600 rwhp build question
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Staging Lane
Joined: May 2009
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600 rwhp build question I have questions for my upcoming project. I have I 88 Monte carlo ss and I'm looking to build a engine with at least 600rwhp but I don't know if I want to go the ls route or go bbc. The car will be a daily driver for the most part but I may take it to the track maybe twice a month..I'm looking for all suggestions and opinions please
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Hayward CA
To make it to 600rwhp n/a .. ur gonna need a good bottom end.. high compression.. big cam.. nasty cylinder heads.... and deep pockets lol.. unless u want f/i i dont see it happening..also what c.i. displacement is a factor too.
I have questions for my upcoming project. I have I 88 Monte carlo ss and I'm looking to build a engine with at least 600rwhp but I don't know if I want to go the ls route or go bbc. The car will be a daily driver for the most part but I may take it to the track maybe twice a month..I'm looking for all suggestions and opinions please
It would be easier and probably cheaper with a BBC just because of the larger displacements. Street manners would be better too.
The LS could do it; but you're pretty much at the limit for what street driven LS can do.
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Ohio
I have questions for my upcoming project. I have I 88 Monte carlo ss and I'm looking to build a engine with at least 600rwhp but I don't know if I want to go the ls route or go bbc. The car will be a daily driver for the most part but I may take it to the track maybe twice a month..I'm looking for all suggestions and opinions please
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Verdad Gallardo Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Ohio
My last turbo 5.3 build cost me a total of $3200. That included the cost of the engine, complete with wiring, accessories, and ECU, and all turbo components. It doesn't have to be expensive.
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Staging Lane
Joined: May 2009
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The turbo ls route is the route that I really want to take but the main two regions wbu I'm scared of it is because I been seeing quite a few people blowing engines and second i have never used a tig welder and haven't used a mig welder since high school
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Joined: Mar 2014
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Most people blow turbo engines because they get greedy on the tune. More timing doesn't always mean more power on these engines, but they crank it up anyway and blow the ring lands. There are hundreds of us that have thousands of miles and several years on our turbo LS engines.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2009
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I may have to rethink my plans on the amount of power I want. I didn't realize that power can be so expensive. But the only reason why I wanted that much power..so I can compete with some of the cars at the track. They usually have a lot of camaro ss, zl1 camaro and corvettes, hellcats, and mustang gt's
Personally, I'd go with a turbo setup...The increase in torque is so much fun. But you either have to have deep pockets to pay someone for setup, or have the know how to do it yourself.
Honestly doubt you'll be able to have a reliable 600whp setup for 6 grand total budget unless you can do a LOT yourself and already have parts. What transmission do you plan to run? What rear end and gear? What space do you have to work with and around? EFI or carb? Stock PCM or aftermarket controllers?
Remember to account for suspension, fuel, chassis bracing, roll bar or cage, driveshaft, brakes, TIRES, safety gear with harness, etc.
D1 Procharged 6.0 will make that power. I would use stock crank, forged slugs and rods, gap the rings for boost, turbo cam, 317 heads with better valvetrain, ported throttle body, whatever intake, and 1-7/8 long tube headers to single 4" or dual 3" exhaust. This route doesn't involve much fabrication. Iron block will be cheaper and take more boost later, could probably get away with boring an iron 5.3 to 5.7 specs.
Nitrous will be the next option. Same engine, similar parts but setup for higher compression and nitrous, L92 heads, and a progressive controller to keep it together. Keep in mind a nitrous kit is cheap, a SAFE nitrous kit gets expensive.
Remember to account for suspension, fuel, chassis bracing, roll bar or cage, driveshaft, brakes, TIRES, safety gear with harness, etc.
D1 Procharged 6.0 will make that power. I would use stock crank, forged slugs and rods, gap the rings for boost, turbo cam, 317 heads with better valvetrain, ported throttle body, whatever intake, and 1-7/8 long tube headers to single 4" or dual 3" exhaust. This route doesn't involve much fabrication. Iron block will be cheaper and take more boost later, could probably get away with boring an iron 5.3 to 5.7 specs.
Nitrous will be the next option. Same engine, similar parts but setup for higher compression and nitrous, L92 heads, and a progressive controller to keep it together. Keep in mind a nitrous kit is cheap, a SAFE nitrous kit gets expensive.
11 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
I made 545 rwhp with my 408 but it was almost twice your 6k budget and that's just the engine. Are you budgeting for LS tranny too? Oh, by the way, I sold my big block and went LS. No regrets. Like you, mostly street driven, take it to the track a couple times a year.