I want to make my 4-door mav a sneaky sleeper type. It currently has a 250 in it, but I picked up a 351w and extra c4 at the junk yard. I'm going to do the engine swap. I wanted to run my options past the experts for the optimal build. Build 1: 351w .030 over. Stroked to 393/408 Aftermarket heads/intake/cam 434hp @6000 446tq @4000 Build 2: 351w .030 over. Retro roller cam upgrade. Aftermarket heads/intake 440hp @ 5500 467tq @ 4000 Build 3: 351w .030 over roller cam and stroker. Would this make a good daily driver? Lol 445hp @ 5500 503tq @ 3500 I like option 2. Any ideas? I want this car to be a daily driver, if need be, and quiet.
no,.....the best way to spend it would be to send it to me all I'm saying is,... its your money, go with what you like,.... to me, # 2 sounded reasonable. whether or not its the optimal build ? cant answer that one. whats optimal for one person may not be for the next. have fun with it.
I think the only issue you'll have it making it fit in the engine bay. Once you get past that, it will be a neat ride. Of course ya'll know me. If I wasn't worried with budget or time constraints, I'd do a 408 low compression with a single turbo. That way it would idle perfectly smooth like a stocker but when it builds boost, it could be capable of 600+ HP easy.
There is no substitute for cubic inches. A hydraulic roller cam is the only way to go for the street. I am running a 421W with a mild roller cam and it idles smooth and makes an awesome street machine. You can always add further power adders later too (nitrous, etc.). Lee "THE MAV" Richart
I'm going to build it low-compression so I can add boost later if I need to. The roller-cam build will be the cheapest, so I am leaning that way. I will try to keep the car as stock-looking as possible. The only give away may be the cowl hood, if I am forced to get one. Thanks for your input guys...
You can get away with a stock hood if you run a low intake manifold such as an Edelbrock Performer, no carb spacer, and a low profile air cleaner. Lee "THE MAV" Richart
Sweet. That is what I was worried about. How streetable would a 393/408 roller cam combo be in a 2600lb car? I'm tempted to go all out, but I want the car to be fun and drivable in traffic.
sleeper first the more HP out of lesser CI will make it less streetable. Go with the 408. Check the laws and make sure you don't have to smog it up in your county. 72 shouldn't but each state is different. Streetable also includes trans, diff/gears and suspension. What do you have in mind?
no smog laws here. I will be using a c4 tranny, 9 inch 31 spline 3.25 LS rear, stock suspension for now. Main upgrades will be the 9inch and sub-frame connectors. I don't want to get too crazy with this build. Probably 408 with flat tappet cam, or 351 with roller. The cost is pretty close to the same.
408 I think you'll like the 408 better, just as much trouble to put a 351W in and a mild 408 will smoke them pretty easy. Sounds like a good setup, just don't forget upgrading the brake system. Sucks to go fast and not be able to stop when that guy with the Beehive sticker on his door wants to spend some "quality" time talking about "do you know how fast you where going"? "No officer, but if you hmmmmmmmmmm a few bars I think I can sing along with you".
most heads are not designed to flow enough at a higher rpm when you're running that much displacement. Not that they all do, but you need to be considering your heads with your stroke. IE: twisted wedge heads will choke before 5k if you're running much more than 400ci. Im really looking at all this too, but the more i look, the more i want a manowar block for the huge bore and let a turbo drive the power in rather than huge displacement. Gets cheaper quick when you start looking into the heads that support what you need. But then again im not stopping at the 4-500hp range
Boost can be made a replacement for displacement. Let's say your heads flow 200 CFM through the intakes. 200 CFM normally aspirated is a heck of a lot different than 200 CFM of air at 10 psi. Usually you can add a blower or turbo to an engine and still use the same restrictive heads and gain 100-300 HP pretty easy. But just like any other engine, a boosted engine will respond nicely to a head upgrade. Probably better than a N/A engine would.... My vote goes for a 408 but with GOOD heads and a flat tappet cam. Making 500 HP out of one is easy. Just don't expect it to idle smooth (unless it's turbocharged or blown). The mid range power from the extra 1/2" of stroke (among other things....) is a lot better than a shorter stroke job.
Will these heads be ok? Cylinder Head, Windsor Sr., Cast Iron, Assembled, 64cc Chamber, 200cc Intake Runner,
