Who's still running a SBC ?

[Skip Fix]

I'll throw out some thoughts one of my buddies had(he just sold and LS powered Chevelle)
"How many Chevy TPI motors did you used to see? How many now? They were the LS motor of the 80s. Hard to go wrong with the motor that came in the car and opens up more potential buyers-the ones that want a tweaked motor but factory appearance"

[70TWO NOVA]

I'll throw out some thoughts one of my buddies had(he just sold and LS powered Chevelle)
"How many Chevy TPI motors did you used to see? How many now? They were the LS motor of the 80s. Hard to go wrong with the motor that came in the car and opens up more potential buyers-the ones that want a tweaked motor but factory appearance"

Good point, you don't really see them much anymore. They are great motors (I owned an L98 TPI powered 1990 Iroc) but their weakness has always been them TPI intake being a big hp restriction.

[nokones]

I'm using the TPIS Mini Ram with the 1250 CFM Monoblade Throttlebody on my all aluminum SBC 427 CI. The throttlebody and mini ram setup will handle over 600 HP with no problem.

[Interceptor5588]

I run a 383 TPI with a T56 in my Formula. Runs great, dead reliable, 20+ mpg hwy @ 80 mph, probly about 400 hp. A little down on power compared to the average built LS, but if I weren't so lazy I would install the FAST setup I have in the garage and it would probably come close.

In the end it came down to time and budget -- instead of buying swap headers, mounts, PCM etc I just used what I had. And I got it together in one winter -- never would have pulled it off with an LS swap.

[Skip Fix]

An old school SBC with good heads and parts can still be a performer especially with an aluminum block!

[HandOverFist]

Who the frick uses an aluminum sbc block?

[nokones]

Who the frick uses an aluminum sbc block?

I am. Crank horsepower 630/torque 505 at 6600 and peak torque 574 at 5400.

[HandOverFist]

Let me re-phrase - Who the frick needs to spend 5K on an aftermarket aluminum block for a street engine?

[AKlowriderZ71]

I'm keeping my SBC. And personally, I think the SBC is a better looking engine than the LS.

Don't get me wrong, the LS engines can also be great performers(see my sig). But they aren't the end-all answer for everybody.

[nokones]

Let me re-phrase - Who the frick needs to spend 5K on an aftermarket aluminum block for a street engine?

You're going to spend it somewhere. I elected to put that kind of money in reliability rather than the cost of the conversion. I wanted a reliable block that will withstand the abuse of spinning the motor over 6 grand. I heard that the LS engines do not have the longevity as a high revving engine like a Dart SBC all aluminum block.

[sanman]

ZZ383 TCI 350 w/ gear vendors and loving it. Have a Holley EFI on the shelf just waiting to buy a EFI tank and we will be switching over from a Holley Ultra Street Avenger 770.

[minendrews68]

Old school 383 SBC, naturally aspirated. I still like them after all these years, although, I would like to maybe someday put FI on it.

[no_go nico]

+1 for sbc. 427 stroker with fitech fuel injection = best of both worlds IMO. TKO600 for the cruise nights.

[nokones]

I also have a TKO600 behind my all aluminum SBC 427. I like the tranny and it is 65 pounds lighter than the OEM 6 speed

[raustinss]

What's a SBC lol

[Kenova]

I have a foot in both worlds.
I have a 400 SB in my Nova and my Vega will be getting an all aluminum 5.3, hopefully
in the next year and a half.
The 400 is kind of a bottom of the barrel build. It still has the original rotating assembly,
a used hydraulic flat tappet cam (236 @ .050), and an ancient POS Holley ProJection4
"unit". If there was ever a computer with a mental defect, this is it . The heads
are '91 'Vette aluminum with springs to match the cam and I haven't a clue as to what
the compression ratio is . The transmission is a $300.00 (Canadian dollars) T10,
and yes, it has issues. Best of all I am having the time of my life beating the crap out
of it. The sooner something breaks the sooner I get to upgrade something.

Ken

[kimosabi]

All new Dart SHP 400 SBC waiting for final batches of parts here. It has a forged bottom end, custom Jones hydraulic roller cam, Morel lifters, AFR 210 heads. With todays great gaskets the common oil leaks of the old sbc should be gone.

[no_go nico]

All new Dart SHP 400 SBC waiting for final batches of parts here. It has a forged bottom end, custom Jones hydraulic roller cam, Morel lifters, AFR 210 heads. With todays great gaskets the common oil leaks of the old sbc should be gone.

Great set up! mines almost the exact same. I recently removed the Holley dp for a fitech fuel injection - really helped the motor come alive

[kimosabi]

Thanks, I have the Edelbrock 7104 intake coming in so I'll see how I can make it run with my tweaked Qjet on top with a little AFR gauge "cheating". I like being a little old school. lol

Right now chomping at the bits for a set of custom length rockers so I can FINALLY determine the pushrod lengths. Standard Harland rockers were too long for my liking.

[Kenova]

All new Dart SHP 400 SBC waiting for final batches of parts here. It has a forged bottom end, custom Jones hydraulic roller cam, Morel lifters, AFR 210 heads. With todays great gaskets the common oil leaks of the old sbc should be gone.

Hey! Yours is the exact opposite of mine. LOL
Yes, the newer gaskets are great. My POS doesn't leak a drop of anything. Now the transmission.........

Ken