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How do you feel about these new car having so much power?

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MrBill66Malibu

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I think I am feeling like the hotrodders of the 50's when the new Chevy, Mopar and Olds OHV engines came out leaving their flatheads in the dust.

I run a 385 and I know it has more potential in it, but there is just no arguing with the power, potential, drivabilty and fuel mileage of the new LS engine.

I know it's just my ego, but I don't want to be left in the dust by some kid in a new Camaro, Mustang or even a Chrysler 300.
I know there is always someone faster then you, but some of these cars are crazy fast.

Do I make the jump and stuff a LS motor in the Chevelle or stick to the old ways and pour more money at it?
I guess I have too much time on my hands if this is what I'm worried about!!! LOL
 
#3 ·
They sure do make more power these days! Remeber the 80/90's mustang GT's with 225 hp? Wow! But at the time, they were pretty far ahead of the Camaros with 170hp 350's. Now Ford introduces a new 5.0 for the 2010 mustangs that has 412hp. And people complain that's not enough because the Camaros have more! I'm pretty impressed, seeing as it's almost double the power, with more reliability and better milage. What's not to like?

If I had the money and skills, i'd replace my leaky bearing eating 1974 vintage 350 with an LS without thinking twice. :thumbsup:
 
#4 ·
For me it came down to money. I did my new engine about 5 years ago, and at that time the LS stuff was still really pricey. So I did a 383 instead and it makes 500+ hp. All good.

If I were to do it again, I'd really have to consider the LS stuff. It's really affordable now, the motor mounts and headers are readily available, and 500 ponies is easy with an LS. I'd save a bunch of weight off the nose and probably get even better mpg.

When I wear this engine out (which will be awhile...) I'll go to LS stuff. But, the old 383 can still whoop on any new car that doesn't have a supercharger (like a ZR1 or Shelby). This is extra fun considering my Chevelle is a 4-door wagon. Makes new car guys cringe, which is pretty awesome...especially when they've got their girl sitting next to them.

I know...its no big-block, but it runs a lot like one.
 
#5 ·
I think its great they are making them with so much power, this is the return of the muscle era, may not get another.

Built mine with the idea of keeping up with the LS cars which it should but honestly the motor is oudated and probably a little finicky. Who cares though. :hurray:

Cant beat technology...unless you got stupid big cubes and a wallet to match!
 
#8 ·
we live in the golden age of fast cars, that's for sure.

even 4 door family sedans are afaster than most muscle cars, and more driveable as well.
 
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#10 ·
TOO ME.... I just want ot keep my Chevelle like it came. With an old V 8. Nice to change plugs , wires, just little stuff to work on. Yeah the new motors are fantastic. Great power. But too me. its not the same. I too would still stick more $$$$ in too this motor and make it a little more powerfull. Just because! I grew up around all these cars. GTO;s Chevelle's. Mustangs & Road Runners. I love the look the sound and what theses cars mean too us. I;m not the kind of guy that has to have the correct bolt of the correct marks on the firewall. I just want to keep it in the 70's. That what i love about all these cars. Damn just talking about all this. I want to go out and fire up the Chevelle. But with the weather this morning at - 22 degrees. I don't even want to go outside. Brrrrrr:(:(:( How many more days till I leave for Arizona???????? :):)
 
#11 ·
I actually love the look of the newer style engines tucked under the hood. The LS intake with the covers over the valve covers etc. Such a clean modern look, plus you get oddles of HP while getting 100,000 miles between plug changes etc etc etc, plus gas mileage I won't ever come close to.
If I was to build an engine for my car right now it would be a 5.3L with a LS intake and come out somewhere around 400HP for not that much money. The real expense is in the new radiation, new gas tank, ne wiring harness and all the extra parts it takes to put it
in the car. But in the end I still think it would be worth it, but only if I needed to put a new engine in, I am not throwing away a perfectly good one to do it.
 
#12 ·
There seem to be a lot of the LSx conversion going on into pre-72 cars as of late. I saw quite a few when I was at Endless Summer Cruisin' in Ocean City, MD. Very clean installs and you can pick up the whole setup (engine, trans, computer) for about what it cost to build a stout big block. The nice thing about the LSx engines, they are proven to be very reliable, and potent in some of these newer cars that weigh almost as much as a Chevelle does.
Even an older example in the LT1...I have a 94 9C1 Caprice sitting here, and that car flat out hauls being a big old B body.
 
#14 ·
Ya, it is neat how they are getting so much power from smaller engines. The LS based engines are great and can take a beating too. My Silverado with a 5.3L has 214k miles on it, and it still runs like a champ.

These LS motors have all kinds of aftermarket parts too, and then they really wake up. This can also increase the gas mileage too, as long as you stay out of the go pedal.

This summer I bought a 2009 Cobalt SS sedan. This is a little is a little pocket rocket sleeper. It does not have the big wing on the back, looks like a standard sedan, but with the 18" wheels. The car has 260 hp and 260 torque 4 cylinder. GM has a stage 1 kit now for the car, and this takes it to 290 hp and ~320 torque. I have been thinking of this for the car. Also, I am getting 30 mpg with the car on the highway. I bought this as my daily driver, as I drive 30 miles to work and have a little one on the way.

It is hard to beat the feeling a my bbc in the 67. Its not stock and the force with it putting you in the seat is just amazing. I miss it and really need to get the car done this winter.

Cars are great, love to see how they have evolved from the beginning to the ones that we have today.

Bill
 
#15 ·
Yeah, the drivability, mileage, etc of the new cars is amazing but when stuff breaks it's a pain to fix it compared to our 60's/70's cars. I've had new cars that you need to spend an entire afternoon just to change the plugs which is insane. My 06 BMW X5 is almost paid off & I'm considering an 06 911 Turbo but dread the day the warranty expires and I have to pay someone else to fix my car. For the same amount of money I can get a nice 65-67 vette and fix everything myself. My X5 warranty is almost up and with all the electronic BS in that thing I know something is eventually gonna break and I'll have to pay big bucks to have it fixed. I have a 96 318 also and I've had to do that already. I purposely ordered my 01 S-10 P/U with no options just to get rid of the power windows/power locks/air conditioning etc. Wouldn't it be nice if Chevy made a camaro with no power locks/windows, no A/C, and a heater system like our chevelles? Look at the weight savings alone. Without all that stuff there is just less to go wrong.
 
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#17 ·
Bisquit037 said:
There was a very good post here by 69F41SS and it was deleted. I don't understand why anyone would think that was not appropriate for a chevelle forum. You have got to be kidding me anyway? What is happening to this world?
Click to expand...
because it involved street racing...with passengers
 
#18 ·
Ricks70ss said:
TOO ME.... I just want ot keep my Chevelle like it came. With an old V 8. Nice to change plugs , wires, just little stuff to work on. Yeah the new motors are fantastic. Great power. But too me. its not the same. I too would still stick more $$$$ in too this motor and make it a little more powerfull. Just because! I grew up around all these cars. GTO;s Chevelle's. Mustangs & Road Runners. I love the look the sound and what theses cars mean too us. I;m not the kind of guy that has to have the correct bolt of the correct marks on the firewall. I just want to keep it in the 70's. That what i love about all these cars. Damn just talking about all this. I want to go out and fire up the Chevelle. But with the weather this morning at - 22 degrees. I don't even want to go outside. Brrrrrr:(:(:( How many more days till I leave for Arizona???????? :):)
Click to expand...
I'm with you word for word, Except I'd like to keep it in the 60's :D
 
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