You can type here any text you want

is the 502 ci chevy a good block to do.

Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!

wiked87gn

Banned
Joined
May 25, 2001
Messages
2,492
is the 502 ci chevy a good block to do a twin turbo set up, anybody know how reliable this motor is, if i am correct is a 1992 motor low mileage,how much boost will it hold before it goes kaboomm??

thanks
 
IMHO, I would build something smaller.
No offense to the guys who like Conley's new Tweaked car, but I personally dont think the turbo big blocks are all that impressive.
Call me biased, but a well prepped twin turbo small block is definitely more impressive.
Btw, 1992 is the first year for the Gen 5 castings of which GM changed the water jackets. This meaning that older heads will not work. To most guys, the Gen 5 engines arent worth building as there are too many differences.
 
I saw a nice 540 on the dyno at Duttweiler's the last time I was out there. It was a street motor with a mild cam, twin 76 turbos, etc. It made 1000 hp on 94 octane pump gas. That sounds attractive to me. :)
 
Plenty of guys have made 2000-2200hp with a turbo small block, so unless you plan on making more than that and running it up against the Pro Mod cars I'd use a small block!:) BTW, how much HP you looking to make with a twin turbo V8?? Boost has nothing to do with how long the block will last rather it's HP that matters!
 
Originally posted by KendallF
I saw a nice 540 on the dyno at Duttweiler's the last time I was out there. It was a street motor with a mild cam, twin 76 turbos, etc. It made 1000 hp on 94 octane pump gas. That sounds attractive to me. :)

Yeah but Meaney made 1300hp on pump gas with a twin turbo (two PT-52 turbos) 406ci SBC so again you really don't need a big block!!!:D
 
i was looking at making maybe

800 to 900 hp with the 502 and a set of TE45a turbos.
 
Rather than use a 502 why not use a standard 350 chevy block and a pair of 60-1 turbos.... Lou Czarnota made around 900rwhp and ran 9.0's @150+mph with this setup:)
 
502's don't impress me

My uncle stuffed a 502/502 in his 82 vette - and my little 6 beats in by almost a second and a half in the 1/4 :D I told him his probelm is between the seat and the steering wheel.

Build a small block:

1: Lighter
2: Cheaper
3: Did I mention Cheaper
 
Maybe hes doing it for the cool factor. Kinda like people who build roots blown big blocks. If it were me, I would do a small block. But Im not much of a chevy guy.
 
We built a 540 69 Camaro (Gen5) last year with a FAST system and a non intercooled Procharger that made 1040hp at the rear wheels on 13# of boost with 93 octane. The car went 9.30's at 148 on MT Sportsman tires through the muffs. A BBC is phenominally strong compared to the Bv6 or SBC, a few mods and you have the ultimate in reliability (and weight!!!)
Bill
 
Check out this guys car.

427 small block, twin turbo. 1200HP/1000lbs.tq.

www.montygwilliams.com

If you really want a big block, go for an earlier 454 or 427 or something. Like it was said before these new Gen 5's aren't worth it.
 
I;ve been told that the Mark V & VI blocks have thin castings on the cylinder walls. I am going to use a World products Merlin II block(454). But i am going single turbo. A single 88 should get an easy 900-1000 on pump gas. The real question is do you lean to one side when you sit, in other words do you have a FAT wallet ? If you do then build a big block, if not go with a peewee one.Don't let the peewees scare you , most are just use to working with small things.:D What kind of car are you trying to build? That makes a difference as to how much you can stuff under the hood.
 
it will go into a 86 GN body..

it will go into a 86 GN body :D with a 400turbo trannie,4,000 stall NL, not sure what i want for the rear yet..
 
Have you ever seen a big block in one of these cars? Turboed or not. See if you can find one and get some pictures, it could help make your discision on using a big block or small block. On mine i'm having to relocate the battery so i have a place to put the turbo. And having a 5 inch exhaust coming off the turbo makes mine just another thing you have to make room for. Try and make a plan and stick to it, are you going to intercool? If yes , are you going to have one or two. Is this a street car or track? If street do you want air conditioning? Specialty Products Design has a lot of big block flanges for making headers, tubing, j-bends,u-bends and turbo flanges. On another note i talked to you awhile back about your TA-60, i ended up with a TA-61. Now it looks like i have to get a new trans and a little stall.
 
I have pics, or a pic. This is a 502 in a '87 Cutlass.

21214683.jpg
 
Originally posted by 86brick
Rather than use a 502 why not use a standard 350 chevy block and a pair of 60-1 turbos....

Why not a "BUICK"350???

Lighter weight, longer stroke. Best with '70 "BUICK" heads.:)
 
I would go big block because:

Stronger block
Heads flow much better than a small block. Means more hp on pump gas.

downsides

weight
not much room for plumbing
will destroy anything except the toughest rear end and tranny


I wouldnt do a 502 though. The siamese cylinder bores are weaker and dont cool as well. similar to the 4.1 v6 problems.

I would do a 468 or a 496;)
 
I would do a 350 or a 383 and make the same power on pump gas and for less money. I dont know someone doing that ;)
 
Originally posted by buickman69
Why not a "BUICK"350???

Lighter weight, longer stroke. Best with '70 "BUICK" heads.:)

I would LOVE to see somebody do this in a GN..low buck style. Modified stock or ATR headers, GN accessories, mild cam and perhaps a SyTy ECM...can you say pump gas stump puller?
 
Back
Top