What engine to put in the 66 impaler

I'm wanting to build a somewhat high revving small block but I don't know what to go with a 283, 327, or 350. I'm into bikes and love alot of rpms and i think a v-8 screaming for mercy would be awesome. That and don't want to put more into the engine than i do the car.

 

I'm partial to the 327, but those have the old crankcase ventilation in them. The 350 is a better choice for parts and improved breathing. Of course there is always room in those for a 396, plus it fills up the engine bay way betterer.

Bob

 

not tryin to be a dick, but 64's the cutoff round these parts...

 

It also helps to do an introduction, people seem to like that here I recommend it.

 

454, no mufflers but a x-over tube.

 

There was just a thread about using a small block 265,305,327,250 and de-stroking it...it would make it scream.....look it up and see if it appeals to you.....

 

with this "high revving sbc" in a heavy car what will you be using for transmission and rear end gears?

 

Prob run a 350 turbo trans and a 3.08 rear gear

 

Ouch. Bad combo.....

Go with the biggest motor you can and make TORQUE.

 

I wouldn't drive into the wind! You need to think about lower gears to make the hi-reving sbc work. Only my thoughs.

 

lets see, 3600 lb. Impala, tall gears and turbo 350 spells no go power. It'll have to be screaming to pull itself down the road with any kind of power. I'd go with a 3:73 rear or better and a 700r4 trans . Make better power and have overdrive for cruisin

 

the 427's with 425hp and a 4 speed went pretty well....

 

only in the want ads...


and i gots a 283 that'd look good in it
at least it'd look good anywhere else but my shop floor

 

327 with a 4 speed, or a 301

 

High RPM equals high dollars

Peaky motors in heavy cars equals outrun by lesser hardware.

Other than everything, that's a solid plan ya got there!

 

Hey Tom there's probably a little room left on my garage floor. Well I'd have to scoot some shit around. But you know hey anything to help out a friend.

As for the question at hand. A revver and a tall gear just don't mix. You can get away with a high winding SBC even with the boat but you'll have to go a little deeper with your gear than a 3.08. Probably a minumum of say 3.73 or so.

I'd probably go with a 377 (destroked 400). Run a gear somewhere in the 3.73 to 4.11:1 range and plan on turning up around 3500-4000 to keep up with traffic. Might consider buying a set of ear plugs and still plan on being all ragged out when you get where you're going.

But I do like your style, high rev cruising is a rush. A little hard on the nervous system but not any more so than crank.

 

Yeah you need at least 3:73s. Z28 flywheel too.

 

make it a lowrider... yeah..

 

Speaking from my experience with big boats, I think you'd want cubic inches, not cubic dollars spent on a high-revving small block. My old '64 Impala SS I put a torquey 350 in it. My '66 Tbird (4600lbs of steel) has a 428 in it. Big cars need torque, not screaming little motors in my opinion.

 

Just build the biggest cubed engine you can afford, i/e a 302 will out perform a 283. A 350 will out perform a 302, a 400 will out perform a 350, so on and so forth.

Forget about "high revving" a smaller cubed small block, all you're doing is spinning it higher to make the HP that a larger cubed smallblock will make at less RPM's.

I'd rather make 400HP at 6K with a 350, than 425HP at 8000 with a 302.

 

i'm thinking you guys FORGOT that those big ol tubs came with 283's in 'em...
that being said, a 400 sbc would be a good choice....
or a 283 with a 700 and 4.11's

 

If you really like the sound of your motor from inside the car, and you hate carrying excess gas in your tank-- that sounds like a great plan.

 

I thought that was the point here? If not I think this is the place to go...

http://www.talksmartcar.com/articles/2006/03/canada-smart-car-selects-t-shirts-to.html

Only the supercillious need apply... (snif)

 

1966?? Hell, that car is almost new!

 

1987 buick grand national eng and trany.all kinks of power and 20+ miles per gallon!

 

BIG BLOCK CHEVY is the only way to go in this car !!!!

I would seek out a 396 or 427 .... But sure wouldn't over look a nice 454 !

I would also lean REAL hard at a 4spd swap !

 

Be different and put in a 472/500 caddy or a 455 olds,buick.

 

The biggest thing that will fit in the hole has always been a good plan !!!! >>>>.

 

377-383-406 would be my choice for such a big car.

I built a flat top piston 64 cc chamber headed 408 for my 67 impala years ago. The thing rocked but I drag raced it more than streeted it so my stall convertor choicce wasnt the best.......it was a loose 10" stall with a posi 12 bolt 4.10. The big heavy cars need torque so do what you can. The destroked 400 usinf a 350 crank (4.125 bore/3.48 stroke) yeilds great power,rpms and lots of torque. The 383 does well also.

 

Let me be the first to say it depends on what you want to impale. If you are looking to impale crowds of unwitting people I would go with a 350 that way it would be more reliable than a high revving 283. If you are looking to impale herds of cattle you might be okay with a 350 also. Now herds of rhinos are another thing altogether. If you are looking to impale rhinos I would go with the 454 maybe even with a blower and injection.