fastlif

iTrader: (1)

I burnt a piston in my stock short block, (totally my fault)

I have been considering a big bore motor but think I will go forged 346" anyway.

What do you guys think? is it worth $10-13K for a big bore motor?

How many out there have big motors with no issues? seems like everyone has some coolant issue or other. Even Darton sleeves may not be perfected......

Mike Hoffpauir

I'd build a forged 346 and spray the **** out of it.

Sleeve issues scare me away from a big motor, and there is no way I'd put an iron block in my car for a N/A or small nitrous application.

Further, the horsepower gain of the big motors just doesnt offset reliability issues, especially considering the price. All this is just my opinion though.

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

Mike,

you and I think alike!!!! I havent been too impressed with the big motors. A little n2o goes along way.

I would love to hear from some big motor guys that haven't had any issues. Come on guys speak up.

Shawn

Linear Velocity

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by fastlif:
<strong>
I would love to hear from some big motor guys that haven't had any issues. Come on guys speak up.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would love to hear from anyone that drag races their car that hasn't had any issues. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

I spun a rod bearing with heads/cam (stock 69K bottom end) and was faced with the same decision. I went with a 388 big bore (4.125" bore) because it's a step up from what I had and I know that it has the potential for much more HP/TQ than a 346 does. Once higher flowing intakes and bigger headers become more available and cheaper, bigger cubes will begin to see much bigger increases in power. Am I worried about the reliability of my big resleeved motor? Not really. Andy's Auto Performance hasn't had a problem with any of their motors, I don't anticipate there being a problem with mine <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> I'm also using an LS6 block (not iron) and not going with the expensive Darton sleeves. Basically I want this motor to prove to people that big bores can make great power and be reliable as well. <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" />

<small>[ March 21, 2003, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Linear Velocity ]</small>

Terry Burger

iTrader: (4)

I haven't had any problems with my 396ci all bore. It has all the good parts like LS6 heads, compr lifters, billet rods, cometic gaskets, arp studs, etc. Asking $6150 plus a decent running core. I'm sure we can work a deal out. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Linear Velocity:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by fastlif:
<strong>
I would love to hear from some big motor guys that haven't had any issues. Come on guys speak up.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would love to hear from anyone that drag races their car that hasn't had any issues. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

I spun a rod bearing with heads/cam (stock 69K bottom end) and was faced with the same decision. I went with a 388 big bore (4.125" bore) because it's a step up from what I had and I know that it has the potential for much more HP/TQ than a 346 does. Once higher flowing intakes and bigger headers become more available and cheaper, bigger cubes will begin to see much bigger increases in power. Am I worried about the reliability of my big resleeved motor? Not really. Andy's Auto Performance hasn't had a problem with any of their motors, I don't anticipate there being a problem with mine <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> I'm also using an LS6 block (not iron) and not going with the expensive Darton sleeves. Basically I want this motor to prove to people that big bores can make great power and be reliable as well. <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I mean issues directly related to sleeves etc. such as coolant leaks etc. I know there are some but it seems like it is not the norm.

Just curious..what times have you run with 388 as compared with 346?

Terry email me with details on motor, internal parts list mileage etc. fastlif@aol.com

Thanks guys,
Shawn

Linear Velocity

iTrader: (1)

Terry has a point, if the motor is built right I don't think their should be a problem. I have all the goodies Terry does except I went with the Fel-Pro Head Gaskets instead of Cometic (thanks for the advice JPR). I should be getting my car back by the beginning of next week, I have to take it easy on the motor for 500 miles then it goes for dyno tuning, then to the track. I hate to bench race but I'm looking for 10's out of the car. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

<small>[ March 21, 2003, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: Linear Velocity ]</small>

zturbo

If i were to do it I would go with a big bore setup from MTI <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

It all comes down to this with my personal thoughts that if built correctly nothing should go wrong, but on that same note you are building a race motor...

If you plan on treating it like a race motor go the big bore setup and call it a day.
Just my.02 though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Steven

xxxhp

If I may ask, what caused a burnt piston in your motor? A lean condition under spray?

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by xxxhp:
<strong> If I may ask, what caused a burnt piston in your motor? A lean condition under spray? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, Me being in a hurry to heat bottle up. I put bottle in my truck to get warm with heater on high....got a lil over 1300# and I hit it anyway. Note to self: use all safe guards on n2o, especially bottle heater/transducer. Anyway it was time for something new anyway.

I am still scarred of a re-sleeved motor unless I had the $$ to go C5R block. Which to me is past the point of diminishing return.

At least for now I am staying 346". May start another motor for back up.

SM

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Linear Velocity:
<strong> Terry has a point, if the motor is built right I don't think their should be a problem. I have all the goodies Terry does except I went with the Fel-Pro Head Gaskets instead of Cometic (thanks for the advice JPR). I should be getting my car back by the beginning of next week, I have to take it easy on the motor for 500 miles then it goes for dyno tuning, then to the track. I hate to bench race but I'm looking for 10's out of the car. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know there are some great motors out there...I DO think there are more problems thatn we hear about too. I have run 11.2's on my stock short block, and "most" big bore motors with nearly the same set-up as me run 10.6's or so...to me its not worth the $$ for basically 1/2 sec....especially when you see several 346" cars running 10.8's.

