do you think his hp estimates are accurate? would bowl porting put me at 375hp or is it not worth it?

 

Yep, building motors is just not a cheap endeavor.

You would have to ask them about the heads, it is possible to hog them out for larger valves, but, given that the stock heads tend to crack between the valves seats anyway, I would see that option as nothing more than a recipe for disaster.

I wouldn't use the stock heads on a new rebuild anyway. There are lower cost alternatives for good heads. Clearwater has better design stockers (1.92 valves) for under 300 each. You would have to call and chat with 'em about anything meaner, as their online store just is NOT very informative. They have "monster magnum" heads for 475 each, but, zero information about what makes them "monsters".

As for horsepower estimates..... all depends on what he is using for intake and fuel management. Those are baseline numbers only, and to be taken with a grain of salt...... He was probably using a single plane manifold, and a big carb..... NOT what you are going to be running........ you will probably not make the same numbers as he advertises......

 

the air gap and eventually 24# injectors is where i should be right?

 

i found a 408 stroker on craigslist, it was built by a local machine shop and has been sitting in a 95 dodge dakota for about 1 year or so waiting to be fully assembled and hooked up by the owner who is in the military. the owner no longer wants it and is selling it for $1500, he said he has all the paperwork for it. should i be concerned with rust or anything? he said it has been filled with oil the entire time and cranks over just fine. good deal or bad idea?

 

Have a look..... even if you have to disassemble it, and put in new gaskets and such, it would still be worth it.

 

so you think i should take the heads off and have a look into the cylinders? and if no rust its good to go

 

If it has never ran....... you should be able to just tear it down, clean it up with a hone, and put it back together. Only parts required would be a gasket set...... plus, you would KNOW what things looked like inside.

Offer him 1000. Show him the cash. I bet he takes it.

 

yea good idea... just outta curiosity, he said hes cranked it before, if he cranked it would oil film prevent the rust or would the film be long gone over a years time? or could the machine shop have put come sort of coating on it?

 

Cranking it would put some more oil on the cylinder walls and such, but, sitting for such a long time.... I doubt that it is still there. That was the reason I suggested tearing it down, and inspecting/cleaning it. Everything should be re-usable, except gaskets.....

 

i know the tranny wont hold up long, but as far as the rest of the truck goes- is it ready for a 408? will the 9.25 rear end hold up? t-case?