View Poll Results: Which would be a better bang for the buck both built out of a 6.0 iron block?
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll
info on which to build 370 or 408
I don't know if it would be worth spend another $3500 for a head swap and 408 to make maybe another 35hp. either way if you swap heads later both the 370 or the 408 will react well to a better head. Either way paint the block silver and swear its a stock ls1
come on some one post up some hp differences some one has had to of dynoed a 370 and a 408 with the same heads and cam.
Some one call Texas speed in here maybe they have some input betwen the two.
Some one call Texas speed in here maybe they have some input betwen the two.
If you are toying with the idea of dropping some good heads on a 408ci, let Allan Futral build you one.... you will be around 540-560rwhp N/A depending on the heads.... the little 370ci will be **** out of luck no matter what heads you stick on it.
If we were looking for custom port work on heads we would probably just hit up Greg Good since he is local and has done some sick stuff with ls heads.
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Verdad Gallardo What is the benefits of the 408 over the 370?
Take into consideration the heads and parts I have... don't use the random "Bigger is Better" or "If you bought..."
Last year I was a crew member of the worlds fastest SBC Nitrous TT5 car. A 421ci SBC cavalier was putting 600 and 700 inch motored cars on the trailer and this was with a SBC...
So will someone please tell my why a 408 will be better then the 370 with MY CURRENT parts. Yes "IF" I bought new heads, cam, intake, etc.... would be more beneficial to go with the 408. I do not have my mind made up on which motor I want but I want to choose to correct motor that will perform the best with what I have.
This is a car that I drive to work occasionally, I have no intentions of racing it at the track. I just want a solid bottom 11/high 10 second street car, I love the way LS series motors sound and the power they make over the old school SBC.
Take into consideration the heads and parts I have... don't use the random "Bigger is Better" or "If you bought..."
Last year I was a crew member of the worlds fastest SBC Nitrous TT5 car. A 421ci SBC cavalier was putting 600 and 700 inch motored cars on the trailer and this was with a SBC...
So will someone please tell my why a 408 will be better then the 370 with MY CURRENT parts. Yes "IF" I bought new heads, cam, intake, etc.... would be more beneficial to go with the 408. I do not have my mind made up on which motor I want but I want to choose to correct motor that will perform the best with what I have.
This is a car that I drive to work occasionally, I have no intentions of racing it at the track. I just want a solid bottom 11/high 10 second street car, I love the way LS series motors sound and the power they make over the old school SBC.
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
I put the 370 only because of budget as the 408 would be faster but if it's strictly a money decision the differrence is more in the eye of the beholder as to if it's worth it.
Some would still always go with the 408 and it will be faster but the 370 wouldn't be way slower. The better the heads the more the 408 will beat the 370 by of course. A great 370 can beat a bad 408 of course but not a great 408.
We have done a couple of iron 6.0 engines where they are simply made into 408s and they pick up more power and more peak power as well as more area under the curve with the same heads and cams but the difference is more the bigger the heads and cams are.
Some would still always go with the 408 and it will be faster but the 370 wouldn't be way slower. The better the heads the more the 408 will beat the 370 by of course. A great 370 can beat a bad 408 of course but not a great 408.
We have done a couple of iron 6.0 engines where they are simply made into 408s and they pick up more power and more peak power as well as more area under the curve with the same heads and cams but the difference is more the bigger the heads and cams are.
I put the 370 only because of budget as the 408 would be faster but if it's strictly a money decision the differrence is more in the eye of the beholder as to if it's worth it.
Some would still always go with the 408 and it will be faster but the 370 wouldn't be way slower. The better the heads the more the 408 will beat the 370 by of course. A great 370 can beat a bad 408 of course but not a great 408.
We have done a couple of iron 6.0 engines where they are simply made into 408s and they pick up more power and more peak power as well as more area under the curve with the same heads and cams but the difference is more the bigger the heads and cams are.
