Roadkill 24, The Crusher with the LS

[38P]

Geez, how many of us have $25k+ to plop down on a 700hp engine, efi system and trans?

While being strictly eccumenical (in faithful obedience to the BS regime), don't you think if you spent $25,000 on an aftermarket BBF architecture drivetrain, you could post some impressive times, too?


(Oh how I dearly hope that photo isn't too unsettling for some of our more gentle readers)

[Scott Liggett]

The mufflers on the Camaro are Hookers. The headers, x-pipe, and mufflers are all Hooker pieces.

I think guys did complain about the SBC when it came out and how easy it was to go fast because they had been killing themselves on the flatheads for years to make the power that those things were making virtually stock.

By 1955, hot rodders already had the Olds Rocket 303, the Caddy 365 OHV V8, and others. All made more hp stock than many worked over flatheads. What was amazing was how those other engines got tossed aside when the sbc came along. There was almost no aftermarket parts for those engines beyond multi-carb intakes. Caddy had a dual four intake from the factory. You would have to find one of Isky's old catalogs, or just call up Ron, to see if they had cams for those engines.

[38P]

What was amazing was how those other engines got tossed aside when the sbc came along.

Dear gentle readers, one need not look any further than Zora Arkus-Duntov's December 1953 memorandum to find the answer. http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ov_letter.html

[Russell]

The mufflers on the Camaro are Hookers. The headers, x-pipe, and mufflers are all Hooker pieces.

I think guys did complain about the SBC when it came out and how easy it was to go fast because they had been killing themselves on the flatheads for years to make the power that those things were making virtually stock.

Maybe part of it is the x-pipe. I think H-pipes sound better. I know X makes more power. Remember the old Pro-Cambers? For some reason I think they made more than both the H and the X , wonder why they did not catch on. they look like they would be simple to make.

[RockJustRock]

Hopefully there will be a follow up on how the tunnel ram efi works on the junkyard LS motors everyone can afford. Most encouraging was even though it was a $30K RACE LS it didn't use so much cam it ate valvetrain parts like a Drag Week car seems to.

In the 60's I don't remember a lot of whining about engine appearance, but Streetability was a big forgotten factor in the death of the supercar. Short plug life and tune-up intervals were common grouses. The solid lifter cam in the Street Hemi was so notorious for constant lash adjustments by the time they went to hydraulic lifters in 1970 it was too late. The thing had a reputation as too finicky. Two Carter 4 barrels didn't help much either. The six pack cars had a good rep as a car you could daily drive, but the first batch had those lift off hoods.

Chevy had the plan with the varying levels of tune on their hot stuff. Everybody bought the base 396 and bragged of 375 HP. They got a Z-28 and claimed the ETs of the road test versions with the cross rams and headers. Buick, Olds and Pontiac badged their tune levels with H.O., SD, W and Stage but not Chevy. Always a lot of disappointed Chevy guys at the race track when they couldn't get close to road test times or on the losing end of street races, but those who didn't race were proud and happy.

But back to the Crusher.... Car Craft and the Reynolds clan did turbo EFI LS's but has anyone tried a Roots huffed EFI LS? Procharger LS?

[BangShift McT]

It's a cool episode for sure. That thing is fast AND had great manners in all kinds of weather. It faster than my big inch BB and certainly gets better mileage.

The only hang up I have is the cost. Geez, how many of us have $25k+ to plop down on a 700hp engine, efi system and trans? (not to mention a brace of Holley engineers to tune the thing) Sure you can have your mileage/performance cake and eat it too, but I like to feed my family and pay my bills!

For comparison:

My slightly warmed LA 318-based motor, 904 trans, and 2.94 rear gear was doing better MPG wise during the meetup. I was averaging 17.8mpg and had seen one tank make 22mpg. The cost? My car can't get out of it's own way off the line but makes a 2nd gear pull just like my old '73 Chevelle: Ungodly. The Crusher can do it all.

I'm not even gonna step into the other shitstorm brewing here.

[milner351]

well - we need to follow Randal's lead - and others who've paved the way to DIY EFI that's not expensive.

MS3 assembled to your door with sequential control is less than $700.

Stroker kits and aluminum heads I don't recall ever being more available and reasonably priced than they are now.

These guys make magazines - "freebies" are part of the deal - and the engine was "borrowed" for advertising purposes - surely MAST will sell some of these based on guys seeing this on youtube or at PRI in Indy.

Lots of factory EFI V8s are in pickups vans, etc, in junkyards now - we've seen what a "simple bolt on boost plan" can do to an otherwise stock junkyard pull out engine (Sean Flings wagon is a great example of this) to make great power and retain great drive-ability.

Sure its easy and fast to put together a bunch of shiny new well tuned "kit parts" when you're trying to do a swap in three days, being recorded and broadcast on youtube and you're trying to sell magazines, and parts for the guys supplying the parts for you to use and therefore advertise for them.

Here in the real world, most of us have more time than money (some of us don't have much of either) and can't take the magazine easy route for a multitude of reasons - but our timelines don't sell magazines, and it's not our full time job, it's a hobby.

