Engine for offroading

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,008
Reaction score
8,976
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Don't ever underestimate a 292 with a couple little mods and it being a stump puller. I'd have one. My only issue with them, is aftermarket mods are expensive. Price a 4bbl intake and headers for a 292. Not cheap, and I haven't even looked in a long time.
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,789
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
Don't ever underestimate a 292 with a couple little mods and it being a stump puller. I'd have one. My only issue with them, is aftermarket mods are expensive. Price a 4bbl intake and headers for a 292. Not cheap, and I haven't even looked in a long time.
Back in the day when my brother had his 73s his on friend had an 81 6er with an older head and headers and a 4bbl and 4 speed it ran good but just sounded funny lol
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,008
Reaction score
8,976
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Back in the day when my brother had his 73s his on friend had an 81 6er with an older head and headers and a 4bbl and 4 speed it ran good but just sounded funny lol
Yep, they do sound funny. Almost like a pist off bee.
 

87scotty

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2015
Posts
1,074
Reaction score
282
Location
Central il
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
5.7 for now
Turbo nitrous= replacement for the displacement
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Big block all day long.
This.^^^

Stroke a 454 to 496. 781 heads. Deck the hell out of the block so the piston isn't sitting down in the hole.
Go high compression, like minimum 10.1, and run propane with two mixers.
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,789
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
This.^^^

Stroke a 454 to 496. 781 heads. Deck the hell out of the block so the piston isn't sitting down in the hole.
Go high compression, like minimum 10.1, and run propane with two mixers.
You'd need some dome with 781s they are 119cc+ chambers if I remember correctly. I'm running 96cc and a pretty good dome and a .021 metal head gasket to get 10.5:1 in my wee big block.
 

74 Shortbed

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2013
Posts
6,306
Reaction score
1,410
Location
*
First Name
*
Truck Year
*
Truck Model
*
Engine Size
*
Yep, they are 119cc the 049's are 122cc
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
You'd need some dome with 781s they are 119cc+ chambers if I remember correctly. I'm running 96cc and a pretty good dome and a .021 metal head gasket to get 10.5:1 in my wee big block.

Absolutely. I have Probe forged pistons that came with the stroker kit.
They say they are 10.1 but of course that is relative to the heads used and how the block is decked. Lots of power and efficiency left on the table when the piston tops out below the deck.
I'll have to assemble the block with crank and two caps, and one rod and piston (without rings) to determine how much more can be milled off.
There are the kinds of details that make a difference imo. But it's a lot of extra work and if you don't like this... well...
I must have an easy 40 hrs in porting my heads.
But I live for this.
 

moboss

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Posts
4
Reaction score
0
Location
monterey
First Name
Tony
Truck Year
77
Truck Model
k10
Engine Size
350
im going thur the same issue right now!! what to build for a motor for wheeling. my conclusion biger is better. displacement is king!! im going with a 350 sbc and a turbo. you want the torque but hp is also needed.
 

theBIGnaud

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2017
Posts
113
Reaction score
60
Location
California
First Name
Ryan
Truck Year
75
Truck Model
K-10
Engine Size
Vortec 350
Big block or small block you want to keep a few things in mind when choosing a displacement/stroke cam/intake/headers.

The question you want to ask yourself is where are you going to be spending the MOST time, at what RPM, in what activity?

Shorter stoke = higher rpm power potential.
longer stroke= lower rpm power potential

diff gear ratio plays a huge part in what rpm range the engine will be running at in EACH gear. 5.86 vs 3.73 ect

typically an engine used for off road will have a long stoke motor with a Low geared rear end ie 5.86

a DD with some umph will have a long stroke with a high rear end ie 3.73

and finally TYPICALY mud slinger drag racer or pure race set up will have a short stroke and mid gear 4:10

-BUT This can be hazy as many racing applications my have No2 injection or other forms of boosting power; super charging, turbo charging. The cheapest and most reliable option is No2. Many will disagree. DON'T LEAN YOUR AFR!


tire size plays a roll in tq multiplication as well bigger tire more tq response from rear gear. lower top speed.

Do you want a crawler, DD, or mud sprayer?

You have to choose one if you want the most performance.

Do some reading about intake and port theory, combustion chamber size compression ratio ect. this help you understand what you may want.

Just throwing a bunch of huge parts on an engine will not make power. Huge parts require large displacements with high combustion ratios.

If you want a great DD i would suggest 4 bolt two p rms SBC, mid CR heads (9.5:1) some nice piston rings, ARP head studs, mid rise single plane intake, 650carb, long tube headers, mid truck cam 265ish dur. and 4:11 diff gears. 75hp shot if you wanna drop panties. If you get an addiction to panties or speed 71 series super charger.

ditch forged pistons, ditch rods or hopped up valves, forget special machining. unless you want more than 500hp in any block.
 

Jrgunn5150

Questionable methods
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Posts
2,739
Reaction score
1,412
Location
Ionia Mi
First Name
J.R.
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.slow
I guess you guy's do different wheeling than I do.

If it's for mud, or sand, some high strung, custom everything motor works great.

But down trails, hours idling along, living it's entire life below 2k, I find stock works best. They never overheat, they rarely fail, and if they do, parts are everywhere.
 

spanky55amg

I'll give u $5, a hardy handshake, & 5 fish sticks
Joined
Jun 6, 2017
Posts
819
Reaction score
212
Location
Dallas, TX
First Name
Spanky
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10 Short Fleet
Engine Size
V8
This.^^^

Stroke a 454 to 496. 781 heads. Deck the hell out of the block so the piston isn't sitting down in the hole.
Go high compression, like minimum 10.1, and run propane with two mixers.

Propane sounds like a band-aid for something that isnt correct.

Its like guys that run water/alcohol/nitrous injection into a turbo system or on to an intercooler b/c they need to cool down the air temp. If thats true, whats wrong, b/c a good running system doesnt need outside influence.

And whlie a turbo and nitrous are replacements for displacement, I dont think you want either for offroading. Centrifugal or roots blower though.....
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,851
Posts
903,504
Members
33,365
Latest member
rossivey
Top