What Ever Happened To The Good Ole Days?

Jhussey1280 · Jun 20, 2013

I've been working on cars my whole life. I grew up in a time when all motor was the way to go. Now days everyone is all about the superchargers, turbos and NOS. Don't get me wrong I love the sound and power a turbo or supercharger gives, but what ever happend to building the motor and make the power that way? I know the main arguement is going to be cost. For $3k you can get about 400hp with FI. To do an entire engine build would run about $7k, but man making power out of all motor just appeals to me so much. I must be getting old. Haha.

Thoughts?

mransr · Jun 20, 2013

I think it has as much to do with the factories squeezing a lot more out of the engine to begin with as it is does the cost. There isn't as much left to get with basic bolt-ons as there used to be, And when you figure in the hassles of emission controls and working with electronic tuning rather then re-jetting a carb or re-curving a distributor it makes sense that power adders have become what most people go these days...

If I was building a 351C or a 427

or something like that I'd definitely go all motor, but with a modern engine power adders make too much sense...

Jhussey1280 · Jun 20, 2013

yeah I think you're right. Still makes me sad though haha.

jetmech807 · Jun 20, 2013

I turned 16 in 1987, so I got my start with old worn out muscle cars. A 1971Olds Cutlass Supreme to be exact. I gotta say, even though I was pretty good with 'em, I don't miss Quadrajets, or points for that matter. Back then there was diffinatly alot left on the table with 80's vehicles. The Buick GN and Fox bodies were the only relatively fast American cars. The bowtie brigade sucked, and that includes the all mighty Corvette. Chrystler was a joke, although the little 2.2 Omnis were pretty quick. My dad had one and we both enjoyed smoking mouthy V8 drivers. I still miss the good ole days, but, my 03 outclasses everything from that era. When i say that, I'm talking about when 80's fox's were new. Not the worked over, tuned up masterpieces that they have become.

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Diode Dynamics · Jun 21, 2013

I'm just amazed at how incredible the 2013+ GT500s are, to get 662hp and not have to pay the gas guzzler tax is nothing short of a miracle. I think FI and nitrous has become so popular because of how much easier it is to get huge gains from essentially a bolt on component. If they made FI tech as well as they do today back then, I'm sure everyone would have gone FI. That said, I admire people who stick with N/A and do full builds.

-Nick C.

Mattstang04 · Jun 21, 2013

What bothers me is that when I was 12 years old, you could find an old Cutlass, Chevelle, Nova, Mustang, Dart, etc. at a reasonable price and build substantial power with cam, head and intake swaps or headers and gears. By the time I started shopping for my first vehicle, Barrett Jackson and baby boomers sent the price of old American v8 cars into orbit. I learned how to work on those old cars because of other people that had them. I would love to own one but to this day cant justify the costs.

There's no going back now. Emission law, fuel costs, and the cost of horsepower these days prevents the torque monsters from re-emerging. Turbos, superchargers, and nitrous are evening the odds though. My car isn't a slouch against a lot of the old pushrod cars. Not to mention handle better, play CDs,and operate reliably, all while cranking the AC.

jetmech807 · Jun 21, 2013

I'd love to build another Cutlass, but yeah the price is crazy. A shell costs $3000+. There is so much more available for Oldsmobiles now though. If I ever win the lottery...... Kinda hard though since I live in the gambling capitol of the world, but it won't allow a lottery.

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Jhussey1280 · Jun 21, 2013

I decided to build my 98 GT as an all motor car and the cost was like holly cow. $6800 to do it, but for me I would enjoy it more that way that with some type of FI.

Kornnut · Jun 22, 2013

Technology is the replacement for displacement.

Gearbanger 101 · Jun 22, 2013

Don't know what you're talking about. Us pushrod OHV guys are still doing it on motor. The 4.6L just has it rough because the market isn't flooded with endless top end combo's for you the Modular's like they are the OHV's. Stroker combos aren't really a viable option, so your only alternative is a power adder. Buzzing the top end of the tach is cool, but it's tough owning a car that seems to only make it up top. A V8's gotta make a lot of torque down low.

A positive displacement supercharger was the first mod I made to my last 4.6L. I'd never own another without one.

jetmech807 · Jun 22, 2013

Once my trans swap is done and my suspension is finished, Kenne Bell is gonna be my friend.

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72 fastback · Jun 22, 2013

this thread makes me want to fix my 72 stang. But I will take out the stock 02 conv with the kenne bell on it.

flstang65 · Jun 22, 2013

They both have their pros and cons. When it comes down to it, IMHO, it costs about the same to put down the same numbers on either type of motor.

Mattstang04 · Jun 24, 2013

I talked to a guy at a car show this year. He brought his $48000 68 Charger RT with a 440 auto and his 09 GT500. He said the Charger was explosive with low end power. The GT500 would catch it and beat it but the Charger was instant right foot gratification. He went on about how much more controlled the GT500's power is with its engine management and throttle by wire.

He also explained how it took him 3 years to get his Charger to the annual show. The first year it leaked fuel. The second year it broke down on the way to the show. That's a fully restored $48000 car that couldn't drive 20 minutes to a car show, 2 years in a row.

That would make me furious but then again I don't have his money and certainly not his patients. The old cars have character and are, as he said, "explosive" and less controlled.

Kornnut is right about technology replacing displacement. Still there's something to be said for the old style of power production.

Sorry this turned into a novel.

Diode Dynamics · Jun 25, 2013

This sound

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLSUjd1jh94

sneaky98gt · Jun 30, 2013

Why does no one build an all motor 4.6? Simple. Because it doesn't make sense. It's the same reason most people don't take a 95 Corolla and work it up, or a 92 Ford E-150 van, or whatever. You can do it so much easier and cheaper with FI, and make more power to boot.

Gearbanger 101 said:
A positive displacement supercharger was the first mod I made to my last 4.6L. I'd never own another without one.

Yup. BTW, the low-end torque from a ported Eaton is awesome.

Gearbanger 101 · Jun 30, 2013

sneaky98gt said:
Yup. BTW, the low-end torque from a ported Eaton is awesome.

I remember. Mine was ported and pullied.

tank_567 · Jul 2, 2013

How to make great NA power with a mod motor:

Step 1. Remove the 4.6l SOHC/DOHC

Step 2. Install a 11-13 5.0l DOHC Coyote

Step 3. Enjoy

EDIT: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335821607&icep_item=300926848941 5k for motor and trans is a good deal.

sneaky98gt · Jul 9, 2013

Gearbanger 101 said:
I remember. Mine was ported and pullied.

Ah, didn't realize that.

Well, mine has been ported for about a month now, and as of two days ago, pullied as well. Right at 10 pounds of boost. Getting re-tuned in a couple of weeks. Have barely even gotten on it since Sunday, and I can already tell a massive difference (even with it REALLY rich and a decent bit of timing pulled out).

Gonna try and go for the SVO blower record now.

Gearbanger 101 · Jul 10, 2013

sneaky98gt said:
Ah, didn't realize that.

Well, mine has been ported for about a month now, and as of two days ago, pullied as well. Right at 10 pounds of boost. Getting re-tuned in a couple of weeks. Have barely even gotten on it since Sunday, and I can already tell a massive difference (even with it REALLY rich and a decent bit of timing pulled out).

Gonna try and go for the SVO blower record now.

Mine was an S-Ported M90, so it's top end potential was going to be limited no matter what...but man did it ever come on quick in the bottom end. I made 465lbs/ft with it....350lbs/ft of which came on as low as 1,800RPM. Made that big 4,000lb Cougar of mine feel a lot lighter than it really was.

What Ever Happened To The Good Ole Days?

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