Some "Rodney Dangerfields" that could make big power...

There's been a "Bigger is better" movement in Hot Rodding the last several years-witness GM, Ford and Chrysler all selling mega hp 500+ inch crate engines. Aftermarket companies like Edelbrock,ATK and Blueprint engines all sell monster motors as well as stroker kits to make a 350 Chevy into a 383, a 360 Mopar into a 408,a 351 Ford into a 427, etc, etc. These are all good investments that offer great performance-If you can afford them. But not everyone can afford 10 or 15 grand for a custom crate motor. But don't despair-there are a lot of "forgotten" engines that can still make big power for low bucks. Here's the list that offers the most "Bang" for the buck. # 1. Small-Block Chevy. Whenever someone says "Small Block Chevy" everyone automatically thinks "350". However-from 1958-67 the 283 V8 was available in just about every Chevrolet model. Ditto for the 327 from 1962-69. My cousin had a 283 powered '63 Nova that was wicked fast. Most '58 and later 283 blocks can be overbored to 301 inches. In a light car like a Nova or '64-67 Malibu these can really rock-especially with a stick and stiff gears ( 4.11 or 4.56:1 ) and a solid-lifter cam-they can rev to 7,500 easily if you have the valvetrain. In heavier cars like Chevelles, El Caminos,Camaros etc-a 327 can really rock. They can make just as much power as a 350-but at higher rpm. Because of the extra cubes they'll have more torque than a 301 but you'll still need a 4-speed and 3.73:1 or stiffer gears or if you want to run an automatic you'll need a 2,500 -3,000 rpm converter and 3.73:1 or stiffer gears. With the right cam,carb and intake-a 327 can make big power from 2,000-7,200 rpm and stay together. I've seen guys run them 8 grand-but your just beating up the valvesprings and bottom-end-they don't make any more power above 7-especially with stock type heads. In a car under 3,600 lbs-these can be a fun alternative to the cookie-cutter 383s that are in everything. And GMPP and Eagle offer 3.00 or 3.25 inch cranks and rotating assemblys so you could build a 301 or a 327 from a 350 block if you wanted to-and it may be cheaper than trying to find an old one.  # 2. 389 Pontiac. In every buff magazine-"THE" setup for a Pontiac is a cut-down 455 crank in a 400 block to get 461 or 467 cubes. However the 389 was standard equipment in just about every Pontiac model from 1959-66. If you have one or can buy one cheap they can really rip with the right equipment. Especially in a light car like an early Tempest or Firebird or Ventura. All you have to do is accentuate what Pontiac did from the factory-make big power and torque at low rpm. When you've got 430 lbs of torque at 2,800 rpm-you don't need to rev to 7 grand. If you can find a tri-power setup and want to use it-great. Otherwise an Edelbrock P4B or Performer Intake and 750 carb will work great. If you want dual-quads the Edelbrock P65 and two 600 carbs work and look great.  If you have a 4-speed and 3.55:1 or stiffer gears you can use the factory RAIV / Edelbrock Performer RPM cam. It will have badass lope and still have 10 inches of vacuum at 900 rpm, and pull like a rocket to about 5,800. If you have an automatic I'd use a 2,500 rpm converter and 3.90:1 or stiffer gears or I'd use the milder RAIII cam with an auto and 3.23:1-3.73:1s. ( Lunati has the best version ). Edelbrock offers D-Port aluminum heads that will fit these engines and Eagle makes crank kits that turn one into a 421 if you so desire. The 400s that were used from '67-79 are much more plentiful and have better breathing heads stock-so if you have or can get a 400 cheap do it. But if the car you have or are buying has a 389 or someone wil sell you one cheap-they can really run with the right combination. # 3. 390 Ford. These were used in millions of Ford cars and trucks from 1963-76. There is still great aftermarket support-Edelbrock claims 452 hp and 428 lbs of torque from the Performer RPM package. Since "FE" engines look externally identical-you could build a Cobra replica or Thunderbolt clone and no one would know it's not a 427. Ditto for building a 428CJ Mustang or Cougar clone-no one but you would know it's a 390. # 4. 383 / 400 Mopar. The 383 was used from 1963-71, and the 400 ( which is just a bored-out 383 ) was used from 1972-78. There is great aftermarket support-aluminum heads, cams etc. A 383 can run just as strong as a 440-just at higher rpm. A guy I know has a 383 Duster that runs 10s.  Any of these forgotten warriors can really rip with the right combination and be built cheaply,and be unique. Mastermind