small block / big block???

[roach]

ok, its time to start a heated debate. i am currently tossing the idea around of either using the 351 or a 460 in my bronco project. this car will be racing and will be fuel injected not carbed. i have had lectures on both plus's and negatives. obviously weight being one of them. i am not looking for a 800hp beast, but i am looking to realisticlly and reliably lay down 250 to 300 hp AT THE WHEELS. so, with that, what do some of you guys think??? how much heavier is the small over the big block? cost efficiency for either? parts availability for either???? you get the idea

[Sandmaster]

The small block weighs less than the big block. If all your shooting for is a measley 250 HP to the wheels i would waste my money on a big block. Mildly built small block, better fuel economy, leighter weight, more cost effective, etc, etc.

[steveG]

Are you going to be using stock (or stock style) injection? If you are, you could build a GT-40/Lightning style F150 & with a few bolt-on mods you could surpass your HP goals and have a super-reliable motor with a lot of availability on parts.

[Andrew_Neal]

i think a small block you be your best bet with your hp intensions. the weight is less and you can buy a small block crate motor for aroun 3000 bucks pulling about 400hp

[hoeker]

i used to be a big block fan, i'll never go back.

[partybarge_pilot]

Stroker small block, 427W all the way.

[Josh_K]

I am sure this isnt exactly what you are thinking of but I know for a fact that if you can get a Dart iron block bored to 4.125" and get a 4.170" stroker crank gives you 446 ci out of a sbfw. Mine has a static compression of 9.5 and makes 575 ft.lbs. @ 4000 rpm. It's Bad. And on 91 octane!

If I where crazy and didnt care about the block I could take the bore out to 4.180" and that would give 460 ci.

[Sites]

i think a small block you be your best bet with your hp intensions. the weight is less and you can buy a small block crate motor for aroun 3000 bucks pulling about 400hp

You tell me where to buy a small block ford crate motor that makes 400hp natuarally aspirated for $3000, and I'll go pick one up right now.

[Ryno]

Myself and friends used to get 300 rwhp out of a supercharged 302 all day long. With the new supercharged 5.4 in the lightnings....check wrecking yards in Sacramento. I know there is a strictly Ford yard up there, and they usually have a couple in stock.

[singlehanded]

You tell me where to buy a small block ford crate motor that makes 400hp natuarally aspirated for $3000, and I'll go pick one up right now.
more like 4500 minus radiator & power steering.

[tedmales]

You tell me where to buy a small block ford crate motor that makes 400hp natuarally aspirated for $3000, and I'll go pick one up right now.


its called small block chevy.

[Sites]

its called small block chevy.

My point exactly...

[hoeker]

check into the crate engines from roush performance and ford motorsport. 400HP is easy to get out of a windsor with a stock block. 3k may not be possible, but you don't need to get too carried away for that hp unless you try to spin it too fast.

[johnnyweb]

go to www.fordracing.com there is all kinds of crate motors there. but for 400 hp its more like 4k. but im sure a good machine shop could put one together a little cheaper. or if 300hp will do they were around the 3k mark.

[Ramsey_ElWardani]

Are you sure a big block is legal in the class? Rules state: "Manufactures body, engine, and chassis combinations must be retained." I've never seen a Bronco offered with a big block, or with an F250 frame either, for that matter.

[schlosmk]

Big block Broncos were never built, but the 460 was offered in the F250 until the mid 90s at least in 49 state trucks

[roach]

good point ramsey, i never botherd to look at that and you might be right. either way, it sounds like i am staying with the small block idea. thanks guys.

[FullsizeFun]

408 small blocks make really good power all around, it is a square motor meaning the bore and stroke are almost the same. 4.03x4.0.
http://www.coasthigh.com/Assemblies/Ford/ford_408w.htm