When muscle car enthusiasts think of muscle car engines, they typically think about big blocks made of iron that are usually run by an aggressive nitro-methane engine or a high capacity “hot dog” version that has been designed for high-speed racing. But muscle car engines also come in many varieties such as flat top versions, small block versions, and many others. Many muscle car enthusiasts prefer to build their muscle car engines rather than buy them from muscle car specialty shops or muscle car racing events. And while there is no shortage of websites where you can go to find muscle car engines for sale, it’s also good to know what you should know before you start your muscle car engine search.
Start With Basics
To ensure that your muscle car engine is going to run properly, you will need to start by checking the air filter. If your muscle car doesn’t have one fitted, it’s time for a new one. Most muscle car enthusiasts agree that a muscle car engine needs its fair share of air filtering so dirty air can be replaced with clean air before going out for a ride. Some muscle car owners even go so far as to say that adding an oil filter to the engine is necessary as well. For those muscle car owners without an oil change kit, this might mean adding a couple of extra items to your list of things to do. But muscle car enthusiasts swear by muscle car engine exhausts for the performance benefits they provide.
Of course, any muscle car engines for sale comes with a price tag attached. But when you start researching the different options available, you may be surprised to see how affordable some of the more popular models can be. There are several popular models from the 1960s and ’70s that still have functional engines; you just have to hunt and peck to find them. Many of these muscle car engines use original parts; meaning you don’t need to buy a whole new vehicle to get the job done. You should check the specifications of the model you’re interested in carefully to make sure that the engine you choose will work with the other components you already own.
Engine Types
For Ford muscle car engines, you can go with either small block or mid-block stroker engines, regardless of whether you opt for a block or cylinder-based engine. Many people are familiar with the small block Ford muscle car engines that are typically found in the Mustangs and Chevelles. Cylinder based engines tend to be lighter and have a lower compression ratio compared to block muscle car engines.
Displacement
The next thing to consider when purchasing muscle car engines is displacement. There are four major categories of muscle car engines: Magnum, V-12, SOHC, and HHO. A Magnum horsepower rating is determined by the piston displacement, bore and stroke length, and compression ratio of the engine. If you want your engine to produce more horsepower, then you’ll likely need to increase the piston displacement.
For a Magnum block muscle car engine, you will need to increase the bore and stroke length by at least 40 per cent. However, before going to this extreme, it is best to find out what the current market average is for these dimensions. Then, you can determine how much of an increase in bore and stroke you need to make to produce the highest horsepower numbers. Once you have your current average, then you can make your purchase.
Exhaust
If you’re looking for a power increase, then a muscle car exhaust system is what you should look for. Muscle car exhausts are designed to maximize power and minimize horsepower waste. For example, to propel a car very fast down the road, the exhaust system needs to expel a lot of exhaust gasses. That’s why these exhausts are typically very large. They also have very snappy backbeats to help get the cat fast!
Muscle car engines are just a cylinder away from building that incredible power that all muscle car enthusiasts covet so much! But, before building a muscle car engine, you should make sure to pick the right side of the cylinder for your particular car. You should also be sure to do the proper installation of your cylinder. And, lastly, remember to keep the cylinder displacement size appropriate for your car and your intended use!