Carnaut

First, does someone know the drag co-efficiencies for older Camaros (& Firebirds/TA's) ?

(someone please tell me - I need to know...)

Anyway, here's why I write: My beloved, expensive 4-year project car (71 Camaro) was feloniously stolen & illegally sold by the San Diego Police 19 years ago (Yes, an american Police Dept. actually committed Felony Grand Theft Auto and then covered it up {overt & harrowing police Crimes are not uncommon in San Diego, Ca.) and I'm confident they may finally settle with me - so I finally hope go out and buy something else and start a new project car. But this is what I'm trying to achieve: {apart from knowing drag co-eff's with various older/newer GM cars...}...

I need recommendations of some fairly inexpensive used older/newer car(s) with good potential; but in attempts to eventually closely match the Autobahn's Ferarris, Porsches, & Lambos, etc. here in Europe where I live now. I was quite successful at this very same contest in Southern California 19 years ago with my 71 'super' Camaro - I was liked, & disliked, by the super-rich 'oil-familys' youngsters who could not out-drive me nor catch me in my Camaro while they drove their super-expensive, impressive exotic Italian iron back then.

But now that 19 years has past I'm not sure if another 70's car has much overall potential against today's exotics. The last time I saw US muscle ripping the Autobahn [here] was when it was popular for a motor-head to have a Banks twin-turbo setup in a 1980's-1990 Trans Am or Firebird (because they supposedly had a favourable drag co-eff's., & Corvette-like handling potential especially with common, easy mods & VR/ZR tyre's). Now, the only American 'muscle'-car I see here is the Corvette - but they are somewhat common, expensive [here], and they only have two seats.

Okay GM brothers, & seasoned enthusiasts: What fairly inexpensive car(s) now can be a good start for me here if I intend to use a power-plant based on the common older iron chevy 400 sb (with mods of course)? Also, can someone please tell me if it is easily possible to use the cheaper-available older iron blocks with the (newer?) cars? And, what about the existing trannys & rear-ends in post-1990's GM cars if one is using 450-550 ft.lbs.tq? - or do I now need to shovel a bunch 'o money for a newer, much more expensive engine casting/block (& tranny?) to easily fit into post-'90's cars? Also, 19 years ago I was just getting ready to graduate from Carburetion to more practical fuel-injection exploration, but due to the trauma & unspeakably painful theft of my pride & joy (Camaro) long ago I never owned another muscle car since. Is EFI nowadays pretty easy & relatively inexpensive to run on my (envisioned) 400sb with low-profile mini-blower (or even without the blower)? Should I stick with a Carb if/when using any (cheaper) under-the-hood Blower?

Also, does anyone know of any similar GM enthusiasts like myself (or informal/formal GM {not-exclusively Corvette} Clubs/Organisations), but here in Europe that I could also meet & talk to?

Lastly for the moment, can an 'experienced' person please constructively critique my envisioned motor-build idea(?); In my next 'sports' car I'd like to easily duplicate/surpass the hp/tq. of a lightly modified 454, but using a 400sb. Yes, I know of the 400's siamese design, & it's 5.65 rod length/rod-angle, etc., however, I built many 400's in the past and I was much happier with them than their 383(350) or 377(350) counter-parts mainly for the increase in inches making up for everything else as long as I didn't rev over 6,000-6500. But(?), are there now (cheap(er) 400sb mods (5.70-6.00" rods, forged crank, etc.) that will make the 400 {or a mild-stroker 420(400)} very usable, reliable & streetable like a 350 or 454, but with the 400sb using (with, or without) a smaller B&M, Weiand, or other 4-71(144cu?) blower? Keep in mind I don't want to spend a ton 'o money just on my engine. In the past I had around 450lbs/tq. for well under $2,000.USD, and I could have simply added a mini-blower (after reducing my compression/r) for another $1,500.USD {used} back then. I think I want to try something similar now here - but I'm wide open for suggestions.

Oh: every gas-station [here] has 98 Octane, and I can also very easily buy newer-generation LL-100 AV 'blue' fuel for the same price (or cheaper). Here, high-compression or high-boost are practical. So; being that gas quality and speed limits are not a problem here - what would you do with a somewhat limited budget over a 2-year period? Thanks!

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (25)

The 85-92 Trans am is very aerodynamic, otherwise, everything else is just OK or worse.

Carnaut

Hmmm... what are the chances of finding one of those older ones in usable/easily rebuildable shape, and does that generation of car have lots of aftermarket options on modifications (e.g. engine, suspension, brakes, etc.)?

Thanks-

87silverbullet

iTrader: (11)

Autotrader.com for the 85-92 T/a's put a 400 sb with a 6" rod and a good crank and piston with a Holley stealthram intake system or a miniram from TPIS. Add a set of good heads such as AFR's TFS's or Brodix and a decent cam. Easy 500+hp and 500ft lb of torque

philip052374

iTrader: (2)

another option would be a 85-92 mazda rx7. you can put a sbc in there easily, and there is a lot of potential in those cars(i did a couple already)

http://www.norotors.com

Oldsmobility85

iTrader: (1)

LOL probably one of the top 5 most customizable cars of all time.

pancherj

I'd be looking for a P{orche 928 and use the transmission from it adapted to the SBC. Here is a website (www.renegadehybrids.com). I actually thought about doing this, but the cheap 928 I had lined up was purchased before I made up my mind.

Carnaut

That sounds interesting(!) but it makes me wonder how much money they put into that (specialised intake, brodix heads, etc.). Things like that sound tempting.

Also [that] generation of Camaro/FB/TA can use the older (cheaper) engine castings, etc., but the newer generation cannot? Btw, how much does it cost to achieve over 400 cu. in. (and run nice) with the Gen IV & later compared to the older Gen?

Carnaut

Thanks for all of your great posts; that 928 w/sb chevy also looks trick but looks expensive and difficult to work on.

I am looking for a future project that is mostly 'bolt-on' only because I live in Europe now where they might not be used to machining american v8's, nor to custom fabricating for other parts of the car. I might need to think a little more basic and frugal here because it something goes wrong that I'm not 100% familiar with [here] I fear there likely won't be the same resources to figure things out like there was when I was in the US.

But you guys please keep your interesting posts coming(!)