Ways to Increase Horsepower on a budget

[Andy]

I have been looking at a GM Crate engine as a project for the winter. I have a 1979 SB thats been modified a bit. I am looking to increase the Horsepower in this car. Looking for ways to do so, without costing me an arm and a leg as they say....Would appreciate any ideas...

Thanks..

Andy

 

[KANE]

I have been looking at a GM Crate engine as a project for the winter. I have a 1979 SB thats been modified a bit. I am looking to increase the Horsepower in this car. Looking for ways to do so, without costing me an arm and a leg as they say....Would appreciate any ideas...

Get your Vette on a diet and lose weight. While you are removing weight, start saving up some funds. Then, buy a Vortec motor.

 

[BarryK]

Andy

what kind of budget are you trying to work within?
I'm not sure, but I don't know if high performance crate motors come with all the emission equipment you will need on your '79 to pass DMV inspection.
with that said, here is one SB motor i'd consider if you want a serious increase in performance - maybe the emission stuff can be taken off the old motor and put on the new one.
http://www.gmpartsdepot.com/store/product1.aspx?SID=2&Product_ID=1223&Category_ID=63

you put this in the car and you will scare your son half to death when you hit the gas. you would both love it!

 

[Andy]

Thanks for the link..Looks good...I wish I could see the price for the LS7 model producing 500HP coming out soon...Add that to my wish list..

Andy

 

[BarryK]

Thanks for the link..Looks good...I wish I could see the price for the LS7 model producing 500HP coming out soon...Add that to my wish list..

Andy

Andy, a few guys in the C1/C2 forum were discussing that not too long ago for their project cars. Their guess is that the LS7 when it is available will probably be in the range of $15,000 or more. A beautiful motor but i'm sure it will be on the very pricey side - not exactly the motor to consider if you are looking for performance on a budget!
I think that SB 383 stroker is probably one of the best "bangs for the bucks". A lot of horsepower and a ton of torque. you could drop that in the car plus do a lot of upgrades on the suspension and the rest of the driveline to make sure the car can handle all that extra power without tearing itself apart and still be at less $$$'s than buying the LS7. It sure is a dream motor though.
One thing I would have you consider if you put in a much higher powered crate motor is to make sure your rear yokes, half shafts, and driveshaft can handle the extra power and torque. You may need to upgrade at least some of those pieces. I may be wrong, but I believe I read an article somewhere recently that mentioned if you upgrade the motor, you should really look at the rest of the drivetrain and rework it as needed taking the weakest parts in order and upgrading those. I think the order I read from weakest to strongest was Yokes, driveshaft, than haftshafts.
If any of those pieces let go under load they don't usually go without a fight and tend to take out a good sized portion of the floorpan with it. I don't think you would appreciate the excitment of a halfshaft flying thru the floorpan into the car with you.............
In the old days, the tires were so poor that they were pretty much the pressure relief valve - they would spin much easier and that allowed the extra torque to go somewhere. With todays much wider and sticker tires other parts tend to break from the high loads on them because the tires just stick too much.

 

[jr7221]

horsepower and budget can't be used in the same sentence....

 

[srs244]

horsepower and budget can't be used in the same sentence....

here, here!! never lose sight, however of the fact that there is horsepower and then there is HORSEPOWER!!

might be a bit less expensive (since you have to buy everything to hang on that 383 stroker engine anyway), to just do a serious re-work of the engine you already have. you should be able to get close to the 400 h.p area out of it without giving up your first born. at least you already have all the "long block" parts.

 

[vmrod]

Several little things may add up for you. Consider a high performance coil and ignition module. These 2 items will likely run about $100 together. You'll get a little more spark to your plugs. Of course, you may then decide to get better wires and plugs. For $10, you could get a set of springs for your distributor which allows your timing to advance faster in the 'curve'. (uses weaker springs than stock) All of these items could be reused on a newer engine too!

I'm not really sure of this, but can a flex fan give you a little H.P. (replacing the heavier stock clutch fan) If so, this mod may only cost $50 or less. Even if it doesn't do much, it'll make your engine look nicer. (unless you are going for the original look)

 

[Koop]

I have been looking at a GM Crate engine as a project for the winter. I have a 1979 SB thats been modified a bit. I am looking to increase the Horsepower in this car. Looking for ways to do so, without costing me an arm and a leg as they say....Would appreciate any ideas...

Thanks..

Andy

I had a ZZ383 425/460 stuck in my '69, after it was all said and done it was about $10,000. Motor + headers, larger exhaust, mufflers, torque converter, deep groove pullys, intake manifold, cool valve covers, rebuild the carb, boil the radiator (whether it needs it or not, you don't wanna cook your new baby), hoses, belts etc...The brakes can barely handle the new found power, if I put in any more HP bigger brakes would be a must. Going to a Big Block would probably be quite a bit more money since the 383 just dropped right in. I think the only mod to get it in was to cut some of the power steering dip stick off so I can check the level, there is a bracket making it harder to reach now.

