Losing coolant

[MrCompton734]

Disturban. How much do you know about building motors? I'd like to get around an 85 Chevy 4x4 this summer and would like to get around 400hp out of a SMC 350. Just enough to really spin some 33s or 35s.

[Disturban]

Disturban. How much do you know about building motors? I'd like to get around an 85 Chevy 4x4 this summer and would like to get around 400hp out of a SMC 350. Just enough to really spin some 33s or 35s.

I know a little something...400hp is not going to have a lot of bottom end torque though and if you plan on doing anything other than 6500rpm's in mud pits you would probably be better off installing a LX series motor, 6 liter LX is a torque monster, the LQ9 motor has 345 hp  at 5200 rpm and 380 lb ft of torque at 4000 rpm right from the get go...a few easy mods would get you your 400hp and not sacrifice bottom end performance...for real the LX series is the way to go now days.

You could probably get a complete motor with computer and harness for $1500 at a local junk yard. You just cant beat that...try building a 345hp motor for $1500, they also make all kinds of adapters to bolt them to just about any kind of transmission made, complete kits to drop them in older Chevy's ect. If I had the money, time and know how I would drop an all aluminum 5.3 or a LS1 in the Bravada and call it a day but getting it to work with my AWD system would be a nightmare.

PS...If you decide to build a motor though remember this, Torque wins races, Horse power sells parts!

[MrCompton734]

Disturban, my fathers got a 350 thats running extremely well in his 70s Chevy C1500, he smashed it into a pole and bent the frame so I have a donor motor already. What do you think of using ford 300 as a base motor? Idc whether it's Chevy/Ford/Dodge just looking at whats going to last and get the job done with as little $$$ possible. I know the 300s have really low-end torque and I personally know of a guy that has put 500k on 3 of these motors leading me to believe it's one of the best stock motors ever made, also one of the reasons they don't make inline 6s anymore haha. Idk about getting power out of the 300 though.

[Disturban]

300 six will last forever but dont plan on spinning 35's

If money is tight buy a 88-92 chevy 3/4 ton with a 454tbi, throw a cam in it, computer chip and some headers and good exhaust, put your 35's on it and call it a day. $2000 total out the door, $3000-$4000 with a nice body.

[Disturban]

I have learned someone else's loss is your gain...you can usually buy something that is already done much cheaper than you can build it...for example

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/2203638851.html

[MrCompton734]

I have learned someone else's loss is your gain...you can usually buy something that is already done much cheaper than you can build it...for example

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/2203638851.html

Wow I really need to get some $$$ in the bank. Thats exactly what I want.

[marshall]

I have learned someone else's loss is your gain...you can usually buy something that is already done much cheaper than you can build it...for example

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/2203638851.html

thats dr. feelgoods truck, listed on here!

[Disturban]

I have learned someone else's loss is your gain...you can usually buy something that is already done much cheaper than you can build it...for example

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/2203638851.html

thats dr. feelgoods truck, listed on here!

Probably get it for $2500?

[MR NASTY]

Not knocking anyones stuff but if you build it yourself of have it built you know everything about that motor and how it was treated. And I have to ask. He stated 400hp will not have a lot of low end torque. Just what are you basing that on.

[Disturban]

Not knocking anyones stuff but if you build it yourself of have it built you know everything about that motor and how it was treated. And I have to ask. He stated 400hp will not have a lot of low end torque. Just what are you basing that on.

I am not saying it will be totally lazy on the bottom end but usually to get 400 or more hp out of a 350 SB you are using a pretty aggressive cam that lacks bottom end...compare it to a 400hp LSX series motor. 383 stroker or 400/406 would be a lot easier to get 400hp and still have great bottom end TQ.

My Trans Am 355sbc was dynoed at 425hp but the torque bellow 2000rpm was kinda lazy, actually less that a stock 350, hence why I used a 2500 stall converter.

There are pros and cons to building it yourself, yes you know whats in there but if you buy something that is almost complete and has all the good stuff, dana60 front, 14bolt rear, 205 t-case, ect you can pick it up cheaper than you could building it yourself. Then you could upgrade the motor or other parts from there.