Some would still always go with the 408 and it will be faster but the 370 wouldn't be way slower. The better the heads the more the 408 will beat the 370 by of course. A great 370 can beat a bad 408 of course but not a great 408.
We have done a couple of iron 6.0 engines where they are simply made into 408s and they pick up more power and more peak power as well as more area under the curve with the same heads and cams but the difference is more the bigger the heads and cams are.
Tell me if I am wrong here. I know the 408 will make more horse power but it won't be much. I am guessing with the ls1 heads he would be looking at like 10-15 hp difference. Now with a good set of heads I am sure it would be in the neighborhood of 30-40 hp difference. I know the 370 is not a magical short block but I know they do work well with nitrous and make a good street/strip package wth what he plans to use.
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
You are right that no combination is magic in any way. The power differences are not huge since these engines aren't a huge difference anyway. The 408 will average and peak more horsepower of course but by how much depends on the parts. I've done some 9 second NA 370s that were wilder than normal but they also would have been even faster had they been bigger of course.
The 370 is not a huge step down from a 408 but it is certainly not a step up in any way either and will not go faster like some people think is all I am saying. Been there done that about a million times.
The 370 is not a huge step down from a 408 but it is certainly not a step up in any way either and will not go faster like some people think is all I am saying. Been there done that about a million times.
So what are we looking at horse power difference between the 408 and the 370 given both will use the same head and cam? The heads will be a stage 2 ported patriot ls1 head. Not sure on the cam yet probably something like a torquer v.3 232/234 598/634 on a 111.
Tell me if I am wrong here. I know the 408 will make more horse power but it won't be much. I am guessing with the ls1 heads he would be looking at like 10-15 hp difference. Now with a good set of heads I am sure it would be in the neighborhood of 30-40 hp difference. I know the 370 is not a magical short block but I know they do work well with nitrous and make a good street/strip package wth what he plans to use.
Tell me if I am wrong here. I know the 408 will make more horse power but it won't be much. I am guessing with the ls1 heads he would be looking at like 10-15 hp difference. Now with a good set of heads I am sure it would be in the neighborhood of 30-40 hp difference. I know the 370 is not a magical short block but I know they do work well with nitrous and make a good street/strip package wth what he plans to use.
The reality is there is only about a $550 difference between a 408 and 370
No one mentions weight either, both engines weigh the same so powert to weight ratio then should be looked at as well maybe.
All of the customers that have come to me for a 370 have gone with the 408 when they see the price difference. Then they put good heads on later as budget permits. So it all depends on your long term plan and budget constraints
No one mentions weight either, both engines weigh the same so powert to weight ratio then should be looked at as well maybe.
All of the customers that have come to me for a 370 have gone with the 408 when they see the price difference. Then they put good heads on later as budget permits. So it all depends on your long term plan and budget constraints
Last edited by 99blancoSS; Jan 2, 2009 at 03:03 PM.
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 814
Likes: 0
From: Champaign IL
No Replacement for Displacement....EXCEPT Forced Induction.
we know the only benifit to the 370 is the price. i do like the less stroke on the 370 a little better for the nitrous even though it wont matter that much. it just doesn't seem to make
since to spend the extra money for the 408 for a minamal gain in horse power we are definetly looking for best bang for the buck other wise we wouldn' be using stock ported ls1 heads we would be using afr or tfs or l92s
since to spend the extra money for the 408 for a minamal gain in horse power we are definetly looking for best bang for the buck other wise we wouldn' be using stock ported ls1 heads we would be using afr or tfs or l92s
You are right that no combination is magic in any way. The power differences are not huge since these engines aren't a huge difference anyway. The 408 will average and peak more horsepower of course but by how much depends on the parts. I've done some 9 second NA 370s that were wilder than normal but they also would have been even faster had they been bigger of course.
The 370 is not a huge step down from a 408 but it is certainly not a step up in any way either and will not go faster like some people think is all I am saying. Been there done that about a million times.
The 370 is not a huge step down from a 408 but it is certainly not a step up in any way either and will not go faster like some people think is all I am saying. Been there done that about a million times.