Cheapest/Practical Way To 500 HP

No I don't have the answer... but I'm looking for opinions/suggestions on how to get there. I know I will get a variety of responses but I would prefer the use of a small block chevy, with relatively low compression (under 10.5-1), and that can run on pump gas (preferably 87 or 89). Can a combo such as this make 500+HP, be extremely streetable, and be done with a budget of $2500-$3000 without the use of any power adders?

 

Stroke it to a 383,flat top hp pistons, vortec heads or eq equivalent, comp 280 cam, 750 to 850 carb, hei with recurve, 1 7/8 headers, good intake like e-brock air gap or victor jr...........Bam

 

or get 100 lawnmowers.

seriously- cubes is the way to go if you're on a budget. But- I'll ask... why 500? why not 350? 400?

 

Gonna have to go big or go home. Small blocks = big squeeze and aftermarket heads. Best bet would be a big block. 460 Ford will do it with some finely ported iron heads. If you had a block that could be punched .030, and a crank that just needs to be cleaned up but not cut, you could put most of your money in the heads with cj valves and a home port job with instructions from Scotty J. the mad porter. I'd try and save some money by running a flat tappet cam, perhaps an Isky 280H mega cam or bigger if you want hydraulic lifters... You find a used intake such as a weiand stealth or ebrock victor, and used carb, and you may be able to pull it off. Reason I mention the 460, is that 454 stuff in my area goes for a premium. I've got 4 460s, the most I paid for one is 175.00, one I traded some work for, and two I got for free. Two run, two don't, early closed chamber heads are easy to find, but in a few years will get more difficult.

 

Yep....................... I have a Fresh 383 Short Block for sale that will get you to 450 HP no problem. I sell it for $1500. You can get stock 72cc heads and will bring your compression down to 9.5-1. Saw a fresh pair of loaded heads on ebay for $500.

I am just a few hours from you. I can deliver the short block to Jalopy Showdown if you have a way to unload it off my truck (two guys can lift a loaded short block).

 

This fits your criteria but uses a "power adder"

Seriously, pick your favorite reasonably modern engine in the 300+ cube range. Add a Master Power T70 turbo with a .68 AR and a modify a Holley 750 for blow through.


This is a fantastic source for info on how to set up your carb.
http://www.theturboforums.com/smf/index.php?board=13.0

 

Agreed!

 

500 is just a number I have in my head, but I'd settle for 375+. I'm trying to stay away from big blocks for a couple of reasons... limited space without cutting, better availability for parts, and I just like SBC's plus you can dress them to be "traditional" a little easier than some of the others.

yeah, big cubes = big power but I'd like to do this using a SBC.

This is for a distant project... Thanks, but more or less brainstorming and getting ideas right now.

 

SBC is usually cheap, but the 500 HP level requires bucks...
http://www.hotrod.com/projectbuild/hrdp_0609_500hp_small_block_chevy_build/index.html

A BB anything would be easier, shop around for a good used deal...

BTW, it's 2011 and you have internet. If you can't find at least 50 ways to build a SBC with parts used and cost breakdowns, there is no way you will be able to bolt it together...
Sorry, but I have read WAY too many "How To Build a Small Block Chevy" articles and there are way too many books on it too. For anyone to ask, they haven't been paying attention.
Just searching for "How To Build a Small Block Chevy" gets About 65,800 results.
"how to build a small block chevy engine" gets 3,030,000 results.
"500 HP small block chevy engine" gets 1,060,000 results.

 

Probably nitrous.

 

Yep, a shot of NOS to take you up to 500hp from the 375hp you said you'd settle for. SBC stroker with some good heads.

 

caddy- they come 500hp

 

Stock 1970 spec. Caddy 500 inch is 400 horse, 550 ft/lbs. Thats the best one. mild mods should get you up to 500hp from there...and used caddy motors are dirt cheap

 

I would think you could do 500hp pretty easy with a 150 shot of nitrous on a reasonably mild 454 BBC. Lots of Suburbans out there with well seasoned 454 blocks that respond well to basic hop ups. Motor should last forever with simple upgrades on a few components and be a good power maker even if you don't use the nitrous.

Frank

 

500 Caddy and a bottle.

 

second for cadillac engines, you cn get to 400 horse really easy at ab 2300rpm, plus your torque would be through the roof. the best thing ab these motors are with the edlebrock manifold they weigh ab 45 lbs more than a small block chevy.....

parts are readily available and they dress up really nice. id suggest starting with a 500, or 71 to 73 472. really cheap running and driving and come backed with th400

 

454, oval port heads with a little clean up , 282 Comp cam, Edelbrock performer rpm manifold. 830DP Holley. Made 482hp and 550lbft on the dyno.

Simple.

And cheap.

P.

 

Junkyard turbo caddy 500.

 

i want a new drug. one that makes you feel real good. one that is not illeagle. does not cost too much. i want a new drug.

 

Small block 400. with 350 rods. Spend money on heads.( dart iron eagles are nice and cheap) My 400 made over 500hp. but had 11 to 1 cr. should be able to make 450 easy around 9.5 to 1 . use large chamber heads(72cc or 76cc I forget?). Or 64cc with flat top pistons(for 11 to 1) and a cam with a lot of duration to bleed off compression at lower rpm's.Look at circle track cams. they are good for street cars because they are made to pull off of corners so they have a good mid range and have a tight LSA. for that kind of power in a streetable package you will have to go big cubic inch. it's cheap and easy now with a small block.

 

trav, I have to ask you this, out of respect a HAMB member does not get hurt. Ask yourself, and be deadly honest, will your ride handle 500 horses? 500 H.P., or about say 450 pounds feet of torque and some sticky tires will twist a poorly build and designed square tube mild steel chassis like yesterdays leftover spaggetti. Everything in your driveline, brakes, and suspension up to the task? Be honest, its your life now. Just dont want to see anyone hurt brother. 350 REAL H.P. and 300 pounds feet of torque in the real world, not I quess about 350 H.P after 4 six packs between friends on a Friday night, is quite a bit for the average traditional hot rod. Just want folks keepin the shiny side up........

 

There is no such thing as a CHEAP, RELIABLE, STREETABLE SBC with 500 HP and No Power adder - NOT going to happen, no way no how, sorry. Take away one of the above criteria, and you'll get there, but not with those three requests.

 

Don, its like cheap and blower, they just dont go together in the same sentence.

 

400hp 350 and a 150 hit. Nothing else will even come close budget wise. Or did you mean on the motor?

 

See his original post ^^

 

I can get you four and a quarter, but not five big ones.

 

Two mild small blocks = 500 bhp

 

dance with the devil and put an LM7 iron block in it with a comp cam and an edelbrock carb manifold. Literally a cam swap and new valve springs and you can make 500.

Now will the hamb police come to my house and take me away tonight? or will someone butcher me on this post.

 

dirt track guys build 450- 550 hp small blocks every day, and rev them to 7-8k. They use claimer short blocks and iron heads. Stock rods w/ arp bolts, shot peened, a little extra bearing clearance, stock oil pump, solid flat tappett cam 240 to 250 dur at fifty thou. .550 to .650 lift. roller rockers, beehive valvesprings, 2.02 and 1.6 valves, small combustion chamber and flat top hp pistons. Easy to build and cheap. Used sportsman heads can be found for $3-400, you can buy a claimer shortblock 383 for $9 to 1100, or build it yourself. Dont listen to the naysayers.

 

DOH! My bad.