I am working on a simular project but I have not done near the research and don't have near the data.I don't have any ideas that will meet all your criteria but I am going to try and use a 3800 buick rwd out of a F body GM.I am new to this site and posted a forum about my project but got only one reply.If you like you can take a look at my post I wont bog yours down by repeating it.We have some of the same goals and your info will be helpfull to be if you dont mind comparing notes.I am not familiar with how this forum works,is it ok to converse through the forum or do I need to use personal email?
Wendell: We are probably looking at some of the same ideas. I considered the Buick 215 V8, which was later built by Rover in larger displacements up to 5.o liters. You cannot get enough power out of it I'm afraid. Even the larger Rover 4.8 liter version only gives 275 hp at the crank at max, and that's if you can use headers, whcih there might not be room for. You lose 25 hp or more if you have to go manifolds instead. And, that's the end of the development line - you are then maxxed out. And, the work to get one to that state is costly,as the sources are VERY limited.
The Pontiac 292 make a lot oif low rpm torque, BUT is also limited by its non-crossflow head to a max of about 250 crank hrosepower, unless you haev cubic money like Leo Santucci, and can build a crossflow head out of TWO smallbloack heads, and make enough power to push a Studebaker coupe to 10.02 and 136 mph in the quarter. LOTS of cost though, and definitiely not streetable.
I looked at a Pontiac 250 OHC inline six as well, and that is still technically a posibility, but since the maximum power ever produced by a factory version was 230 crank hp, and parts are VERY rare, and only 1 or 2 shops can build one, and the costs are HIGH, and the engine has a nasty habit of eating camshaft bearings that are milled right into the raw head (no inserts!), I am not sure if that leads to anywhere constructive.
Keep the ideas comning though. SOMETHING will connect.
Wendell: You can contact me at
[email protected] or 830-693-6860 to discuss!
Jim G
