Is it possible? 598-632 and 1200+ for $15k

Im just thinking out loud here folks, so please go easy on the azz kicking!!
I see on Racing Junk some shops that sell 632 BB Chevy's for around 13k.....all made up of quality parts.
So I started thinking, could it be possible to build a 598 to 632 (or bigger) BB Ford with 'C' heads to make 1200+ horses on motor alone, and do it all for a max of $15,000??

I would love to hear some real world combos (and possibly with a dollar amount to it) that would do the task, or get very close to it!!
Ideas, suggestions, criticizing, love notes, hate notes....whatever. You get the idea!!

Not to pee in your Wheaties, but it seems to me that putting an arbitrary low $$$ ceiling on a build like that might be a bad idea. Certainly some compromises are gonna happen.....somewhere.

Side note: A friend bought a slightly used 555" Chevy "race" engine a few years ago. It was a crate deal from a very well known engine builder who shall remain anonymous. Upon its first disassembly we found no evidence that any attempt was made to balance the assembly. No counterweights or balance pads had ever been touched, no casting flash cleaned from the block....It looked like everything came out of the box and went directly into the block....obviously an effort to minimize cost (maximize profit) without a lot of concern for the quality of the product. Now, that's fine IF THE BUYER KNOWS WHAT HE'S GETTING. In this case, the original owner assumed he'd bought the best.

Just saying that the price of an engine doesn't always indicate its real value.

A "good"1200hp short block will push $10,000. I'd think C heads for a dependable 1200hp would be $7500 ready to go. YOU building it is one thing,having it built ain't happening for $15-$17,000 IMO.

BBFTorino wrote:Im just thinking out loud here folks, so please go easy on the azz kicking!!
I see on Racing Junk some shops that sell 632 BB Chevy's for around 13k.....all made up of quality parts.
So I started thinking, could it be possible to build a 598 to 632 (or bigger) BB Ford with 'C' heads to make 1200+ horses on motor alone, and do it all for a max of $15,000??

I would love to hear some real world combos (and possibly with a dollar amount to it) that would do the task, or get very close to it!!
Ideas, suggestions, criticizing, love notes, hate notes....whatever. You get the idea!!

POST a question asking how much did it cost anyone on here to make a 1000hp NA, and 1200hp NA , you will prob get some good answers

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Hey now!!
Y'all DID read the first and last lines, right??

BBFTorino wrote:Hey now!!
Y'all DID read the first and last lines, right??

ya? just wanted you to hear from some of the guys who have done it, good comparison .

I can answer this , except mine is a A head deal.... 1120hp
It cost me north of $25K to build it...

But consider this.....
Mine is an A head deal, More cost involved with C heads.
I already had the block and some parts.. cut down on expense..

Is it possible for $15K...maybe
Finding great deals would be the key....

I spent around $20 on my A head 605 but I got a deal on heads and block. That's before dry sump and alky injection.It has good parts in it and makes near 1200hp to run what it does.

Buy one from another racer who is going on to some other build. Then have it freshened somewhere.
That would be about as inexpensive as you'll ever get.

Those Chevys ain't making 1200hp for that money.

It would have to be mostly or all used parts that's for sure. C heads are expensive but every once in awhile you find someone that can't seem to sell c head stuff due to the cost associated and deals can be had.

rmcomprandy wrote:Buy one from another racer who is going on to some other build.  Then have it freshened somewhere.
That would be about as inexpensive as you'll ever get.

RJ has been pretty "dry" for BBF stuff lately. And Im not sure where else to look.
But I would love to trade my big block 67 Mustang for a beast like that!!

dfree383 wrote:Those Chevys ain't making 1200hp for that money.

Not sure what exact power they are making, but a 632 Chevy is probably plenty stout, I would imagine.

BBFTorino wrote:

dfree383 wrote:Those Chevys ain't making 1200hp for that money.

Not sure what exact power they are making, but a 632 Chevy is probably plenty stout, I would imagine.

http://www.steveschmidtracing.com/drag-racing-engines/bracket-buster-series/602-series

http://www.steveschmidtracing.com/drag-racing-engines/pro-sportsman-series/618-sr20-superman-series

Back in 2005 my A head deal made 1000hp and cost $25,000+.

BBFTorino wrote:Im just thinking out loud here folks, so please go easy on the azz kicking!!
I see on Racing Junk some shops that sell 632 BB Chevy's for around 13k.....all made up of quality parts.
So I started thinking, could it be possible to build a 598 to 632 (or bigger) BB Ford with 'C' heads to make 1200+ horses on motor alone, and do it all for a max of $15,000??

I would love to hear some real world combos (and possibly with a dollar amount to it) that would do the task, or get very close to it!!
ideas, suggestions, criticizing, love notes, hate notes....whatever. You get the idea!!

FWIW,I was looking at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center add in the new Fastest Street Car Magazine.SDPC Race Engines 615-632 cubic inch BBC 12-Degree race engines 1,236 horsepower 945 lb.ft. of torque Aluminum Block $33,999.00 and Steel Block $30,999.00!!!

QtrWarrior wrote:I can answer this , except mine is a A head deal.... 1120hp
It cost me north of $25K to build it...  

But consider this.....
Mine is an A head deal, More cost involved with C heads.
I already had the block and some parts.. cut down on expense..

Is it possible for $15K...maybe
Finding great deals would be the key....

You have a Bryant billet crankshaft but when a guy walks by he can't see it.

My little 552 with A429 itheads cost me around 10k and I built it but machine work and stuff. It makes around 700hp by time slips and that's not even close to 1000hp so I would say it would be real hard to make 1000 hp for 10 to 12k.

QtrWarrior wrote:I can answer this , except mine is a A head deal.... 1120hp
It cost me north of $25K to build it...  

But consider this.....
Mine is an A head deal, More cost involved with C heads.
I already had the block and some parts.. cut down on expense..

Is it possible for $15K...maybe
Finding great deals would be the key....

C460 stuff is no more expensive than the A460 stuff

what did it cost anyone in here to make 700hp or 800?

dfree383 wrote:

QtrWarrior wrote:I can answer this , except mine is a A head deal.... 1120hp
It cost me north of $25K to build it...  

But consider this.....
Mine is an A head deal, More cost involved with C heads.
I already had the block and some parts.. cut down on expense..

Is it possible for $15K...maybe
Finding great deals would be the key....

C460 stuff is no more expensive than the A460 stuff

? as in

I see the C460 heads listed online for $1050 each, bare. Not bad there, but when you look at the price of the valvetrain...like Jessel, T&D, Crower, etc. you get 'sticker shock' LoL

BBFTorino wrote:I see the C460 heads listed online for $1050 each, bare. Not bad there, but when you look at the price of the valvetrain...like Jessel, T&D, Crower, etc. you get 'sticker shock' LoL

a set of A460 heads for 1200hp will be in the same neighborhood as C's with comparable valvetrain. Port work,ti valves and shaft rockers all cost real money.

Mine is a 572 NA A-Head 1250 gas carb and made 1006 on the dyno without the vac pump that wouldnt work. Thanks Blake Carwright.