I'm going to speak with them again today. Their recommendation was based on dollar for dollar and on the problems they've had with LSX and LS7 in the past.

They both don't like those options unless I'm going for a drag car in which I'm not. A nice street car thats DD reliable and plenty of power

 

I believe it 100%

Their recommendation may also be based on when they asked why power goal. I said 550 to the wheels without even thinking.

 

That would be about right.
If you want to cap things off there it's fine.
You will still be able to build a good running motor with a 416.
If I was in your shoes and spending that kind of money I would definitely go with at least a 427.
It's just a better platform to work with.
You can fit whichever head you want on it.





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To get a 416 to make 550rwhp its not going to be friendly at all on the street. Itll have to have a HUGE cam to do that...
a 416 with a streetable cam will get you 510rwhp max

 

Roland, are you in the SF Bay Area and does your car have to pass the strict California emissions testing? That can really make hot rodding a challenge from what I've read.

If so, it would probably be wise to carefully research what's allowed in California before making any decisions or game plan. This thread may be of interest as the OP did a big cube build in Cali. He might be able to help with suggestions and advice - Cali Big Cube Build


Its very possible to build a 416 that will make over 500whp that's very streetable. Biggest challenge will be finding an outstanding tuner to do the driveabilty tuning.

FWIW - My very tame peanut cammed (237/245) 416 made 517whp, car us streetable enough to do 1,300 mile road trips with no issues. Heavy traffic is a little hassle pretty typical for a straight drive car.

With a little more attention to detail and expense ~535 whp to 545whp would have bern very possible. A fully ported 102 LSXR intake & ported 102 TB with mid-runners and a little bigger cam with Johnson 2110 lifters (or low lash solid roller set up) & speed density tune could have put around 550whp on the table without too much hassle.

Forced Induction is where its at these days. I'm an NA fan but FI is pretty cost effective. Turbos, Magnacharger, Procharger etc.

 

I agree, that's what I spoke with him about just now. But the total cost of everything increases a lot and I don't want that much of an extreme build.

At the ned of the day, I want a Nice daily driver that makes me smile and not bankrupt haha (is that possible?!)

 

That's still nice numbers for NA builds. a lot better than the 300 I have now haha

 

Yes, I've thought about that. My words today were "keep it as safe as possible to avoid bored cops"

Also, car will be registered in Oklahoma to my business out there, as it will be spending less than 40% of it's time on California highways.

Those numbers you posted are pretty nice. I don't need 600 RWHP and I figured close to 550 is more than enough to make me happy. Hell, just 500 is better than the 300 I have now

 

the shops u are talking to sound silly. bortous already mentioned the obvious, a 416 will have a 4 inch stroke. just like the ls7 or lsx motor, except THE BLOCKS WERE DESIGNED FOR A 4 INCH STROKE!!!!!! the block u are using to make a 4 inch will have shorter sleeves which will naturally introduce more piston rock and in some cases increase oil consumption......both obviously bad. reliability is obviously important yet a 416 is not the most reliable stroker. plenty of ls7 have had failures, just like plenty have not failed. the only one I really would be concerned about is the valve issues. correct that and I would run one, but first I would talk to scoggin dickey to see if that shortcoming was addressed in the new ls7 motor.

honestly u won't wanna hear this, but the 2 shops ur talking to obviously are friends and want to make sure they both keep making money. most likely anytime the builder builds a motor he refers that customer to the tuner, and whenever the tuner says u need a motor, guess where he refers them to? a 416 would be more profitable for an engine builder to build. plain and simple. that could be why they are wanting u to get a 416. for streetability tho that 4.125 bore will make a huge difference. u could run a baby cam and get pretty close to the 416 numbers. the baby cam 4.125 427 motor will help driveability, keep u away from cops, and just be a more reliable motor. bortous and I recently been through this. I built a sleeved 427. had that drop in ls7 been out, I may have went that route.

 

Yea i know they're friends. Their shops are right next door to each other and only a few doors down from my shop. They're the place to go to in my area for anything LS.

we discussed doing ls7 block and lsx block but I don't want to get too far in over my head price wise. After discussing those options it seemed too much money.

Unless you can recommend something for me. Like I said, harleys are my specialty, not cars.

I dropped a pretty good sized deposit today as I told him I want to get this done.

I have until morning time to change my order.

 

https://www.texas-speed.com/p-5867-c...dard-deck.aspx

Hell it's only $$ and you can't take it to your grave!

 

if I could I WOULD! haha

 

Just for the record my car's title says vehicle weight is 3600 lbs. Now I've got an LSX engine with BMR tubular k-member, BMR suspension front and rear, BMR bolt in SFC's, BMR adjustable torque Arm, BMR Trans mount for a T56, BMR drive shaft loop, a Strange S60 with a 3" steel driveshaft, KOOKS 3" headers, KOOKS 3" true dual off road exhaust with 3" stainless steel CME tip and with the Bogart D10's and my 240 lb *** in the car it weighs 3840 on the scale.

Now I do understand about the extra weight of 113 lbs over the nose due to the LSX iron block but you can more than make up for that by throwing on a turbo or perhaps turbo's......

Oh and I forgot to mention that this is my street car and traction control and the A/C has been retained!

 

The extra weight with extra power isn't bad.

But I want to keep an NA motor for sure, until years down the line

 

Won't matter if its a 416, 427 or 454 the weight will be the same with the LSX block.

LSX 454 got my vote!

 

Mine too! But after discussing the cost of the build being closer to 20k I quickly learned to hate it HAHA

 

who said 20,000?

 

The price difference in the block, heads, having to upgrade more parts, transmission rear end, etc.

 

unless I'm wrong, please school me! I mean that. Im new to car builds so I'm sure I'm getting on everyones nerves asking all these questions

 

dude u really are losing me. u say the boys can build a 416 to make 550 rwhp.....ok....u like that idea.....

then u mention 20,000.... and something about a rear end and building the rest of the car to put the power down and not break.......u should do this regardless, explain y this is an issue with an ls7 block build but not an issue with the 416? I'm about ready to check out of this one my head hurts