So what should i put in the 83? My buddy has two engines. A 400 SBC for 250 or a 454 BBC for 300.

Should i build a high revving small block or a maciv torque Big block?

This will be a small at home street/strip car. That i will build slowly but right.

Does anyone else have a BB in a 3rd gen?

 

I know a guy with a big block in his car and let me tell you that you should prepare to mod the engine bay from what i hear it isnt that hard but if youre lazy like me just go with the sbc. I went with a 355 but i wish i had of put in a 400. But i heard that the big block is lots and lots of fun. Just my 2 cents.

Chris

 

tell your buddy i will buy his 454

 

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All out track only, then go BBC. Once you do all the mods to make it fit, you can go as wild as you want in the future.
Street only or mostly, SBC. Fits right in & you're set.

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Will be just a toy. Sorry azboostin i already got dibs lol. How much fabricating of the chassis will i have to do to get it and a m6 to fit?

 

I thought all you had to do was make the headers work in there but i wanna know what else too? I am going big block eventually, i need something to really rape a supra claiming 800 RWHP

 

From what I can tell there are no mods to my engine bay to make my BBC fit.

If its for fun go BBC all the way and stay far far away from a M6, go TH-400 and don't worry about it. In MOST cases any kind of real power and manual trannys don't mx when it comes to street cars.

I have hooker super comps in my car from what I can tell with lots of bends in them.

Only issue with them is you are limited in oil filter choices in the stock location. I think you have to move the motor mount locations, thats pretty much it.

 

****, i am going to have a T56 built, i am not worried about it, we have a sponsor here that goes 8s in the 1/4 with one, shouldnt be a problem

 

Go big or go home. The days of small blocks being the only "high revving" motors are long gone. Big block head technology is miles ahead of where it was when this stereotype was created. A well built BB with a little spray should be enough to hold that supra off.

 

I had Hooker BBC Super Comps on the car in the Avatar, when I first bought it. It used the stock motors mounts also. It was a tight fit and the headers are funky and on the small side. I would say it was worth it and the car weight tranferred great!

I agree with the above on the T400, but if you have to have a 6 speed you have to have one!

 

my buddy and i just finished puttin in his 406 in his 83 firebird on sunday. really easy swap from the 305, and the thing makes freakin crazy power. i would say if your gonna drive it on the street 400 all day they make great power. if your lookin for a trailer queen go BBC

 

A TH400 will not hold off a supra over 130 MPH with a good gear so a T56 is more fun anyways. If it was a track car for me a TH400 would be the winner for sure, a 3 speed on a daily driven small block....i would have nightmares about fuel.

 

Well, if i went all track i was going to do a 2speed powerglide or a th400 but it will be more for fun and **** so i just thought the t56 would be funner especially on the highway. Rowing through gears faster than my foot can hit the clucth peddle lol.

 

th400 has my vote unless its a trailor queen, then power glide

 

You can have a glide and still be a street car, been done many times. Just have to pick your gearing and tire size, may want to stay away from the highway though but maybe not.


My engine was built in like 1990, the pill in the shift light is 7000 RPM, Im sure there are a lot of guys in the 8k range pretty easy. I am sure I will be next year.

If you are going after a near 800rwhp supra and want a 6 speed you are pretty much limited to a BUILT 6 speed and really good suspension, rear, and tires. That or you are stuck with roll racing.

A buddy of mine was making like 700hp in his supra last year (now making a lot more once the motor is put back together). Weight will be about the same between the cars but to be safe you are going to need at least 900hp and have power come one pretty much instantly. 130mph plus? Your building a roll racing car honestly, more then likely safe to say that you will get you butt handed to you against a TH-400 car in a drag race.


Might want to do a search on RPM's at highway speeds for the guys with the 400, you might be very suprised. I am at a lower gear with my 3.73's and 28 inch tall tires then 4L60 guys with 4.10's.

I can't remmeber the RPM at 60 but I know it was only a few hundred more then my last car with a 4L60, 3.42's and factory tires.

You might want to put a lot of thought into this first, big HP and fuel economy don't go together, when you want big power other things suffer and just remember that because someone has a fast 6 speed car that works for them and lasts does not mean it will work or last for you

PS, My Supra buddy sold his 6 speed and is about to put in a 400...... why? He got tired of fighting with clutches and blowing them.

That will be your main issue is the clutch, you will find one that will work and I am sure last but most of them I am sure suck driving around all the time. Thats what he hated, it was a race clutch, not a street clutch, it was engaged 100% or not at all.
Good luck to ya man.

 

I understand, i should be able to get my 89 down to 3000 with a big block and aluminum heads. I am not worried about gas mileage in a 3.73 geared car with a T56 vs a TH400 with the same gear. Suspension and tires will be dealt with, 3rd and 4th gens hook pretty good but on the street you have to deal with it. I will be looking for 700 HP on motor and a 250 or 300 hit of juice on top of that so instant power will not be an issue for me. I like driving my standard allot, my 95 and my 89 are sticks so its all good.

 

Gotta be cerefull man, going into second gear all motor I am doing 70mph, well that was on 7 cylinders........... and it was faster then you could blink an eye.

Just remember that when you want to go fast and have it last you pretty much never get everything you want and remember what I said about MPG and power

Just be carefull man, VERY few big power guys run them on the street, at least the ones still alive..........

 

Go with the 454

then tell your buddy i will buy his 400!!!

 

I just wish i could have it al done right now

 

Is a th400 a 4speed or 3speed auto?

Well my girl posed a good argument today. Money isnt a real issue, but it is a little bit. So she thinks i should buy both engines, lightly build the 400 to make a good street engine ~500hp. Than slowly build the 454 up to be like a baddass stroked, bored, boosted, track only engine. I could have the 400 in a running by winter to give me something to drive when it gets cold. And then have the BB built by next summer maybe. It would save money cause i already have a bunch of small block parts so i wouldnt have to buy much buy internals.

I would really want a auto for racing, but the manual would be just for fun. But you are right the clutch would pose a problem.

I dono let me shop around on trannys and see. I have a 700r4 right now, is that worthy to build? or should i sell it and get a th400?