I just watched Jesse James build a mud truck out of a Corvette, which kinda got me excited and laughing hysterically because I hate Vettes....it also got me thinking (for whatever reason) of what I would build if I were to build an engine for some drag racing(Pro Mod, Top Fuel, whatever)

Is there any engine builders on this forum?

What would you guys build?

I'd start out with a Merlin 502 block. Then I'd bore it out 60 over. After that I'd go to Keith Black and have him send me a stroker crank and rods with bearings that are already plastigaged to save me some work. Then I'd go to JE and have them send me 60 over,dome top pistons and high compression rings.

the bottom end is probably worth 500hp+ by now and I know for a fact it could handle much more.
I would then give Keith Black another phone call and ask him to machine some Hemi heads to fit my 502. The top end would be rolling obviously, with roller rockers and cam, oh and solid lifters.
the cam would be long duration...probably from Comp or Crane.

Then a polished,6" highrise, dual carb intake from Edelbrock. then to feed the beast I'd get a set of 1050CFM Barry Grant, Gold Claw, carbs.

For exhaust I'd borrow a freind of mine's pipe bender and fabricate my own headers. 4-2-1's that start as 1 3/4" off the heads and come into a 4" single pipe.


Anyway, that's enough dreaming for me right now, what would you guys do?

build a b20z and turbo it, run 15-20psi of boost and see what she does in a light car like CRX.

I'd find a 69 Camaro and an aluminum 427 block and go from there with a nice street engine.
The 1/4 is fun too but it's gotta be responsive on the street to enjoy cruising for me.

Well since all I got is my truck right now , I’d have to build one for it :D

24 valve cummins b5.9
p-pump injector pump conversion
low compression coated marine pistons
o-ringed block
PDR ported head
PDR camshaft
Kendrick compound twin turbo’s with 80 psi of boost
Edm injectors
0 degree fuel plate
laser cut delivery valves
5 inch exhaust
BD pressure differential blow off valve
Scotty II cowl induction air intake


That coupled with a DTT built auto should net me about 800 horses and 1500 lb/ft of torque at the wheels , run a 7200lb truck like mine into the low 12’s high 11’s and still be streetable

And just to be sure I got what I need, I can throw a 200 shot of nitrous on there too


Too bad it would cost about 20 grand to build ……………………..


as for gas engine's I'd pick up a late 60's mopar b body and throw in an indy head built monster wedge

622 cubes ........ 1100hp & 930 lb/ft [img]graemlins/@bow.gif[/img]

[ September 22, 2003, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: dodgeram ]

oh man ... i dont know ...

some thing in the 500 ++ cube range ford, or say maybe a done 2.3 turbo ...

or maybe a turbo buick 3.8....

[img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

Slingshot - making your headers with a friends bender = bad !! not a mandrel bend - which according to magna flow reducies the inside diameter of the tube by 20% .... and 1 3/4 for a big block is on the small side - i got 1 7/8 on mine.. would have liked bigger .... also if rom alows may i sugest 180* headders - which are outlawed in alot of classes [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

id get a thundercat 1000 motor, and put it in a firefly, since it's actually a really easy conversion... [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] <--- first time ive found good use of the headbanger...

[ September 22, 2003, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: Orion_95 ]

your talking about a 172 hp 2 stroke engine on a 3 cylinder car.. ok it could work [img]smile.gif[/img]
don't think the belt would last more then one burn out though [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

372 cube small block mopar,aluminum swirl port heads,keith black pistons,mp solid lifter cam,the rest will come off my current S.B.M.,all of course dropped into my 69 2dr post valiant w/glass front,wide ratio 904, 392 sure-grip 8 3/8 in an 8 1/4 housing, snubber,hemi biased leaf springs, slant 6 torsion bars,36x10.0 macreary dot slicks on oem 15" aluminun rally wheels,11 3/4 brake rotors w/ resin piston calipers and ceramic pads,mopar performance urethane bushings(strut rod & control arm)1 5/8 tube headers , 3" intermediate pipes w/crossover into 2 chamber flowmasters, 2 1/2 tailpipes with cut 340 extensions.
only chassis mod left is m.p. spring relocation kit(exhaust will need to be dumps :( )total combination will be capable of low 10's, not too shabby for a daily driver [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] not to mention a 'lil airtime @ launch :cool: i guess i'll start on that motor after i'm done playing with stereos [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[ September 23, 2003, 08:21 AM: Message edited by: Loud Brown Kicker Colt ]

I'm sure I saw that sprint/thundercat conversion in a magazine once ultra cool ........with mild mods the t-cats can do over 200hp ......major mods 300hp


I'm probably gonna rebuild the 318 in the ramcharger sometime in the future but it's gonna be something realistic

stock 318 short block with 10:1 flatops

mopar swirl port 360 heads (will lower compression to the 9:1 range due to larger combustion chambers)

edelbrock performer rpm intake, cam and 650 cfm avs carb

mopar performance electronic ignition kit with the orange ecu

a set of small tube headers with dual 2.5" exhuast

mildon deep sump oil pan

should be somewhere around the 300 hp range

and of course I'll top it off with the mp black wrinkle finish aluminum valve covers .......good for an additional 17 hp boost :D

Can`t remember the name of the comapny, but they build a 1000 cubic inch engine for boats. I think it is Merling but not too sure.

Just go buy a GM crate motor and start with that, but make sure it is a high nickel content block for more strength.

I would list my perfect enine, but it would take up way more space than the forum can handle.

I will let you know the results I get from the Buick BB 350 I am putting in the 76 Nova street stock car.