zebra
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 115
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- cold & windy
again: we really can't get too crazy on the power anyway because these dinky car transmissions were only rated for 260lbft of torque & have 5000lb of truck to lug around.
i'm guessing the clutch is still the weakest link in the chain (would hope so anyway) & would be a decent buffer before breaking internals with a v8 turning it, but that's why it's tough to justify a $5k-6k engine swap for a measly 60hp/80tq advantage.
i realize "ratings" are typically garbage undersells because my last truck's nv3500 is only rated for 300ish lbft but i've seen a dude beat on one with a 454 BBC swap before blowing the engine & dropping in a Vortec 8100... and then adding a turbo before the trans finally called uncle. and that was in a 4500lb 1/2 ton Silverado.
that said, i figured the power of a little-more-than-stock LH8 would be a good stopping point. it was just learning what all else was involved electrically, mechanically, and the ridiculous costs associated with those bits that started to deter me & cause me to start searching for more economical alternatives that most other engine platforms do.
maybe i should check out 355 forums for head porting results, intake manifold mods, etc. that could likely get us halfway to the v8 power at <1/4 the cost. that's why i started this conversation.
i'm guessing the clutch is still the weakest link in the chain (would hope so anyway) & would be a decent buffer before breaking internals with a v8 turning it, but that's why it's tough to justify a $5k-6k engine swap for a measly 60hp/80tq advantage.
i realize "ratings" are typically garbage undersells because my last truck's nv3500 is only rated for 300ish lbft but i've seen a dude beat on one with a 454 BBC swap before blowing the engine & dropping in a Vortec 8100... and then adding a turbo before the trans finally called uncle. and that was in a 4500lb 1/2 ton Silverado.
that said, i figured the power of a little-more-than-stock LH8 would be a good stopping point. it was just learning what all else was involved electrically, mechanically, and the ridiculous costs associated with those bits that started to deter me & cause me to start searching for more economical alternatives that most other engine platforms do.
maybe i should check out 355 forums for head porting results, intake manifold mods, etc. that could likely get us halfway to the v8 power at <1/4 the cost. that's why i started this conversation.