Slant six turbo 500 hp cost analysis

I can be very tight with a buck when it comes to working on my cars. I worked fast food at minumum wage for a few years in high school and scrimped to keep cars on the road. The junkyard is the first thing that pops in my head when I think about a needed part, then swap meets. Now 30 years later I have a few bucks in the bank and can buy new things but always scrounge for a cheap way to do things. I like that high end prices are being used as it gives me a high realistic amount to expect and I know if I am patient I can sometimes score parts cheaper.

I bought a remanned Cardone distributor a few days ago for about $50. but will probably be paying full price on intercooler stuff.

When I am uncomfortable fixing some things I pay up and have a pro or someone experienced do it. Exception being I want to learn to weld as there are soooo many things I need to have welded and I know it is feasible.


I check for updates on this daily :cheers:
Please keep up the good work Bill! :happy1:

Mike


Bill Dedman said
Junior.

I deliberately set the prices on the high side for two reasons; 1. not everybody has the ability to find and buy used equipment and make it "right" if it is worn or, otherwise not quite "operational..." (You, obviously do,) and, new stuff always costs more. 2. I am not very well-versed in the cost of putting together the "right" combination of parts (such as intercoolers, turbos and such,) and would rather err on the high side than the low side, so that someone with budget that is dependent on my figures here, doesn't come up with not enough money to finish this.

I forgot to add any money for a blow-off valve or a waste gate controller... probably $200 to $250-worth of stuff, and a carb hat.... another $100.00, or so, if you buy the cheap one.
Using your modus operandus, it might be possible to build a bonafide 500hp turbo slant six for as little as $7,000.00, but I think it would be tough.

But, think about the advantages of the leaning tower of power, vs. using a 360, for example: You (with the 500hp slant six) have an engine that has a slow, smooth idle, lots of low-end torque, great driveability, good gas mileage, has no requirement for an expensive 8.75" rear end and TWO sets of gears, (a 4.88 for the strip and a 2.76 for the hiway.... the 2.76 seems to work perfectly for both in the slant car.) That gear will KILL a built 360 on the drag strip.

The stock drive shaft will probably fit and work perfectly, where a 360 would probably need a new one built.

I have not addressed fuel delivery problems (yet) because this thread is JUST about the engine; fuel pumps and cells are more of a chassis issue, I think.

There may well be serious omissions on this list, but at the moment I can't think of any...
ANYBODY, please?

Please feel free to add, subtract or discuss anything about this thread!:coffee2:
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