$4000 budget
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 214
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From: Southern Indiana
$4000 budget So it is looking like I spun a bearing in my LS1. I'm looking to do a stroker and forged rotating assembly. If possible I would also like to get new heads. The car has a Texas Speed MS4 in it now with an 85mm intake and throttle body with long tubes and full exhaust. Is it possible, doing all of my own work (except machining) to do this on a $4000 budget? And what parts and brands should I be looking at?
kinda in the same boat. im looking at the texas speed 370 iron block for just under 4k. Im also looking at the speed inc. 370 for about the same price. Scoogin dicky has the 408 stroker assembly for 1800 bucks. keep us updated on what you find.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 214
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From: Southern Indiana
I guess I should have also said I'm not looking to boost or spray and I'm not afraid to put race gas in the car as it is not a daily at all plus i have another camaro I could drive if I want to drive a street friendly car.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 214
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From: Southern Indiana
For the roughly 100 miles I got to drive it, it bucked like hell. My tuner said he thought he could smooth it out a little more. Seems people with stalled autos don't have as big of a problem. I honesty didn't mind it too much though, just had to keep her over 1300 rpm. 373 gears would help a lot too
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 65
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From: Ft. Rucker AL
Oh I've put about 15000 on mine. Mine is a manual so it's a little different. The bucking gets old because my drive to and from work is mostly in a 30 mph zone. So I have to keep it in 3rd and at about. 2000 or put it I'm fourth and deal with the bucking.
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You are going to have alot of trouble to get a 408 and heads for under 4000. A 408 short block is going to cost you 3600 easy. That doesnt include all the small things that in time add up pretty fast. Gaskets, fluids, bolts and so on.
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hit up a junk yard for a lq4/9 bottom end and slap it in and use the money for a rear end and tranny... wish i would have done that when i spun a main bearing last year. Now i have a mean engine that burns up clutches and breaks things all the time 
Last edited by Transam1; Jan 2, 2012 at 05:51 PM.
better than having an engine that cant break anything lol
Jesus with 10k the sky is the limit....
If it were me and I had 10k I would build an ls2 strokes for the simple fact that the aluminum block is tremendously lighter than the iron ones, although I'm not sure as too the safe limit (cubic inch wise) of the ls2. Shoot you could get a erod ls3 for 6k and get a warranty with it! Leaves Ll the guesswork out of it as far as machining and matching parts. Then slap a cam in it and you have an honest 500+ hp motor u NEVER have to worry about. You would still have cash left over for the rest of your drivetrain. Just my 2 cents. Good luck man should be a very cool car!
If it were me and I had 10k I would build an ls2 strokes for the simple fact that the aluminum block is tremendously lighter than the iron ones, although I'm not sure as too the safe limit (cubic inch wise) of the ls2. Shoot you could get a erod ls3 for 6k and get a warranty with it! Leaves Ll the guesswork out of it as far as machining and matching parts. Then slap a cam in it and you have an honest 500+ hp motor u NEVER have to worry about. You would still have cash left over for the rest of your drivetrain. Just my 2 cents. Good luck man should be a very cool car!
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
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From: PA/MD
It may sound big, but the extra cubes eat up duration...I'm running 12.5:1 static compression in the 408 with a 255/263 .624/.624 115 lsa. When I had the a4 I was running a 4,000 stall and absolutely loved it.....with an Edelbrock proflo intake it idled decient at 900 rpms, and pulled hard as hell all yhe way up to my 8,000 rpm fuel cut.
Since you can afford it go ahead and get a good set of H beam rods, pistons and bearings.....spend a little more now so your engine will last.
I started out with an 03 6.0 iron block and hand ported my stock 241's, then had them milled to give me 57cc chambers
Since you can afford it go ahead and get a good set of H beam rods, pistons and bearings.....spend a little more now so your engine will last.
I started out with an 03 6.0 iron block and hand ported my stock 241's, then had them milled to give me 57cc chambers
cobrakilla, just have to find the right tuner, also people expect it to run good on a mostly stock car, not going to happen, honest when my motor goes its a 5.3 turbo build for me ,
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 5
From: PA/MD
For the best bang and performance, I'd drop money on a great suspension setup, then rear end and gears, then transmission ( plus clutch or stall), then the last thing I'd do is build the motor....also don't forget about your brakes....no use having all the HP in a car that doesnt handle, hook, or stop 
Love my MS4 have for over 30,000 miles
No issues here.
Cam makes awesome power and performs very well.
No issues here.
Cam makes awesome power and performs very well.
Id build my own with what I wanted to... Find a good block depending on the size you want and go from there.
EDIT: Just saw where the limit is 10k with that Id find me a nice ls2 or ls3 block and build it up. Everyone makes nice short blocks especially Texas Speed but I find it more fun to do it myself.
EDIT: Just saw where the limit is 10k with that Id find me a nice ls2 or ls3 block and build it up. Everyone makes nice short blocks especially Texas Speed but I find it more fun to do it myself.