Need some muscle

will4831 · 03-04-2006, 06:39 PM

i am in the process of makin a rod out of a '56 chevy. I want to start on an engine....What do you all think i can get the most hp and torque out of. I am going to rip it apart and start from square one. i'm thinkin a 454, but what do you think? btw i'm going carburated on it. I kinda want to stick with GM, but if i can crank out some more power from a different motor....i (might) consider it.

chevyguy · 03-06-2006, 10:46 AM

For the price I think you can build a better motor out of a small block. They are easy to find, inexpensive to hot rod and will fit in your narrow front end easier. I biult one with around 450 HP, for my old 53

will4831 · 03-06-2006, 09:12 PM

i stumbled across a caddy 525 the other day..... Thinkin about droppin that in.

Ford4x4Chik27 · 03-07-2006, 05:21 PM

Can you say HAWG!!!

chevyguy · 03-09-2006, 10:03 AM

Too darn hard and expensive to buy high performance parts for a caddy, I had a 472 in a truck once. Not worth it in my books

will4831 · 03-09-2006, 04:26 PM

Thanks cg, i did a little more research and the caddy stuff is kinda expensive.

I dunno though....would be nice to have all those cubic inches.

chevyguy · 03-13-2006, 05:47 PM

Cubic inches doesnt always mean performance. Usually it helps, But a small block chevy is cheap to build alot of power with.

will4831 · 03-14-2006, 10:38 AM

Good point. I'll take all this into consideration when i start building. I'll let you all know what i end up going with.

chevyguy · 03-18-2006, 10:22 PM

Well i am sure you will pick something good. Just look at how expensive they are to build and how available parts are for the swap before you jump into it.

92BlueZ71 · 03-23-2006, 11:14 AM

chevy guy is right, you can build a small block chevy cheaper than you can build anything else and theres so many things you can do to pep 'em up without going out and buying "high performance" parts, theres a lot of swapping you can do to get that extra horse power with just stock parts from different sized small blocks. i'd like to build a stroker for my '62 someday but im just plain old dirt poor college student so my hands are tied and it sucks not bein able to work on the hotrod but someday i'll be able to get back to workin on it again.

03-04-2006, 06:39 PM	#1
will4831 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 127	Need some muscle i am in the process of makin a rod out of a '56 chevy. I want to start on an engine....What do you all think i can get the most hp and torque out of. I am going to rip it apart and start from square one. i'm thinkin a 454, but what do you think? btw i'm going carburated on it. I kinda want to stick with GM, but if i can crank out some more power from a different motor....i (might) consider it. __________________ '96 GMC 1500 Victory Red x-cab *4x4* Programmed 350 crying for a rebuild '88 IROC-Z Camaro 5.0 5speed t-tops stock...not for long '93 Escort GT 1.8 DOHC 127hp 5speed. Daily Driver/Beater

03-06-2006, 10:46 AM	#2
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	For the price I think you can build a better motor out of a small block. They are easy to find, inexpensive to hot rod and will fit in your narrow front end easier. I biult one with around 450 HP, for my old 53 __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

03-06-2006, 09:12 PM	#3
will4831 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 127	i stumbled across a caddy 525 the other day..... Thinkin about droppin that in. __________________ '96 GMC 1500 Victory Red x-cab *4x4* Programmed 350 crying for a rebuild '88 IROC-Z Camaro 5.0 5speed t-tops stock...not for long '93 Escort GT 1.8 DOHC 127hp 5speed. Daily Driver/Beater

03-07-2006, 05:21 PM	#4
Ford4x4Chik27 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sac-Town, Cali Posts: 1,711	Can you say HAWG!!! __________________ '93 Isuzu Amigo, Toyota Axles/Tcase/Drivelines, 35" MTR's. '01 Pathy, DD. ************************************ A fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F.....**

03-09-2006, 10:03 AM	#5
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	Too darn hard and expensive to buy high performance parts for a caddy, I had a 472 in a truck once. Not worth it in my books __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

03-09-2006, 04:26 PM	#6
will4831 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 127	Thanks cg, i did a little more research and the caddy stuff is kinda expensive. I dunno though....would be nice to have all those cubic inches. __________________ '96 GMC 1500 Victory Red x-cab *4x4* Programmed 350 crying for a rebuild '88 IROC-Z Camaro 5.0 5speed t-tops stock...not for long '93 Escort GT 1.8 DOHC 127hp 5speed. Daily Driver/Beater

03-13-2006, 05:47 PM	#7
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	Cubic inches doesnt always mean performance. Usually it helps, But a small block chevy is cheap to build alot of power with. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

03-14-2006, 10:38 AM	#8
will4831 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 127	Good point. I'll take all this into consideration when i start building. I'll let you all know what i end up going with. __________________ '96 GMC 1500 Victory Red x-cab *4x4* Programmed 350 crying for a rebuild '88 IROC-Z Camaro 5.0 5speed t-tops stock...not for long '93 Escort GT 1.8 DOHC 127hp 5speed. Daily Driver/Beater

03-18-2006, 10:22 PM	#9
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	Well i am sure you will pick something good. Just look at how expensive they are to build and how available parts are for the swap before you jump into it. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

03-23-2006, 11:14 AM	#10
92BlueZ71 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 117	chevy guy is right, you can build a small block chevy cheaper than you can build anything else and theres so many things you can do to pep 'em up without going out and buying "high performance" parts, theres a lot of swapping you can do to get that extra horse power with just stock parts from different sized small blocks. i'd like to build a stroker for my '62 someday but im just plain old dirt poor college student so my hands are tied and it sucks not bein able to work on the hotrod but someday i'll be able to get back to workin on it again. __________________ CHEVROLET "Friends don't let friends drive a Ford" '92 Ext. Cab Short-Wide Z71 '62 Short-Stepside C10

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