Let's not mix apples and oranges, I was not hating on the guys at all - love what they do and envy their jobs (not the sleep deprivation part) but we have to keep things in perspective.

Hard to beat BBR's 10.46 vs total investment even with a "caveman carb"

Bottom line is - not everyone needs a car that will "do everything well" heck - how many of us never even start the car when it's under 40 degrees, let alone drive it cross country in bad weather.

Congrats on being famous Remy

[Russell]

It's a cool episode for sure. That thing is fast AND had great manners in all kinds of weather. It faster than my big inch BB and certainly gets better mileage.

The only hang up I have is the cost. Geez, how many of us have $25k+ to plop down on a 700hp engine, efi system and trans? (not to mention a brace of Holley engineers to tune the thing) Sure you can have your mileage/performance cake and eat it too, but I like to feed my family and pay my bills!

I guess I'll just stick to my dump truck motor, school bus transmission and 60's carburetor technology.

I did a quick google and came up with a GMHTP build that got 635 hp out of a 408" but they still spent over 10k. From what I can tell its had to beat a BB except in MPG. If you don't want BB mpg and don't want to pay 25k for a high HP N/A motor, then add boost or N2O?

[Scott Liggett]

Hopefully there will be a follow up on how the tunnel ram efi works on the junkyard LS motors everyone can afford. Most encouraging was even though it was a $30K RACE LS it didn't use so much cam it ate valvetrain parts like a Drag Week car seems to.

In the 60's I don't remember a lot of whining about engine appearance, but Streetability was a big forgotten factor in the death of the supercar. Short plug life and tune-up intervals were common grouses. The solid lifter cam in the Street Hemi was so notorious for constant lash adjustments by the time they went to hydraulic lifters in 1970 it was too late. The thing had a reputation as too finicky. Two Carter 4 barrels didn't help much either. The six pack cars had a good rep as a car you could daily drive, but the first batch had those lift off hoods.

Chevy had the plan with the varying levels of tune on their hot stuff. Everybody bought the base 396 and bragged of 375 HP. They got a Z-28 and claimed the ETs of the road test versions with the cross rams and headers. Buick, Olds and Pontiac badged their tune levels with H.O., SD, W and Stage but not Chevy. Always a lot of disappointed Chevy guys at the race track when they couldn't get close to road test times or on the losing end of street races, but those who didn't race were proud and happy.

But back to the Crusher.... Car Craft and the Reynolds clan did turbo EFI LS's but has anyone tried a Roots huffed EFI LS? Procharger LS?

The Cherry Bomb Camaro had an LS with a Roots blower on it. Total custom intake.

[Brian Lohnes]

There are a fair amount of roots and centrifugal blown engines out there now. I believe a couple people are actually making manifolds and stuff, too.

I am waiting to see a pulling tractor with 5-6 LS engines stacked on it that are either blown or turbocharged.

[Casper]

I wanting to see a massive dose of no2 on that engine, I'm talking massive. For the money it should stay together and blow some minds.

[38P]

These guys make magazines - "freebies" are part of the deal - and the engine was "borrowed" for advertising purposes - . . .

Here in the real world, most of us have more time than money (some of us don't have much of either) and can't take the magazine easy route for a multitude of reasons - but our timelines don't sell magazines, and it's not our full time job, it's a hobby.

"Be cautious, dear reader. The influence of car magazines can be treacherous." Terry McGean, "Sizzle and Steak," Hemmings Muscle Machines, Vol. 9, Issue 2 (November 2011), p. 70.

Without engendering any controversy, and with the deepest, most profound respect for all those risk-taking, dare-to-be-different innovators who show all of us "the way" with aftermarket GM crate motors (whether freebies or via easy credit), turbocharging any number of unpopular rebuilt cast-off engines could economically yield competitive results.

Of course, taking that road probably wouldn't result in the wellspring of popularity and adulation of a groundbreaking, breathtaking catalog car . . . .

ALL HAIL CATALOG CARS!
ALL HAIL CREDIT CARD BUILDS!
ALL HAIL CRATE MOTORS!

[PatricksDad]

"Be cautious, dear reader. The influence of car magazines can be treacherous." Terry McGean, "Sizzle and Steak," Hemmings Muscle Machines, Vol. 9, Issue 2 (November 2011), p. 70.

Without engendering any controversy, and with the deepest, most profound respect for all those risk-taking, dare-to-be-different innovators who show all of us "the way" with aftermarket GM crate motors (whether freebies or via easy credit), turbocharging any number of unpopular rebuilt cast-off engines could economically yield competitive results.

Of course, taking that road probably wouldn't result in the wellspring of popularity and adulation of a groundbreaking, breathtaking catalog car . . . .

ALL HAIL CATALOG CARS!
ALL HAIL CREDIT CARD BUILDS!
ALL HAIL CRATE MOTORS!

Please go start your own thread and stop shitting in this one. I'm a died in the wool, bleed blue Ford guy, but you're starting to make me reconsider.

[38P]

Why I haven't said anything negative about the topic of this thread, PatricksDad.