 

[Buffaloman57]

500.00 wet NOS system. 150hp

 

[DRTH VTR]

Thanks for the link..Looks good...I wish I could see the price for the LS7 model producing 500HP coming out soon...Add that to my wish list..

Andy

The LS6 out of the current Z06 is $7000. I would bet the LS7 (or whatever they call it) will be $10000 or more.

 

[vette-dude]

500.00 wet NOS system. 150hp

Rebuild of motor after 3 passes cause it wasn't installed correctly! $4,000!!

Randy

 

[Buffaloman57]

Yes, That can happen. Must put a fuel pressure saftey switch in so if the pressure drops you don't run lean. Lean is very bad on the motor.

 

[Koop]

The LS6 out of the current Z06 is $7000. I would bet the LS7 (or whatever they call it) will be $10000 or more.

I have a Cadillac with an LS6 and I love it! I asked my mechanic to put an LS6 in my Vette, but he recommended the ZZ383 over the LS6. $4,900 vs. $7,000 the ZZ383 puts out more HP and torque plus I didn't have to pay for other modifications that would be required to run the LS6 in the old Vette. The 383 pretty much drops in and all of my vacuum operated systems (and AC, PS) work normally without modification.

I was going to add NOS to the car after the breaking it in, but I found I would need to upgrade the brakes so the wheels and tires would need to be replaced to accomodate larger rotors...That's an upgrade for another day when the budget allows it.

LS7 :J I wish!

 

[Nuthin'Fancy]

Quick and cheap easy way to add 50+.........Drop the cat and go true duals, rebuild or buy new carb, new high energy distributor, performer intake, and a thorough tune up (plugs and wires).

Guaranteed best bang for the buck!!

Then look at headers, heads, and cam............

I pleasantly pleased with just the first mod myself.......

 

[jonsflavette]

I have been looking at a GM Crate engine as a project for the winter. I have a 1979 SB thats been modified a bit. I am looking to increase the Horsepower in this car. Looking for ways to do so, without costing me an arm and a leg as they say....Would appreciate any ideas...

Thanks..

Andy

You can build/get a 383 pretty reasonable. I have a 383 @.40 over = 385+, I had mine dyno-ed @ 458 hp - 476tq. I have a little over 4k into it. very streetable, and a ton of power. that price is with aluminum AFR (air flow reserch) heads. it runs cool, and all vacuum etc. work fine. I am lucky cause Floida has no emissions. So hooker headers, NO cat, smog pump, emissions, etc. I was looking at a 434 c.i stroker at about 600 h.p, but it would run about 10k complete, I think I have enough power now. If I got another vette (money permiting) I would drop a 427 or 434 or maybe 454 SMALL BLOCK, alum block/heads.

 

[L48]

So it comes down to "what crate motor to buy"?! If you want to go fast on a budget forget about crate motors.

My stock bottom end 350 with 1.94 valves motivates my 79 TransAm to a 12.60 quarter mile in the cold air. I ported the heads myself, had a 3 angle grind put on the valves, put in a 480" lift 228 degrees @ .050" cam, headers, single plane intake, 750 Holley mechanical secondaries. All the parts and machine work for the rebuild cost me less than $700 IIRC - add new cam and headers (lets say $350), get beefy valve springs and roller rockers for $250, get intake and carb at a swap meet for $150 or so and the whole thing cost less than $1500 bucks. (Maybe add $50 for a little better oil pump and $150 to find a rebuildable short block if you need one.)

The block I use is 3970010 and heads are Chevy's 882 casting.

Oh and mine has 8.5:1 compression. If you don't mind buying high octane fuel, get smaller chamber heads and bump the compression, you will get more power.

You might go with a dual pattern cam to help the exhaust a little.

There is a lot more potential if you want to spend more - starting with aluminum heads, balancing, lighter reciprocating parts, etc.

Am I the only one who builds their own engine?

If you are sold on the crate engine route check the catalog for Summit racing equipment. They have crate engines for almost all budgets.

 

[jonsflavette]

"Am I the only one who builds their own engine?" for me yes and no. I bought my 383 as a short block, Did the heads, cam, 1.6 rockers, timing gear, (it is 10:1 compression, still pump gas at 93 octane) intake, carb, ignition etc.

 

[Glensgages]

I have been looking at a GM Crate engine as a project for the winter. I have a 1979 SB thats been modified a bit. I am looking to increase the Horsepower in this car. Looking for ways to do so, without costing me an arm and a leg as they say....Would appreciate any ideas...

Since it has already been modified, why-not build (or have it built for you) a motor, using the block/crank/rods that you currently have?
:confused

Getting it to run 13s in the quarter-mile shouldn't be THAT difficult, and while a 12-second C3 in this day-and-age is rare, it IS possible, using what you already have as a platform.....

 

[BarryK]

Andy
not exactly on a budget, but GM just announced the price of the new LS7 crate motor - the same motor that's in the new C6 Z06. $12,995.
now, THAT would give you some serious get-up-and-go power! Even Jack wouldn't want to try to go up against you in his Callaway.