If I was to build an engine for my Maverick with performance curve like the on shown by the red line in the graph, which gear should I choose? Let's assume I'm using a 5 speed with 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, and 0.82 ratios. Tire size will be 215/65-16. I'm not worried so much about fuel mileage as having a car that's really fun to drive on the street and does very well on the dragstrip. I'm thinking around 3.55 but I want to hear everyone's professional opinion.
That's a 27 inch tall tire. Use a calculator like this:http://www.wallaceracing.com/calcmph.php 4.33s or 4.56s would be good. With 3.55s you would still be in 4th gear at 135MPH. You would never even see 5th! But with 4.33s you would be at 135MPH in 5th at 6000mph and 111 at 6000 in 4th. I would go for the 4.56. Plug it in and see how it looks. But my opinion isn't professional.
That car would be a monster. 215 tires would be a joke. If set up properly, you're talking a car that is going to laugh at Terminator Cobra's and eat Z06's for lunch with a good driver behind the wheel. I certainly hope you have proper suspension and braking modifications planned for the car, as well as a roll cage.
Just curious, Are you really gonna build a engine with that much horse for the street? Your gonna have some serious moocho bucks in that. Just asking,,,
IMO opinion a set of 4.10s or bigger upwards of a 4.88 Just depending on what size tire you set on/ comp ratio and/and cam specs.... I also think you are going to need to have tons of other things to make those ponies hit the ground.
Thinking about it, not sure yet. If I do build it I will drive it on the street. I guess my thinking is I can gear it kinda tall, maybe higher than 3.55 and use all that torque to get the car going and it would still be pretty quick. I don't know though, I don't have lots of experience with engine/gear combos so that's why I'm asking for input. I haven't priced everything out for myself, but I think the reciprocating assembly with heads and intake can be done for $6k-$7k. I gotta look at the article again, but it's a 418 based on a 351w. It'd be a mean sounding SOB!
if this is going to be used primarly on the street then 3.55s will be just fine. if you want to get the best pefromance possible on the track then your going to want around a 4.57. if your running the 8" still your going to blow the snot out of it if you get good traction on a luanch. you will want to get the bigest tire under that car that you can fit. its usually a 275-60-15. or a 28x10.5-15 slick. if your planing on using a t-5 trans, it wont hold up to that power level so you need to be looking at a tremmic tko if you want a over drive 5 speed. you also should have at least subframe connectors. really should have a cage, that motor makes more than enough power to make the car fast enough to require one on a nhra track. so ya a 600 hp motor is cool but cost to put that motor in a maverick and be able to use it is alot more than just the cost of the motor. i dont mean to shoot down your dreams but just makeing sure you see the whole picture.
I'd look at the wallet, look at engine spec's, look at wallet, Talk to suppliers or engine builder and more info from forums. Oh an did I say ,,, look at wallet,,, My own opinion, (everyone got 1 an they all stink cept for mine j/k) I would look at the 302 stroked for a street engine or a 408. 400 Hp on the street is TONS of horses! You are the MASTER an decision maker,, just trying to help. PLAN well so you wont be double-triple spending! Lots of great crate engines out there that may be just what you want. Good Luck! Keep Thinking an planing as your doing!!!
The bigger the numbers on the rear gear the more "fun" it will be on the throttle. I would go 4.10 to 4.50 on the gearing and the fattest, softest tires I could find and get to fit under the car. Traction is definately going to be more a concern than gearing.
Hmmm...wish I had $6k-$7k just sitting around.... Right now, I just need $800 for a trans rebuild, and cannot seem to scrounge that up.
After reviewing the article on the engine build (Popular Hot Rodding, June 2008) they claim the reciprocating assembly can be put together for about $1500. Then I would guess you would have almost the same money for a good set of heads, intake, and all the other bs to finish it off the same as any other short block. Maybe my original guess was a little high. I agree with dkstuck 100% about planning, asking, wallet checking, and double checking. That's why I'm looking for input. :Handshake I'd certainly enjoy making the other modifications to handle that engine even though my wallet might not!
