Which engine would you choose for a 2,000 lb play car?

[pud]

there are many factors missing in this question to answer it correctly. If I had limited hood space and unlimited bank flow I would build off of an aluminum "5.0L" block like a dart that can be bored to 4.125" and stroke it to 3.40" to get 363cid. Add some AFR205s and boost it to the moon and you'll have all the lightweight, confined space HP you need. now that you get the point...how much room in the engine bay do you have? BTW I voted 302 because of the sea of new and used parts available cheap for them.

[Homemade]

mid 80's roller 302 bored 30 over carbed and aluminum heads water pump electric fuel pump.
Best price and a very good power to weight ratio.

[bnovak]

What's the chassis, width and wheelbase and what (other than streeting) are you setting it up for? Twisty roads, or going like a bat outta hell in a straight line?

Someone else already said it sounds like a monster miata, but man those things kill all aspects of the 2000 pound sports car (I used to have one.) It was fun in a straight line but made the car extremely nose heavy and lost the steering aspects. Did I mention the fact that it was heavy? Like almost 1/4 the weight of the car? My wife's new miata is putting around 300HP to the wheels with a 300 pound motor and supercharger. I'd increase the boost, but need to update the rods and piston's before I go any higher or things will start to melt.

The ford Ztec motor is getting rave reviews especially with the supercharger on it, but again you need to update the internals before you go crazy with boost. It's a VVT setup though so you are limited to around 8 or 9K rpm's. If you can source the Mazda version of this motor, it's non VVT and if balanced can spin 12K but is basically the same block and head. There's always the rotary option 500HP with a twin turbo setup that weighs what, about 250 pounds and will fit just about in your back pocket

i know, I know, I didn't mention anything about the motors in the poll. Sorry.

I do like the 351W in my Mach though. Simple, lots of parts available. I'd do another one of these motors in a street rod or something similar (although I don't think I can do it in the '40 chevy I'm working on )

[pud]

in a 2000lb car I would go for a 2.3L turbo, such as one in an svo or t-bird turbocoupe.

[ArdWrknTrk]

F) None of the above.
347 hands down..

[393STROKER]

The Boss 351-C was the best small block ford ever made. All the others were born out of compromise.

[Smasher O'Brannan]

385 series BBF all the way baby!!!!!!!......Thank the lord for the big block ford!........

[petes79f150]

Maybe it's just me, but I've always had a dislike for new posters coming on an established website and hyping another site repeatedly. Especially hyping a site that has repeatedly been inaccessible due to problems with ownership, sponsorship, and internal squabbling. Just sayin'- how would you feel if a newbie came to your site and basically said that noone here knows anything about Fords, you need to go here instead? BTW, a big block in a 2000 pound front engine, rear wheel drive car is not condusive to good handling. On a power-to-weight ratio, availability of hipo parts options, not to mention packaging, common sense says a punched-out SBF. JMVHO.


Pete

[doug1222556]

Originally Posted by Smasher O'Brannan

385 series by the way....all of you who read this.....

From what I've seen and heard 460's are just great ol' big headed slugs that that move a lot of hot air. They remind me of my ex... BIG, HEAVY and SLOW. Most are looking at the taillights of stroked small-blocks 1/2 way through the quarter, and even when they have the power, the weight is a big negative.
Maybe you should do a little more research on what the small- block market is today before talking all that smack you have no chance of backing up.
Big blocks are good for consistency for bracket racers as they turn slow RPM's to make power. But screaming small-blocks blow them away for cubic inch to HP ratio. It cracks me up to see people with 460's making 400 HP when stroked 302's are making 500.
Sorry, ... but if you don't want ****.. don't stir up the cesspool.

[lew52]

Originally Posted by petes79f150

Maybe it's just me, but I've always had a dislike for new posters coming on an established website and hyping another site repeatedly. Especially hyping a site that has repeatedly been inaccessible due to problems with ownership, sponsorship, and internal squabbling. Just sayin'- how would you feel if a newbie came to your site and basically said that noone here knows anything about Fords, you need to go here instead? BTW, a big block in a 2000 pound front engine, rear wheel drive car is not condusive to good handling. On a power-to-weight ratio, availability of hipo parts options, not to mention packaging, common sense says a punched-out SBF. JMVHO.


Pete

...Very well said !! The power to weight ratio on the sbf is a much better choice in a 2000 pound car ... Lew

[Carlene]

I agree with Pete also. All links are being removed.

[Smasher O'Brannan]

Hi, being everyone seems to have taken it the wrong way.......I guess I'll apologizie for the links.....I thought maybe it would be cool to check out another ford enthusiast site thats all!......I equally like this one too!.....and as far as some newcomer posting links and if I would like it.....thats how I found most of these informative sites to start with....so there ya go.....No ill intentions on my part. Sorry guys,

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm not offended or looking for an apology.
The TOU don't allow links to competing forums....

http://www.internetbrands.com/ib/ter...ord-Trucks.com

BTW, I lurk over there often.

[bill11012]

I say a 4.6 with DOHC and super charger.

[Krewat]

What, no modulars?

When I hear 2000lbs play-car, I think Triumph TR7. Big wide engine bay, pretty deep, strong unibody. I had a 289 all mocked up to go into one, but needed the engine for an emergency transplant into my daily-driver at the time. Oh well...