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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Which US V8 engine to choose?


Homer

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This is a bit of a general conversation topic, but I wondered which engine some of you more informed chaps would choose to install in a Supra.

 

One important point is the budget - The engine must not cost more than £1k for a long block, or £2k complete.

 

Here are the options I have got so far:

 

429 BB Ford FE series. Iron block. £100-£400

460 BB Ford Iron block £500

350 SBC. Iron block. £400-£600

350 SBC part built. Iron block. £1k

400 Pontiac iron block. £300

350 SBC LS1 cutout £5k :innocent:

 

Bell housing and clutch options are obviously a concern.

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From what I can remember......

 

The big-blocks are enormously heavy and expensive to mod.

 

Small-block Fords are smaller and lighter than small-block Chevys.

 

 

The Ford Windsor small-blocks are revvier than the Cleveland small-blocks.

 

 

SBC parts are cheaper than SBF parts.

 

(but I'm sure someone who actually knows what he's talking about will be along soon :)).

 

EDIT:

Oh, and you might have to make sure it's a pre '92(?) engine number to avoid cat emissions testing.

 

EDIT again:

Found this on a kit car site. Don't know if it applies to re-engined production cars, though.

 

Engine block Date- to 31-7-75 = no visible smoke

 

Engine block Date- 1-8-75 to 31-7-86 = Visual &

 

Engine block Date- 1-8-86 to 31-7-95 = Visual &

 

Engine block date- 1-8-95 on = With oil temp at 60 degrees C, Visual & @ fast idle [2500-3000rpm

Edited by garethr (see edit history)
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Cost of purchase and tuning aide, look at sump belly orientation, or availability of a suitably shaped sump. As you know I favour the SBC or BBC for knowledge and parts availability over here. A SB or BB Chevy V8 cammed up with decent compression, even on a carb and disi can still produce the numbers.

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