Help me pick my engine! Update: engine picked!!

[nivvy]

Big Blocks completely rule and yes i voted for 440..... cubic inches makes power.... however with nascar etc... whatever there is alot more head technology out there for small blocks........... 

[71chally416]

For those that think the modern version of the old small block will never measure up to a BB or Hemi check out the SS/AS record holding NHRA car in this video I filmed at Cecil County in MD. It has a similar weight break to the SS/AH Hemi cars but has a little 396 cube small block with W-9 heads and a single 4 bbl. >http://streetwalker.homestead.com/files/8secondSBMope.wmv

The SS/AM record (same class, but with multiple carbs) is a similar Mope, but it does 8.01 @ 171.

Then there's Mettler's multiple Comp eliminator Wally winning PS/T Dakota truck that does low 7's with a 358 cube 985hp N/A small block, but that's another story.
   

[Ornamental]

Howabout something inbetween the 360 and 440... lets say a.......  .......mmmmmmm..... 426?! 

I want mileage and power. With CHrycho around and proform carburettors... you should be able to get near 20mpg with a 512stroker. So a stock 440ci would be all out fun and still get u 20mpg (if built right). I dont think there is TOO much difference in price... maybe 2-3000 dollars. If you dont have to spend anything... then yes 3000 extra is alot, but when you still gotta spend, then 3k extra or so isnt much more then the few thousand you need anyway. Do it once and then u wont have to worry about it later. + it will be more fun. Ofcourse if u dont/cant part with the extra $ then 360... personaly id say do a 383. Least its a big block and least its part of the cars. I dont think there was such thing as a 360 challenger?

 

Mileage and power, I think that is spelled "3G Hemi". 
You got 360 Challengers in 1974, and only then.

FWIW, I voted for 360.

[moper]

I'd really like to see a 512 that gets 20mpg. It will never happen. Tom's 422 does well at 17mgh... and that's with a big carb....lol. Then you have bellhousing, flywheel, mounts, radiator, brackets, etc. BB is way more $$, for no milage bonus. I could get a 440 to do 20 on the highway... built stock but with modern machining and careful tuning. Butit would be down on power because of the milage factor. I stick with 360 for budget, fitment, and balance of performance.

[71chally416]

I'd really like to see a 512 that gets 20mpg. It will never happen.

The new SRT Challenger is rated at 18mpg highway. It has a 370 cube motor with modern FI and long highway OD gearing. Do the math what a larger less efficient motor with a carb can get. 

[422STROKER]

I'd really like to see a 512 that gets 20mpg. It will never happen. Tom's 422 does well at 17mgh... and that's with a big carb....lol. Then you have bellhousing, flywheel, mounts, radiator, brackets, etc. BB is way more $$, for no milage bonus. I could get a 440 to do 20 on the highway... built stock but with modern machining and careful tuning. Butit would be down on power because of the milage factor. I stick with 360 for budget, fitment, and balance of performance.

If the weather holds I will get a good reading on it this weekend driving tdown to CT.

Tom

512 would be tough to get 20MPG unless the car weighed 1500lbs.LOL  That and a 6spd OD and 2.45's in the rear.

[ChallengerGary]

I think the 360 idea is probably the best.  There is a lot of power available with today's technology plus you can still get decent mileage.  Also, since down time is a factor, the engine swao is a lot easier small block to small block.

[nivvy]

I'd really like to see a 512 that gets 20mpg. It will never happen. Tom's 422 does well at 17mgh... and that's with a big carb....lol. Then you have bellhousing, flywheel, mounts, radiator, brackets, etc. BB is way more $$, for no milage bonus. I could get a 440 to do 20 on the highway... built stock but with modern machining and careful tuning. Butit would be down on power because of the milage factor. I stick with 360 for budget, fitment, and balance of performance.

Yea really... G-Man is still trying to do what no one in history has ever done....     

[71chally416]

The only 512 that has a prayer of 20mpg is a diesel   

[nivvy]

Hey... Chrycho Stands by achieving 20mpg with these motors. My engine builder also believes it can be done. HP2 gets 18mpg out of his 440 in a truck that has  tall gears and weighs heaps. Its all how its built.

Put it this way, if you go a small motor with say 500hp and a big ci motor with 500hp, the small block at the same power will chew up 1.5x more petrol than the big motor. Why? Its making the same power but stressing a hell of a lot more.

Ferrari as an eg: on race course was running 4mpg with its 400hp motor (3.0 litre engine) while the viper with its huge 8.2 litre engine (with about the same power) was getting 12mpg.

So if you want it done it can be done. Small block with power will ALWAYS use more fuel than a big block of the same power. 

G-Man how much money do you think is in those engines at ferrari...
Big engine cubes are seller to people... they viper would be gay if it had a 3.0 litre in it as it will lose its wow factor... 
My motor currently is 670 horse power and the gas mileage sucks but who cares....
They didnt have 20mpg from they day they were built by chyrsler engineers...

Here ill help you out in you 500HP 20mpg 440 quest...

68 charger
440
8 to 1 pistons
no AC
no Power Steering
no spare tire
no back seat
no passengers seat
28* timing
250 shot of nitrous
 

[72bluNblu]

Thanks for all the opinions again guys! 

I won't be going for the hemi just based on cost. I figure that if I budget things right I can get away with a small-block build for around 5k, there's no way I can make a hemi happen for that price. I'm pretty sure at this point I'll be sticking with the plan to go with a 360, although the BB's are tempting. I know the 360 isn't everyone's first choice, even I would rather have a 340 for that nostalgic vibe, but again the price isn't worth the vibe for me. And in '72 there weren't any BB chally's either, although I'm really not too worried about that in a '72 318/904 non #'s matching car. So its back to craigslist, although I'm looking at some of the "RV" (actual LA style shortblocks) available from mopar, as the price for the shortblock is fairly reasonable in comparison to the price to rebuild a block, with the benefit of it being a brand new block. 

[The Cuda Guy]

Its your car and you know what you need, want, can afford, timeline ect.   

But if it were my car....  440/512, Manual Trans with OD     

You will always hear about 440's and Hemi's for the rest of your life now.  Go BB while you have a budget.  Not that you cant get money later but why keep doing the same thing over and over.  For 5k you can rebuild a 440 with some Balls.

Sweet looking ride too by the way.

Don

[nivvy]

my 72 challenger came with a 440 in it....   

[72bluNblu]

Its your car and you know what you need, want, can afford, timeline ect.   

But if it were my car....  440/512, Manual Trans with OD     

You will always hear about 440's and Hemi's for the rest of your life now.  Go BB while you have a budget.  Not that you cant get money later but why keep doing the same thing over and over.  For 5k you can rebuild a 440 with some Balls.

Sweet looking ride too by the way.

Don

A very valid argument. I'm a little unfamiliar with all the transmission codes, what are the specs on the 512, and what could I find one in?

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Got a 360 for building,,spins free..