Bill, great points on making power with these engines. I'm not looking for a race engine, just really improved economy/efficiency and maybe a bit more power if it comes with the territory. If I wanted to up the output without getting too crazy, what's a fairly easily attainable target sticking with NA? 150-200hp with a PnP job, intake, exhaust and maybe a cam? QUOTE]
Here's a list I compiled that will give you at least, a ballpark idea of how much power (remember, I said "ballpark"... these are not absolute numbers, but arrived at by mathematical formulas and featuerd on a website that calculates et's, horsepower, speed and weight factors. I think they are reasonably accurate, but don't take them to the bank!)
This of course, does not consider wind resistance, gearing, your ability to hook up your car, or altitude (barometric pressure/temperature.)
Still, I think it's useful for comparisons:
In a 3,300-pound car, (including driver)
150 hp = 16.3 @ 82mph
175 hp = 15.5 @ 86 mph
200 hp = 14.8 @ 90 mph
225 hp = 14.2 @ 94 mph
250 hp = 13.8 @ 97 mph
275 hp = 13.3 @ 101mph
300 hp = 12.95 @ 103 mph
Like I said; those are ballpark figure and are good for discussion, only.
Tom Wolfe put a Buick Grand National turbo on the bone stock 225 that was in his '70 Dart adding only an aftermarket 4bbl carb and manifold, and went 12.95 @ 104 mph.
Here's the video: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPe_vHwZsF4"]Slant Six Turbo 1970 Dodge Dart 1/4 Mile pass - YouTube[/ame]
The thing is, he was running 21 pounds of boost to get it that fast.
A stock slant short block won't last long running that kind of boost.
Apparently, he was making about 300 horsepower with that setup.
But, I'd think that it might be possible to make 200 horsepower with a turbo on a stock engine and have a reasonable lifespan. You might want to invest in an alcohol injection unit, but it should be a pump gas motor and have probably better-than-stock fuel economy and great driveability; stock cam and never pull the head.
Just a thought... a really cheap way to get a slant into the 14's...
You'd need a 4bbl carb/manifold and a turbo adapter welded onto the exhaust manifold and some cold-side plumbing. I think that's it... and, limit it to about 10 pounds of boost.
You can build a 200 hp normally-aspirated slant, but will need the same 4bbl and manifold, a cam, headers, a milled head and better gearing for driveability.
Probably, more money...
You pays your money and you takes your cherce.... :cheers:
Good luck, whichever way you choose to go!!! You really can't make a mistake, either way!