upgrade a 7.4-330hp?
 

Just bought a 23 nova and might turn it up this winter. Is my 7.4-330hp a workable platform or should I look for something else? Looking for 500hp, what are my options?

You wil be able to use the block, thats about it. Get out your wallet because you will have a bunch of money in it. Look in the swap shop, there is a HP525 for sale. Buy that then sell yours as a working engine or keep a spare.

I've got a 530 hp 439 that I'm going to sell... It was in my Formula 242 and pushed it to 68 MPH. It only has 50 hours on it. If you're interested in it let me know I'll give you all the details.

Steel crank, good cam, and a set of lightly worked 088 or 990 D stlye heads, 450 hp. I bet you could do it for $2500

$2,500 will not get you very far:eek:
Just a small list....
$1,000 for a good roller setup
$800-900 for a decent crank, 4.25 stroke
You will need good rods $450
Pistons to go on those rods $550 Rings $100
Bearings to spin that crank $125
Oil pump to oil the bearings $75
If you need exhast plan on used or $2k + for new.
New oil cooler for your bigger power
Heads with good valves and machine work 1k - 2.5k
Proably want roller rockers on the new heads
It goes on and on if you ever built one:drink:

Don't forget about machine work $500 +

??? $2500 that will get you the exahust to support 450-500hp and thats about it, oh maybe some gaskets and a few beers! to install it!!

having just gone this route starting with a 454MAG with 088 heads that didnt get any port work i can tell you to make 500hp you will evaporate ALL of $5000 easily to do it right and make it last by the time you do cam, intake, carb, exhaust, valvetrain components, fuel pump,gaskets,timing set,machine work/replacement parts thats needed to bring your OEM parts back up to snuff, ETC the list goes on and the $$ add up quick!!!

if your looking for a cheaper route and not near 500hp on your build i have the stock 454 MAG aluminum hirise intank and matching carb i took off mine when i upgraded my motor that i'm going to sell.

good luck on your project!

You have got to be kidding me, like was said $2500 will bairly cover the exhaust. You will have about 10K in it before everything is done. The oil cooler and lines alone will be $500.
That kind of thinking is how I started blowing stuff up. People would tell me I could just throw a cam in and get 450HP. It does'nt work that easy. :angry-smiley-038:

500 hp
 

Look for an older HP-500 . Its got all the good parts, (steel crank, 7/16 rods, rectangle port heads) It was 502 cu in and a simple ring/bearing rebuild would be under 1k

Sent you a PM

Sounds like buying another motor is gonna be cheaper than doin up mine.