rear.
Personally, with a big inch, long stroke engine, I would much prefer to have a NON-OD tranny and a relatively high geared rear. WHY???? Less friction and fewer components (gears) in the tranny.
Right now I have a very healthy SB400 in the 70 with a M20 and 3.07 12bolt posi. That combo is VERY satisfactory! But, with a 496BB, M20 and a 2.73 12bolt, I don't think there would be any problem with enough torque to get it rolling from a stop. In fact, it might even work with a 2.56. And I say that because my Cutlass has a 2.41 gear behind a healthy Olds 455 (a 455 Olds has a 4.25 stroke). Although, I admit the Cutlass has a Richmond 5sp with a 3.27 first gear. And a 496 Chevy BB would have an even larger bore than the 455 Olds. On numerous ocassions I've towed the 70 conv on a 16ft open steel trailer behind the Cutlass. The big inch long stroke BB is the way to go (for the street and Interstate). :thumbsup:

Hmmmm, last time I checked, you need to buy cylinder heads to make a 406 'go.' So how is this going to be cheaper than a budget 454? It ain't gonna happen.....

George is 100% on the money! I've stated this here numerous times. A SB400 CAN be built into a VERY strong motor. BUUUUUUUUT, you have to be VERY careful when building a SB400, because before you turn around twice, you can end up with MORE $$$$$$$ in it than what a very nice rebuild would cost for a healthy 454 using aftermarket, off the shelf, mail order vendors (Summit, Jegs, etc) parts will cost. Machine work on a SB400 or 454BB will be VERY close to the same (compared to the bottom dollar cost, it won't be that much difference). For example, boring a block, turning a crank, resizing rods, fitting piston pins, installing cam bearings, valve job, etc, etc, will be nearly identical prices. If you have a complete, rebuildable 454, with rebuildable oval port heads, the money spent to have the BB heads worked will be LESS than the price of out of the box aftermarket SB heads (DART, Edelbrock, etc).
There is NOTHING wrong with building a VERY HEALTHY SB400, personally, I love 'um! But just be advised as to how quickly you can spend more than you expect to get a SB400 in the power range desired. :thumbsup:

I'd keep it small. A big block that is. You can build a small 496 with a reasonable budget. You can find at stroker 4.25 crank to fit almost any budget. Hot Rodders Law: Bigger is Better.
Squido :yes:

I built this: http://www.compcams.com/Community/Articles/Details.asp?ID=1945664039

I wanted my car to handle, so a well-researched aluminum-headed small-block fit the bill. For fuel economy, I backed it with a T56 6-speed.

With 3.89:1 gears in the rear, it pulls pretty hard from a standing start, and still runs comfortably on the freeway in 6th gear.

I'll add a touch of squeeze when I go to the dragstrip.

Unless you're drag racing, and you have a really good suspension either planned or in place, developing a bigger-inch (more than 355ci) small-block or LS engine is the way to go.

If you plan to race and have a killer rear suspension, a big-block is a better option.

~Scotch~