Looking for suggestions to upgrade 81 vette motor

[Mach2Vette]

Guys,
I just bought a 81 vette with a 406 motor. The car runs great and drives fine, but I was wondering what mods you'd do next if you owned the car and had 2000 burning a hole in your pocket. Car will be street driven only for pleasure cruising, shows, etc... here's what she has so far...

406 CID SBC Engine (6.7L)
3951509 2-bolt main
5.7" rods
Keith Black Forged small-dish pistons
ARP Bolts
400 Cast Crank turned 10/10
9.5/1 Compression
186 Chevy "fuelie" Heads (small camel humps)
64 cc chamber
2.02/1.6 valves
1.6 Roller Rockers
Hyd Flat Tappet Lifters
Steam Holes Drilled
Ported & Polished
Cam specs
Lift 510
Dur 224/223
Total Dur 270
LSA 110
Double Roller Timing Chain
HEI Distributor
9mm wires
Mallory 6853M Hyfire 6AL Ignition System
ProComp coil
Dual Holley 4160 450 CFM 4 Barrel Carbs
No choke
Vacuum secondaries w/balance tube
BDS Scoop
TH350 Tranny from Buick w/3000 stall (9.5")
Tranny adapter
B+M Shift Kit
Trans Cooler
B+M tranny pan w/drain plug
140 amp Chrome Alternator
Centerline Polished Aluminum Convo Pro Wheels
15" x 8.5", 3.375" Backspacing
Cooper Cobra G/T Tires
265/50R15 Front
295/50R15 Rear
Headman "shorty" Headers w/1 Chamber Flowmasters
VB&P 550# front springs with 1/2" coil cutoff
3.55 Rear Diff


Thanks,
Jeff

 

[grumpyvette]

FIRST let me say that appears to be a rather clean example of a an almost 30 year old car, congrats!

as to the upgrades for $2k, Id want to know more about your goals


obviously a good set of cylinder heads would improve the power levels,id be surprised if a better set of aluminum brodix heads did not result in an extra 30 plus flywheel hp
http://www.jegs.com/i/Brodix/158/1021004/10002/-1#

but you might be into having the car look a bit differently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grztIXf ... re=related

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/ ... %2Bexhaust

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lcVvt5rLPM

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HOK-2234HKR/?rtype=10

 

[Indycars]

I must say, that is one very nice looking Vette!!!

Unless I missed it, you didn't mention what intake manifold was on the engine. I was reading your comments without looking to see what Grumpyvette was going to say and the first thing that came to mind was the heads also. Depending on your goals you might want to change the rear gear ratio, but that's going to make it turn a few more R's on the highway. You can check this table of RPM vs Tire Size at 70 mph to see how it would effect your highway RPM's.
viewtopic.php?f=99&t=3355

Is that .510 lift with the 1.6 rockers or with the stock 1.5 rockers? If you had the cam manufacture and number, that would provide more detailed information.

 

[Mach2Vette]

Guys - Thanks for the compliments. She turns heads wherever she goes and it's a real hoot to drive. I love setting off car alarms when I drive past!

Grumpyvette - You're the best man! Appreciate the quick reply and the suggestions. I was thinking that aluminum heads would be an upgrade, just not sure how difficult it would be to get the steam holes drilled into a set of aftermarket heads (or if the had versions that came that way). I see you and I have similar taste as well. I think a set of nice chrome or stainless sidepipes would rock on this car and really compliment the shiny bits sticking out of the hood. My only concern there is that the car has been lowered to eliminate the wheel gap (which I like) and I only have 7.5" of ground clearance at the lowest forward point of the rocker panels (just behind front wheels). I'll have to research whether the pipes will fit. I'm hesitant to raise the car since I like its current stance. The current mufflers are placed just under the rear spring and the previous owner welded about 8" of 2 1/2 inch pipe to the muffler (the exhaust pipes end at about the back of the rear wheels), giving me about 2 1/2 inches of ground clearance at the mufflers. I'm sure the sidepipes would steal some of my power as well, but if I upgrade the heads, maybe it'll be a push.

Rick - Thanks for taking the time to reply. She has a weiand tunnel ram intake, and I'm wanting to keep that since I like the look (although turning right is a challenge) .

 

[Mach2Vette]

P.S. She last dyno'd (before I got her) at around 404Hp and about that same amount of Tq. I'm looking to get somewhere around 450Hp/450 Tq if I can (Tq has priority). I think the rebuilt Turbo 350 should be able to handle that, although a 2004R w/overdrive looks tempting. I'm not looking for high RPM ops, probably limit myself to 6000-6500 RPM range max.