Chevy SB2.2 in Streetcar

[mostly crue]

Hi Guys,
Just wondering if anyone is running a SB2.2 in their streetcar. I know NASCAR will phase these engines out soon. My question is am I going to run into trouble down the road looking for replacement parts?
Jeff.

[GetMore]

I think the makes of the parts will keep the tooling and programs, so even if they don't have the parts in stock they should be able to make more. That would be the worst case scenario, except for them going out of business.
I think the engines are in use just enough for them to keep parts available. After all, you're not the first person to think of using those engines in other venues.

[dmc454]

I normaly just look here but Ill post for the first time on this subject.Here in Mooresville NC. there are a lot of used and new SB 2.2 parts in the area.A place in Huntersville NC called Muscle Motors have new and used SB 2.2 and can build a motor for you.I think they have a web sight and they can fuel inject one for you.This is serious stuff that comes at a serious price.There are a couple of these motors running in street cars here that are some wicked cars.In a open house in May at the RoushYates store they have a Ford motor from a Cup car that was converted to street use that makes 650hp & 600 lbs of tourqe for 18000 grand.It has about 11 hrs of CNC work on the intake and it has a redline of 8000 rpm.I dont know what a SB 2.2 would be to put together but maybe its close.This SB 2.2 would be a wicked motor for the street and you would benifit from millions of dollars of R&D and dyno time.Make friends with the tire store and get used to the attention you will get.Tell me how you feel when you powershift 2nd to 3rd gear at 8000+ rpm. Good luck with your project.

[dstryr]

What are the advantages from the SB2.2 to the normal SBC?

[68sixspeed]

SB2's are very good, but specialized and typically make more hp at higher rpms than even the 18 degree stuff. The 18 degree heads at lesat fit a normal sbc type block and usually have a wider torque band, better for the street.

[another69]

Just thinking about a SB2.2 makes me drool. There is a TON of info about 23* SBC and LS stuff, but very little about "exotic" SBCs like 18* and SB2.2. I'd love to see some buildups on these motors- and speaking of exotic, how about the old ZR1 motors. I think they were referred to as LT5. I've never seen one of those in anything but an old ZR1.

[Lowend]

I don't think an SB.2 is going to make for a great street motor. Without some sort of boost the massive heads are gonna be pretty soggy on the bottom of the RPM range.

Everything is different on the SB2 - I doubt you could build one for less than $20K

[tumper93]

A friend/neighbor works at Ron Davis racing and got an entire sb2 engine for $500, and this was just the last one he got. It will be going into a Nova. Price was right but if it was built piece by piece, it would be a fortune. Intakes alone are more than what 23° heads cost!!

[Payton King]

This is the motor in Jimmy Johnson's 67 Camaro. Lower compression and different cam to run on pump gas. Made 720 hp at the crank.

This motor is not as peaky as most cup motors. It is a little raggged at 3000 rpm but cleans up nicely passed that and pulls really hard from 4000 to the 9500 redline....and yes that is an a/c compressor.

[MarkM66]

I would think some SB2 heads on a larger 434+ cid engine would make it a lot less "soggy" on the bottem end.

[novaderrik]

SB2's are very good, but specialized and typically make more hp at higher rpms than even the 18 degree stuff. The 18 degree heads at lesat fit a normal sbc type block and usually have a wider torque band, better for the street.

SB2/2.2 heads do fit on any regular old small block, but it's best to use the specially machined bowtie blocks that have the lifter angles machined different to line the pushrods up better.

[SStrokerAce]

One thing you need to watch out for with the old SB2.2 stuff is the quality... there are a lot of BAD heads out there that need work and lots of TLC to make run decently. Also valves, rocker arms etc.. are all not cheap.

I had a customer send me a set that was in big time need for a VJ and new guides, but he didn't want to hear that. One guide was a whole valve size off the rest (11/32" vs 5/16" for the rest)... you do not want some local race shop fixing SB2 heads either, most will have NO clue on what VJ will work with them or anything else.

That being said GOOD parts from one of the race teams is a good deal, I've seen some nice Joe Gibbs heads, manifolds, valves and rockers go that needed very little work. Even at a "high" price they were well worth the money.

One more side note, you should have a nice aftermarket block that can handle a 4.170"+ bore to work well with these heads.

Bret

[SStrokerAce]

SB2/2.2 heads do fit on any regular old small block, but it's best to use the specially machined bowtie blocks that have the lifter angles machined different to line the pushrods up better.

This is only needed if you have flat tappet cams... rollers are going to be fine

[Zr1 Destroyer]

My was running a 398 inch sb2 in his 40 ford before he changed it over to the current LS motor in it now.

He's is putting the sb2 in his 64 nova now......it ran awesome both on the street and the track!

[SStrokerAce]

I don't think an SB.2 is going to make for a great street motor. Without some sort of boost the massive heads are gonna be pretty soggy on the bottom of the RPM range.

You need to go down to the Chevy dealer and drive a new Vette around. With 260cc ports your reasoning states it will be a soggy motor, far from the case.

My was running a 398 inch sb2 in his 40 ford before he changed it over to the current LS motor in it now.

He's is putting the sb2 in his 64 nova now......it ran awesome both on the street and the track!

Thanks for the injection of reality!!!!

[Lowend]

Why does everyone want to compare an LS1 to a more traditional design (and yes I know the SB2 is not a standard SBC)
Completely different motor... completely different head design, fuel injected vs Carb'd.
Apples to Oranges
... and you know this...

[SStrokerAce]

Why does everyone want to compare an LS1 to a more traditional design (and yes I know the SB2 is not a standard SBC)
Completely different motor... completely different head design, fuel injected vs Carb'd.
Apples to Oranges
... and you know this...

Your the one that is comparing port volume to "soggy" bottom end...

In fact the induction system of a LS3 from plenum to valve has MORE volume than a SB2.2 does.

Why would the carb or EFI matter in this situation????

[mostly crue]

Thanks everyone for their input. I think I'll pull the trigger on the SB2.2. I have talked to the guys at muscle motorsports before, very nice guys and helpful. I'm a little low on funds right now, so it will be awhile before I post updates. Thanks again everyone.
Jeff.

[HarleyR]

Muscle will treat you right... I have done work for them in the past and Bob is a good guy... They deffently have tons of parts... Use a Truck or nationwide version... something with a roller cam... the 6000 dollar flat tappet cam and lifters get pissed if they are ran below a certian RPM...