Bench race me a V8

So I'm looking for a V8. Specs are must be pre2003 cost under $500 (prefer to zero out with donor) and have 250hp or more. Here's my thoughts.

BMW M60/62 Stock meets my power goals but I don't see a lot of room to add power cheaply. Plus is it's different.

Infiniti Q45 V8 hits all the goals but again no easy button if I want more power. Think it'll be harder to zero out as not add much market to sell used parts.

Small block Ford. They're everywhere. Should be easy upgrades. Wonder what an Explorer 5.0 would do with a cam swap and open headers? Downside is might have to go carb for the power upgrades and stay in budget.

Small block Chevy. See small block Ford except use VORTEC truck engine.

Any other engines?

Cam swapped explorer 302 with exhaust should be 300ish flywheel hp

Here in New England, you can score rusted out 5.0 Explorers for scrap money. Getting to be the case with 4.0 and 4.6 Land Rovers as well. I just turned down a free Explorer 5.0 with a 3.73 limited slip rear end.

I kind of think you should find a transmission you like first and let that restrict your choices. Otherwise we'll end up with so many ideas that this won't be worthwhile.

I agree with an easy 300hp out of a late 5.0 with a cam, a decent intake and carb, and a good exhaust. Stock cams in the 302 for decades were more like broomsticks and I don't think any of the FI intakes are all that good at flowing air.

I kind of like the idea of getting a 4.8 in a wrecked something. I like it more that I don't have to mess with it.

Cooper_Tired wrote: Cam swapped explorer 302 with exhaust should be 300ish flywheel hp

I second that. Those SBF 302's respond well to being unplugged.
If you decide to go carbs get a 4 barrel Holley (don't over do it) and decent intake manifold, air filter setup, plus headers. You will get a good result. A better cam would be icing on the cake.

pres589 wrote: I kind of think you should find a transmission you like first and let that restrict your choices. Otherwise we'll end up with so many ideas that this won't be worthwhile.

THIS x10.

Robbie wrote:

pres589 wrote: I kind of think you should find a transmission you like first and let that restrict your choices. Otherwise we'll end up with so many ideas that this won't be worthwhile.

THIS x10.

This line of logic will lead you to the GM product family. The TH(350/400) is the easy button for high HP transmissions.

Agreed on trans as a driver for the decision also weight and engine management unless you are getting a full donor car.

Trans would be whatever came with the donor engine to make things simpler and cheap.

If you go the 302 route: torque is your friend, RPM's are not (on a budget). So considering the gearing on whatever you're swapping into using a safe 5,000 rpm rev limit (and that's assuming you upgrade valve springs with your cam swap).

1uzfe with a good tune, headers and lsx tb will be very close to 300 hp. Transmissions are a little bit of a challenge but not impossible

Why prior to 2003? What's the restriction? I've heard 'not before XXXX' before due to swapping into a newer chassis, but not 'must be before'

What is the use case to help with engine choice?

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

In some cases, you have to meet the emissions requirements of engine or chassis, whichever is newer. That might be the reason.

I'll still take a 5.3/6.0 LS. If you play your cards right you can get a 4l80 attached.

In reply to Stampie:

I think if you go with the M60/M62, that using the earlier M60 tubular headers and cams on the M62 should help with power a little bit.

At least transmissions shouldn't be too tricky to source compared with the 1UZFE.

That said, the 302 or SBC are common swaps for a good reason. The parts are fairly reasonable, the engines are relatively easy to come by and the information for making power is readily available. It doesn't hurt that both engines are fairly compact compared to the DOHC options you might find.

would you include v6s if they meet the budget and power goals? the honda and nissan v6 offerings should easily fit as well.

if you are keeping it v8, I do love the idea of the BMW motor, because I am a fanboy. and this:

I looked on the Stampietown CL and there's someone selling the engine out of a Porsche 928 for $250. Says it needs rebuilt. Good luck!

I kind of like a 302/C4 combo for cost. What's a good condition C4 go for on the used market these days? Not playing by Challenge recoup rules, I'd think the busted Explorer donor situation could be a net zero situation on the money front. Like it goes into the black but then some speed parts brings it back to nothing.

In reply to Robbie:

I think you could buy into those engines cheap but I don't think you could get the rest of it done to make them worth dealing with unless you can create an adapter bellhousing setup ala the Red Pig Replica. Hmm. What do suitable Honda 3.5 donors go for?

The year limit is for ease of swapping to avoid canbus issues. Honestly the V8 is more emotional reasons. I can turbo any rwd inline 4 and get my goals but nothing has the rubble of a V8.

Robbie ... that look is very close to the picture I had in my mind when thinking of the BMW V8.

As the voice of dissent:

Mopar magnum 5.9. Slap a carb and air gap intake, add headers, and go! Should be 300/300 without removing a valve cover.

If you go tthis way, trans is the issue. Later trans required the computer, which was poorly tuned, and married to the beer keg intake. All crap.

Sell off the donor stuff into the black, and grab a 904 from a 318 car from the 70s.

pres589 wrote: I looked on the Stampietown CL and there's someone selling the engine out of a Porsche 928 for $250. Says it needs rebuilt. Good luck! I kind of like a 302/C4 combo for cost. What's a good condition C4 go for on the used market these days? Not playing by Challenge recoup rules, I'd think the busted Explorer donor situation could be a net zero situation on the money front. Like it goes into the black but then some speed parts brings it back to nothing.

Finding a c4 is harder then finding a 302/aod by far. A good c4 seems to be between 600-1000 around me. Ive been shopping them for 6 months.

Explorer 302 backed by an aode/ 4r70 would work if you dont mind running a transmission controller.

Remember to budget for head work or one of the fix it kits for the exhaust valves in the gt40p heads on the explorer motor if your upgrading the cam.

Stampie wrote: So I'm looking for a V8. Specs are must be pre2003 cost under $500 (prefer to zero out with donor) and have 250hp or more. Here's my thoughts. BMW M60/62 Stock meets my power goals but I don't see a lot of room to add power cheaply. Plus is it's different. Infiniti Q45 V8 hits all the goals but again no easy button if I want more power. Think it'll be harder to zero out as not add much market to sell used parts. Small block Ford. They're everywhere. Should be easy upgrades. Wonder what an Explorer 5.0 would do with a cam swap and open headers? Downside is might have to go carb for the power upgrades and stay in budget. Small block Chevy. See small block Ford except use VORTEC truck engine. Any other engines?

That '84 Vette in Jacksonville would have been a good candidate. I see the ad is still up.

Are we talking $500 or are we talking $500 challenge dollars where you could pick up at parts car somewhere else in the country? If the second have Pat find you a rusted but running 4.8,5.3 or 6.0 GM van or truck.

Keep in mind that VORTEC=/="VORTEC" only the port injected 350s (1996 through introduction of the GMT 800 trucks) had the "vortec" heads people talk about, the TBI Vortec motors had crappy swirl port heads that run out of breath at something like 4500rpm. There are probably a lot more of the desired 5.0 Exploders out there that lived more pampered lives, and you also get a limited slip 8.8 that way, and the 5.0 is a bit more compact (and way more compact than any OHC V8).

In reply to petegossett:

I called them Saturday and left a message. No response.

In reply to Andy Neuman:

This would be Challenge dollars so prefer a whole vehicle to zero out. I wouldn't use the 8.8 but that's an easy $200 sell especially the 4.10 that came on some Eddie Bauer.

That said I love the idea of the BMW. The engine just has the look. It's a lot like me in that it's difference and has quirks like oil pump bolts falling out but damn of it doesn't look good for its age.