1SlowT/A

I am still scarred of a re-sleeved motor unless I had the $$ to go C5R block. Which to me is past the point of diminishing return.

Why not go with the Darton setup.Its cheaper than the C5R block.

xp3nd4bl3

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Linear Velocity:
<strong>I hate to bench race but I'm looking for 10's out of the car. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't know Tony, with the 13's you ran in my car you should be hoping for 12's. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

FWIW when my motor blows I'll be going much bigger. I can't wait to see that new intake manifold PSJ has been mentioning.

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 1SlowT/A:
<strong> Why not go with the Darton setup.Its cheaper than the C5R block. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not totally sold on Darton sleeves either, who has them? who has not had any coolant issues? What "shop" uses them? ARE uses them but not the "same" as everyone elses Darton sleeve.

Maybe they are the answer but they are still very expensive.

SM

Linear Velocity

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by fastlif:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Linear Velocity:
<strong> Terry has a point, if the motor is built right I don't think their should be a problem. I have all the goodies Terry does except I went with the Fel-Pro Head Gaskets instead of Cometic (thanks for the advice JPR). I should be getting my car back by the beginning of next week, I have to take it easy on the motor for 500 miles then it goes for dyno tuning, then to the track. I hate to bench race but I'm looking for 10's out of the car. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know there are some great motors out there...I DO think there are more problems thatn we hear about too. I have run 11.2's on my stock short block, and "most" big bore motors with nearly the same set-up as me run 10.6's or so...to me its not worth the $$ for basically 1/2 sec....especially when you see several 346" cars running 10.8's. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Um....again your comparison isn't right. I'm hoping for 10's out the 388 because I'm not going to gut the car and I want it stay a six speed. GeorgeC ran 9's in his 382 with a light car and an auto tranny. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> Again, right at this point and time the bang for your buck aspect of bigger motors isn't as good as a heads/cam setup, but I think it will be in the very near future. Micah, when you go with a 4xx cube motor you better ditch the A/C <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

<small>[ March 25, 2003, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Linear Velocity ]</small>

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Linear Velocity:
<strong> </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Um....again your comparison isn't right. I'm hoping for 10's out the 388 because I'm not going to gut the car and I want it stay a six speed. GeorgeC ran 9's in his 382 with a light car and an auto tranny. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> Again, right at this point and time the bang for your buck aspect of bigger motors isn't as good as a heads/cam setup, but I think it will be in the very near future. Micah, when you go with a 4xx cube motor you better ditch the A/C <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> </strong>[/QUOTE]

OK, where is my comparison not right? I have a full weight car, If I wanted to go totally NA I am sure I could go high 10's with my stock shortblock. All it would take is a different convertor and maybe a few changes to make NA better. I can run 11.2's as is with a setup for n2o. Most of the big bore motors I have seen run high 10's NA. I am speaking generally of course, but look at the #'s(from big bore cars)...where is all that hp going?

Linear Velocity

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by fastlif:
<strong>
OK, where is my comparison not right?</strong>[QUOTE]

You said that "most" big bore cars are running 10.6's, but yet some 346's are running 10.8's. If you're refering Nineball, again his car was full weight and a manual tranny, name me how many 3600 M6 H/C cars there are running 10.8's <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />


[QUOTE]<strong>I have a full weight car, If I wanted to go totally NA I am sure I could go high 10's with my stock shortblock.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Then why don't you? There are zero full weight h/c auto's running 10's, that'd be quite an accomplishment <img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>All it would take is a different convertor and maybe a few changes to make NA better.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah, just change the spark plugs to TR55's, you'll run 10's for sure.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong> I can run 11.2's as is with a setup for n2o.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You can? Or you have? 2 very different things here.

I guess what my point was and always has been is that most people big bore motors aren't looking to be the fastest in their class. If I ran a 10.4x I could brag I was the fastest 388 out there, but how many people have 388 anyway, no one would really care. The h/c competition is much more fierce I would say and as such there are a lot more people who take lots of weight out of their cars and run really fast unstreetable setups. Look at the hardcore big motor guys, they are all running low low 10's or 9's.

Linear Velocity

iTrader: (1)

The 388 is being tuned right now, it'll be at the track soon enough. BTW, what was your point <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

fastlif

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Linear Velocity:
<strong> The 388 is being tuned right now, it'll be at the track soon enough. BTW, what was your point <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Point is, you "HOPE" for 10's with your 388" motor. I am sure my 346" will be damn close for lot less $$(11.2's for sure). My car is full weight with exception of wheels/tires, jack etc. Weighs 3620 with street wheels/tires. You seem to talk very condescending to me, I don't know why. All I am saying is that for a 100% streetable car I don't think big bore motors are worth it.

SM

SM

MARKSZ71

iTrader: (3)

i would go with a 348 with a 200 shot. <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />