Stuffing an old small block in a 4th gen?

[Birdie2000]

I was at a local car gathering tonight with my dad in his '29 Ford Roadster, and they had some really mean cars there. I was listening to the sound of all of the engines, including the worked Vette 327 that's in my dad's car, and I don't honestly think that I've heard anything near this good sounding from a LT1 or LS1. The 327's and 350's I heard tonight sounded amazing. Is there anything about an engine with a carb that makes it sound better? I know they all have cams and such, but still, I don't think the late model engines sound that good with cams. Now, this may sound stupid, but why couldn't I just stuff an old 327 or 350 in a 4th gen? Granted, the fuel economy wouldn't be there, and you'd probably have to sacrafice a lot of modern conveniences such as power steering and brakes, but I think that it would be much cheaper to build a classic Chevy small block with more power than a late model engine, plus it seems that it would sound much better. If I ever did this, I doubt my car would be a daily driver anymore, so I wouldn't really care about not having power anything or even no A/C. I think it would just be one badass modern hot rod. Any thoughts?

[ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: Birdie2000 ]</p>

[phoenix64]

It's been done before. Think long and hard before you give up on fuel injection. If your willing to give up the convience of computers, and any hope of ever using your car as a daily driver do it. I'm not saying its a bad idea, there are just a couple of downsides. I must say though, your right there is nothing quite like the sound of those old engines. Its a sound that just can't be beat.

[scottblack]

It's illegal because of smog restrictions and emissions. Period.

Scott

[Shadly]

It's the "lobe" effect you get with a carb and cam that's too big to idle properly. You won't find that with fuel injection. Actually, you can get that lobe by slapping a carb and cam on your current engine.

[nova]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Scott Black:
It's illegal because of smog restrictions and emissions. Period.

Scott<hr></blockquote>

But if you live someplace with no smog tests it doesn't really matter now does it. ;) :D

I have little in the way of emissions control left on my car and when I get finished will have almost none. Nobody has yet to say anything about it either. ;) :D

[scottblack]

Who said i have to worry about emissions??? I don't. Why would you want to do that anyway? Go listen to an MTI 422 stroker with a solid roller cam, if you don't like the sound of that then you need a new brain.

New engines definitely have more potential for power than old ones. More reliable, better mileage, cleaner, more powerful engines.

Scott

[MustangEater8251]

LS1s sound like sh!t in my opinion, Lt1s sound much better.

I been trying to figure a way to p[ut a small block in, biggest problem is distributor/firewall issues.

I have seen a carbed 502, in a 98+ SS, stock hood and everything, it ran high 13s, sounds like a waste of money on that, but it will be a improvement for 4th gens.

[phoenix64]

Stock both the ls1 and lt1 sound like **** especialy the lt1, (trust me I just removed the converter on a 95 lt1 2 hours ago, and it sounds like crap compared to my friends 79) because the cams are too mild and the engins them selves are too tamed down. And by the way it is perfectly legal to run a carburated engine in a fourth gen, without converters as long as the block is pre- 1971. trust me my friend has a 79 with a 71 350, and he doesn't have to deal with smog.

[Blazzin Joe]

Actually it wouldnt be illegal. So long as the motor passes inspection for the year it was produced it is technically not illegal. Thats why there are so many smoking beaters on the street. They only have to pass the emissions for the year it was produced. If you could get your carbed car to do that then you would be fine.

Also, a carbed car is not necessarly a pain in the *** to work on, my dad had a nice 89 chevy pickup that he put a carbed engine into. You would be amazed to know that it would rock the hairs off your nutsack, but didnt require much if any "regular" maintance besides oil and so forth.

[ June 25, 2002: Message edited by: Blazzin Joe ]</p>

[scooby]

Ive been thinking about doing this and an EFI system could be put on a small block for about a grand. I think original power steering could be used. I am actually considering this with a T56 tranny. My brother, my dad, and I can do all the work and I can have a small block. Im excited

[JAM]

Do it dude! I've seen alot of F-bodies new and old with a 400 small block shoe horned under the hood. It's a beautifull thing!

You will have to gut your car completly though. Alot of work, but if you like it go for it. It all just takes time and $$$. heh heh. Seems like $ is the one I lack. LOL! :cool:

[LTNone]

You had better decide if that "badass" sound is worth all the aggravation. Most of those old small blocks made less power than an LT1 or LS1, and you will pony up good bucks to get the right parts to make an old small block keep up with the LT1 or LS1. The ones that could keep up have ridiculous high compression that won't run on pump gas.

Don't get me wrong, I love my old small block, and I love the sound (I have cutouts I use at the dragstrip so I can hear it rumble).

What I don't love is tweaking the carb and ignition to get the thing to run optimal. Had the opportunity to ride in a 2000 Vette recently. In it's stock form, it is so crisp on the throttle, has tons of power, and it's ready to go as soon as you start it up. Through the stock pipes he is every bit as fast as I am with open headers.

If anyone cared about the sound, they wouldn't get a V6, because they just can't sound as good as a V8.

In addition, by removing all those features you would be grenading the resale value of your car (someday you might want to upgrade to something else).

If you want the sound, my advice would be to buy a car that came with an old small block and build it up, rather than going through all the fabricating to put it in a 4th gen.

Just my 2 cents.

[JAM]

Here you go... check out all the NEW crate motors so you don't spend a bunch of time re-building.

http://www.paceparts.com/subcatmfgpr...239&1=241&2=-1


As far as any un-reliable issues with a carbed motor that is just BS. I've had them, and in some cases they are better than the computerized fuel injected motors.

For re-sale, car depreciate every day. I say if it's your car and your planning on keeping it do whatever you like. If it's a small block cool... if it's a fuel injection cool... if it's 500+ cubes of nitro methane... cool!

Have fun, and good luck!! :D :cool:

[WickEdSix9838]

I much rather have the old style small block or big block in my car w/a carburetor, the main reason is its a lot cheaper for parts adn i can tune it myself...plus there a lot more aftermarket parts for them too...

[OneQuickV6]

Agreed, emissions is easy to get by. And I have seen MANY stock cubic inch 350's putting down well over 400hp! Those were th older carb'd engines though. It is easiier on the old ones, big cam, head work and some drivetrain stuff can easily put down big numbers. The carb'd motors are MUCH easier to tune also. So I say if you ave a littl patience and time/money, go for it! You could get your 4th gen running like a heavily modded ls1, withut adding nitous or a blower.