Anyone notice all the 500 H.P. engines lately in Car Mags??

[Guynn <amx69@xxxxxxxxxx>]

There sure seem to be a lot of Chevy [3 at least] and AMC, MOPAR, and 
Ford engine builds. Most seem to be in the 500 H.P. or better range on 
Pump Gas, some on 87 octane. Notice the parts they use in almost every 
situation. One main ingrediant is Aftermarket big CC port heads. Next is 
a Roller cam. Some solids, some Hydraulic.Usually custom grind, not off 
the shelf.  And in everything except AMC, used an Edelbrock Air Gap 
intake.Next in line is the normal shortblock buiuld up with compression 
in the 10 to 1 range.

Now, if you noticed, look over that list of parts. In many they even 
price everything out. Most run between the $6000.00 to $6500.00 range 
[however, they do not add in machine work on many build ups]. Hey 
Guys.... AMCers can now do the same thing. We have the parts available. 
A mix of aftermarket and Factory parts can put nearly anyone behind the 
wheel of a 500 H.P. pump gas AMC engine.

Like Nich said, this is not your average $3000.00 overhaul/rebuild. When 
you build an engine with the power these engine builds show, it costs 
money. There is not a lot you can ''scrimp'' on and make it cheaper.

Three years ago we built a customer a 360 Rock Crawler engine. Put on 
INDY heads, small Hydraulic Roller, Choked it with a Performer intake, 
it made 349 H.P. @ 4900 RPM. It had over 400 Ft # TQ from 2200 thru 
4200. The entire costs of the build including Dyno time was just over 
$6300.00 and when the customer came to us he had an Intake and Carb, and 
a Dream. So, that was buying the short block, and building from there. 
Everything new.
Two Points here,
#1, For the same money, had he wanted/needed more cam, for that 500 H.P. 
the costs would have remained exactly the same. One Hydraulic roller 
costs the same as another.
#2, Three years ago that build even included all the labor.

This goes to prove what I have been telling folks for years that WHINE 
about AMCs costing more to build. BULL CRAP!!!! All things being equal 
in quality available, it costs the same money to build a reliable 500 
H.P. engine with aftermarket parts no matter what kind of American 
automotive engine you are building.

When you gripe about AMC prices, than goodness we don't have any of 
those $76.00 per pr. head gaskets some of these guys use. Chevy 
Cheaper?? Sure is if you are talking box stock rebuild for your Farm 
truck. Cheaper when using Equal parts available to AMCers ?? NO, they ar 
about the same.

I say Quit Bitching and Start Building engines while we still have some 
to build. If you are so hung up on Cheap Chevies, Go get one and be 
happy. Be glad you got what you wanted, a Cheap Chevy.

Want to see some prices that will rock your world?? Go price Pontiac, 
Olds, Buick, or Cadilac parts. Then tell me how much AMCs costs to 
build. Next go back to the Cheap Chevy. Now go build a 406 Small Block 
with all forged lower end, build your AMC 406 shortblock, Show me now 
how much cheaper all the aftermarket parts to build a Forged 406 Chevy 
is cheaper than building a Forged lower end STOCK parts AMC. It ain't 
happening.

If  folks were not aware that the huge influx of Cheap Forged 
Aftermarket rods that started about 15 years ago was not Chineses 
Imports, you just have not kept up on the automotive aftermarket.The  
majority of aftermarket rods, and Crankshafts are Chinese Imports. 
Everyone in the Aftermarket carries the stuff but since they ''finish'' 
the pieces, they will have various names. SUPERSTOCK rods, HOWARDS RODS, 
SCAT, EAGLE,CROWER, ETC, all have a very low end aftermarket Chevy rod 
that is imported. Some do also make all USA rods. Don't be scared of the 
Good imports, they are fine. It is the cheapest stuff I would shy away from.

The Chinese are the oldest makers of Iron and Steel, so they know how to 
smelt metal. As long as the material grade is correct everythiung should 
be fine if the finish machining is correct.

Regards,

Randy Guynn