Price of Horse Power

Being new to the site, I am impressed with the knowledge of the people on this site. Amazing.... Is their a discussion somewhere or a link to how much Horse Power costs....that you guys have discussed in the past.
My question is can you or has any of you built a 600 HP Big Block 429/460 for $3,000.00 or under?

depends on what you have already?
if you hasd to start from scratch it would be hard
but if ya find some deals on used parts
than yes it can be done

Guess I should mentioned that.....I have a stock 71 429 with Dove heads...out of a Torino.

Couple of questions:

1) What is this engine going to be used for?

2) How many miles do you want to go before having to pull the engine to freshen it up?

3) How did you come up that you want 600 hp?

4) Is running race gas mixed with pump gas, or just straight race gas, ok?

Dave

600hp CAN be done on a 460, but you'll have to look at the parts you get extremely carefully and wait for the deals you want to come along. I think the most money you'll drop on the motor at any given time will be machine work, roller cam, carb, and dyno tuning in that order. You've got a really nice start with the short block and heads, you're next buy should be a 460 crank and a set of pistons.

About $10-12 per hp is achievable, much less than that is hard to do. Forged pistons are over $500, head rebuild $500 + porting, good rods $500, and the list keeps going.

all you got=all you can get

My answer would be a big fat NO. I started pricing out a low buck deal in your power range and I can tell you it blew way past $3000 in a heartbeat. Now if you had some parts to get you started or if you could find some good deals on used parts that might be different. The biggest cost will be the heads. While Lem has the best deal around on the SCJ's by the time you buy heads, rockers, studs, pushrods, gaskets etc plus the custom pistons you will almost be at your budget. Then you are going to need a decent intake, carb, headers, exhaust etc and now you just spend and easy 4-5k. There is going to be those that say you can make that kind of power with your stock heads and you can. You can pay Scotty the same or more than the SCJ's so you are still out the money.

Now there are other parameters that can effect this as mentioned in the previous posts. What is the purpose of the engine, how much compression can you stand etc. Something tells me if you are on budget with the build then $6/gal race fuel is out of the question.

IF you get 600 hp for 3k,then comes the rest that should take care of the power.
Transmission,rearend,....(brakes).......

Totaly possible IMO, if your very sharp and wait for the right deals and find good used parts. It won't take exotic or expensive stuff to get their. A Flat tappet cam and 4150 carb will do it. Factory duraspark ignition no msd stuff needed.

Of course you will need to do alot yourself and it won't be a pretty motor, bare basic git-r-done kinda thing. In fact this would be a cool contest or bet.........

My opinion is your goal is achievable, But your biggest stumbling block will be getting the air flow you need to meet your goal.

A set of 2.190 valves and home ported Dove's will get the job done. Spend the $30.00 for Scotties site if you are new to porting heads, and you can get to where you want to be.

300 cfm Dove's, good solid flat tappet (mid 260's intake @ .050 low 270's exh. 108 sep .600 ish lift), flat tops, zero deck, 472-477 cid , ported Victor 4500 intake, 1050 dom.
If you can find a used roller set up, it will make the project easier.

JMHO.

IDT-572 wrote:My opinion is your goal is achievable, But your biggest stumbling block will be getting the air flow you need to meet your goal.

A set of 2.190 valves and home ported Dove's will get the job done. Spend the $30.00 for Scotties site if you are new to porting heads, and you can get to where you want to be.

300 cfm Dove's, good solid flat tappet (mid 260's intake @ .050 low 270's exh. 108 sep .600 ish lift), flat tops, zero deck, 472-477 cid , ported Victor 4500 intake, 1050 dom.
If you can find a used roller set up, it will make the project easier.

JMHO.

X2

Careful shopping for parts etc and forgoing the bling is absolutely necessary. Alot depends on what you have already.

Re: Price of Horse Power
DJOHAGIN Yesterday at 9:46 pm

Couple of questions:

1) What is this engine going to be used for?
I just want to put it in my Ranchero and have a bad @$$....street machine....jump on it once in awhile and smoke a few Mopars & Chevrolets.

2) How many miles do you want to go before having to pull the engine to freshen it up?
Only going to put a few thousand miles a year on it. So once would be just fine with me.

3) How did you come up that you want 600 hp?
Just a goal and I'm sure I could be happy with 500 to 550. Never had a car with that kind of horse power and now with kids gone I have the time to do it and the resources if I don't get too crazy.

4) Is running race gas mixed with pump gas, or just straight race gas, ok?
I want to run pump gas....premium would be just fine.

Thanks for the help.....I'll keep reading and watching the site...I am planning on running 3:70 gears and a C-6 Road Ripper 3000 from Certified Transmission...I work for them in Kansas City and the C-6 will handle the horse power pretty easy.

g612gr wrote:Re: Price of Horse Power
DJOHAGIN Yesterday at 9:46 pm

Couple of questions:

1) What is this engine going to be used for?
I just want to put it in my Ranchero and have a bad @$$....street machine....jump on it once in awhile and smoke a few Mopars & Chevrolets.

2) How many miles do you want to go before having to pull the engine to freshen it up?
Only going to put a few thousand miles a year on it. So once would be just fine with me.

3) How did you come up that you want 600 hp?
Just a goal and I'm sure I could be happy with 500 to 550. Never had a car with that kind of horse power and now with kids gone I have the time to do it and the resources if I don't get too crazy.

4) Is running race gas mixed with pump gas, or just straight race gas, ok?
I want to run pump gas....premium would be just fine.

Thanks for the help.....I'll keep reading and watching the site...I am planning on running 3:70 gears and a C-6 Road Ripper 3000 from Certified Transmission...I work for them in Kansas City and the C-6 will handle the horse power pretty easy.

In a heavier car like your Ranchero, I would think concentrating on building more torque would be a better idea than the hp number you are looking at. Something else to think about, is fuel usage. At only a few thousand miles a year, your actual fuel costs will probably be less than $1500 a year on pump gas, and a bit more than double that for $6 a gallon race gas. For a little more gas money each week of driving, you could increase your compression considerably to meet your goals. Build cost difference is little to none when considering heads, pistons, and cam choice... in the end, its about fuel cost.

From the looks of his profile pic he's got a 70-71 Ranchero, which means he's gonna need subframe connectors to keep from twisting the car when he stomps it. As for everything else, bargain shopping is THE way to go but I'd get a new roller cam since it's like getting "free" power. Good luck and hope to see you around more!