I have a 1998 Trans-am that I need to replace a blown engine; I have an opportunity to put a steel (heavier engine) that would put out more HP or a regular stock engine....Which is better; what are the advantages and disadantages?

Thanks

 

It depends. Your handling will always be worse with a heavier engine(I am sure there is some type of exception to this). Not to mention it will take more HP to push that car. So the HP will have to be significantly higher to make up for the weight.

Lets say a 6.0 is $2000 and an LS1 is $1500. Get whatever is cheaper and mod it with the difference.

 

You can throw whatever you want at that steel engine if it has forged internals, while not so much with an aluminum block. Obviously the steel block is going to be heavier than the aluminum one. It just all depends on what you're going to do with it.

 

I really doubt you'll be hitting the power levels that you would have to start worrying about an aluminum block breaking though....I don't know the exact level that an aluminum block will start to be a negative factor, but I do know that I'm about to be in the 650rwhp range and my aluminum block is pretty far down my worry list....

I'm sure there are alot of people who can chime in with high output aluminum block builds. I'm sure there are a few that have had bad luck with aluminum blocks as well, although I would think most with bad luck were due to something other than the aluminum block causing the problem....

 

its iron and aluminum blocks have made north of 1200 WHEEL hp

 

Uh they don't make steel engines. It's iron. Probably for something you want I'd just go with an Al. You only need an iron unless your going with an fi or hardcore nitrous or a very high cu in application.

 

stick with factory

 

agreed, only got with iron if you want bigger cubes, heavy nos, or boost.

 

The Difference between the two is consistency, the Iron will be more consistent in holding whatever you throw at it due to the stronger material, Aluminum will be less consistent.

 

[QUOTE=00fastta;12891311]Uh they don't make steel engines. It's iron. QUOTE]

Why does everyone have to be an *** on theses threads. No sh*t he was talking about an iron block, just because he doesn't call it the way you want doesn't mean he's wrong...we all understood what he was talking about but you wanted to be the smart as* to the guy.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention... I would go iron, if you ever decide to throw some big power adders to the car you will have nothing to worry about. Good luck on your build.

 

how many of yall ahve seen an aluminum block fail because its aluminum?

 

They do distort when high RPM is thrown at them, but we are talking real power numbers that are not usually street driven. If you want cubes get a LS2 block if it is a street car and you want over 400 cubes, other than that, stroke the stocker.

 

<- haha

 

^----

 

[QUOTE=dgcustomz;12892567]Yep I am a smart ***. Iron and steel are very different materials and I think most other people would agree with me. A little bit of effort and research goes a long way. Us engineers/engineering students know that one first hand.

Plus I wasn't trying to be a dick to him.

 

carbon.

 

It all got confusing when they started making Irons out of steel but didn't change the name to Steels. At least that's what it seems like when doing my laundry.

Vernon

 

jam a rod into an iron block and see what happens

btw hows the car running?

 

[QUOTE=00fastta;12893885]Again, you are still being a smart as* by trying to educate someone.... The point is that we all know what he meant! Just becuase you are an engineer student or whatever doesn't mean we have to go by your words. Also..."A little bit of effort and research "... is not necessary, again we all know what he was talking about... What part don't you understand? If you really didn't want to be a dick you wouldn't of tried to correct him in the first place. I'm done with this..... you can try and explain yourself all you want, WE all knew what he was talking about you just wanted to be a smart as*.

Oh, So to the o.p.. have you decided which way you are gonna go?