Quote:
Originally posted by Stump
If you take a 4 banger and mod the fuck out of it, you can get some pretty good HP numbers (torque is another issue) 
As far as 5L engines are concerned, I think they're over-rated. Why bother paying 10 G's on an engine when you can get a B18C 4 banger for like 5k and a big turbo for like 4k... not only does it cost alot less, it also retains its great gas mileage (which is something domestics are less than good at)
Ah yes. The wonderfull domestic/import arguments kick ass. The domestic guys seem to have a shorter fuse tho.. EH, I call em as i sees em.
Anyway, I saw a pic once and it said something along the lines of "dont mess with me or i'll argue with you over the internet".
Heh.
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well, someone has got to set the record strait, so i guess i'll do it.
first of all, for the $5k you spent just to buy the block of that little 4cyl, i can build a v8 that will be faster. without the $4k turbo. spend dollar for dollar on an import 4cyl motor vs a good v8, and the v8 will hands-down have exponentially more power.
$10k on a ricer motor might net you 350-400hp if done very correctly and carefully. $10k on a v8 can net you 800hp or more, depending on the longevity and parts used (i.e. a crower entry-level 4340 crank vs. a trickflow top-end 4340 crank).
you can build a small block chevy to 400hp and still get 20mpg. it's been done, nothing new. and you can do that for probably around $6000.. i'm working on a similar project now.
the only import motor that i can think of that you can get extremely good numbers on relatively low $$ is the rx7 motor. they did that one right.
but, under NO circumstances is there EVER a replacement for displacement. dollar for dollar, the larger motor will win. generally even big blocks do a tiny bit better than a small block, as well. a 7+L motor modded about the same as a 5.7 will always make more power.
as far as horsepower ratings, gm is very notorious for under-rating their power numbers. i've heard ford guys say this as well. i've seen it, i've owned them, it's true. even rwhp. take for example the most notable under-rating around. the (late-60's early-70's era) corvette was rated at a respectable 350hp. a _completely stock_ model was dynoed - 30 years later - and was still pulling a healthy 450hp. on the showroom floor, this was probably around 500hp.
i've never seen an import do anything like that, and i've owned a few of those, and am around a lot. if they did that, there's no excuse for my old toyota turbo celica not to be blowing away 3rd gen camaros on a regular basis.
and in the end, do you know a single 4cylinder car that can make 10hp per cubic inch? nope. 5000hp on 500cid:
there are decent imports out there, but it would take too much money and too much work to make a 1.4L 4 banger to romp on a $7000 v8 in a camaro.
enjoy!
