94dragbird

iTrader: (6)

I'm planning on building the bottom end on my car this winter. It is stricktly a bracket car for the 1/8th mile. I have 110 and 112 octane available. I'm thinking 396 but need some cam ideas for it. I'm sure I will go custom grind but would like some ideas anyway. I also need some ideas of a place that does a good job porting LT1 heads in or near southern Iowa.

MEAN LT1

iTrader: (2)

Pretty open ended question you got going. How fast are you tryig to go? and whats your budget looking like?

94dragbird

iTrader: (6)

Its not necessarily speed I'm looking for but more consistency. I would still like to be fast enough to run a 7 flat in the 1/8th but I'd be happy to have to cage it. I'm looking at around a 5-6k budget. It will be done little at a time.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

With that budget I would put new rods and pistons on the stock crank, and top it with Advanced Induction heads.

A good topend is going to cost you $3K by the time you are done with everything, not leaving a lot for all the other stuff.

Seeing as I have a true driver Caprice with their outdated 190cc heads on a stock shortblock that has gone 7.5 in the 1/8 I think with a budget 355 and their latest offerings in a lighter strip dedicated car you will have no problem hitting your goal even without resorting to race gas.

94dragbird

iTrader: (6)

yea thats what my plan has been but this was just an idea. I'm doing the heads, cam and stall maybe trans if I have enough money. Then when I get money saved up I'm going to go with the bottom end build. I'm 50/50 on going either a N/A 396 stroker or a procharged 355. The boost obviously costs more but I love the sound of a good supercharger but on the other hand there isn't another LT1 at my track and it would be that much more impresive having a 396 lt1. This is all going to take place over a few years. I'm only 17 so I have a while to build this.....

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

Displacement is NOT the key to power. If you want any hope of sucess stop worrying about making it big.

94dragbird

iTrader: (6)

Yes, I know. The power is in the correct head and cam package and the supporting mods to make that package work. Some of the faster LT1s are running 355s with stock cranks and aftermarket rods and pistons. If I have the money by the end of the points season after my h/c package it will probably get a rebuild and become a budget 355. I'm a bracket racer so consistency and relieability are the most important things, being fast is just an added benefit. It has a problem with staying in operating heat range right now. I run at 175 and if it gets over 185 it looses close to a tenth. Any ideas that would help with that?

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

You could let it run through the staging lanes and deal with the slower but more consistent tmes of leaving the thermostat completely in charge of engine temp. Shutting the engine off and having it sometimes cooler is inconsistent.

Could try an electric pump, they move LESS water at mid to higher rpms but in doing so free up power to the wheels and you could run it with the engine off to try and always have the engine cooler.