Need some opinons, Project Prodigy?

[ProdigyCustoms]

OK, I need opinions. Long story short, the motor we were going to run in Prodigy was an old motor I had. It never really ran right, so we tore it down. Upon tear down we found some bad news in the block, cylinder wall taper. The rotating assembly is perfect and new, so we are getting a new block. A Bill Mitchell Aluminum block!

So now we have a 11th hour decision. We can build the motor NA, no ProCharger, and save 225lbs off the nose and a lot of fabrication issues. I could build it 700HP easy and put some laughing gas on it and easily see 1000HP, or ProCharger it and see the same 1000HP.

Either way it will be fuel injected and all aluminum. My dilemma is it really seems to be a high end PT car, it really needs to be Forced induction. But I hate the bad weight of the intercooler hanging in front of the radiator, that's horrible weight, and the ProCharger hangs off the front of the head, more bad weight. So losing the 225 off the nose will go a LONG ways towards better weight balance. The ProCharger is about 80LBS.

Realistically, 700HP would be PLENTY, but in a world full of 1000HP cars, it needs to have it. Nitrous is no problem for us, very familiar with it, I can get a fogger for it easy. But does it belong on a PT Car?
It really was not even a consideration until we ran into the aluminum block deal, and the chance to ditch the extra weight. It will weigh less then an iron / aluminum head small block. Plus Nitrous puts 30LBS in the trunk to help even more balancing things.

So please vote, and I would really appreciate it if I got some comments from everyone, especially some of you that play with higher end PT cars, you know who you are. I do not want to kill the wow appeal, or value, even though it is not for sale. It still matters.

Just so you remember. Prodigy is full framed 67 RS / SS Convertible, C4 suspension, Double adjustable QA1s, 14" 6 piston Wilwoods all around, 12" wide 295 / 30 / 19s up front, 14" wide 345 / 25 / 20s out back, TKO 600, 500" all aluminum big block, four C5 buckets, Leather, custom one off dash, full console, power everything, video, navigation, etc. It is really a everything car. So I do not want to cheat it. Also, we do plan to enter it is exhibition of speed events, so it needs to work.

[Derek69SS]

I voted "pro-charge" it

As you said "wow appeal" is big on a supercharger, and many people think of nitrous as "cheating". Superchargers look damn impressive, and you'll never have to fill a bottle.

Why not both???

[camcojb]

I also vote supercharger, but ideally for the "wow" factor and to be current it'd be a turbo. Of course a custom turbo install and "11th hour" do not play well together!


Jody

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yeah, I already mocked up for the ProCharger. Turbos are out of the question for this one.

[clill]

Going the Procharged route would be similar to the Yellow Camaro that Jody built. I made 828rwhp with it but it was not a car for Power Tour with that kind of hp. You would have had to really pay attention to your gas pedal foot because that Procharger is making power and noise all the time. Turbo's make nothing unless you put your foot into it. Both add tons of weight to the front end. If it were my car I would build it NA to 700 hp and have a awsome car that would be very drivable and do everything you wanted it to do. The Mule is really neat but it is also really crowded and complicated under the hood now. I am redoing the Red Witch and it will remain NA, simple and more than enough fun. I see no need for you to add Nitrous unless you want to enter some event and really make some hp.

[68protouring454]

i am going with clill, build it n/a to 700 hp and have a kick ass car, i really don't think you need to worry as the car has killer appeal, and twins are about as usefull as used tp.
listen to the man who has about one of each car, and he says over and over how the the n/a red witch is his most drivable and fun car.
700hp, n/a and be done

[evilzee28]

Hi Frank, I think that your projected 700hp will satisfy your drivng needs fully. I used to own a street legal, 660 hp,N/A, no nitrous, 468 cu in '55 Chevy that'd run mid tens. Initially it was good fun, but truth be known it was a camel to drive, it would loose traction at the slightest throttle response & had difficulty getting the power down on street treads & soon became tiresome.Boy was that interesting in the slightest of damp conditions !!!!!! However, that was in a car with the aerodynamics of a shed & the handling of a pudding, put that power into a properly set up car & it'd no doubt be a different ball game. Not being disrespectful to the guys with 800+ hp,TT/Procharged cars, but they will RARELY see their full potential & will over power ALL roads on road tyres, which will take the fun out of driving your car, "'bin there done that".(just as Charlie says & he should know after all ) A fully smoothed,detailed engine/bay will impress your peers just as much & the "grin" factor will stay with you a long time

As to the nitrous, that's more pro-street than pro-touring in my opinion. P/T follows the inspirations of circuit inspired cars & how many of them run "squeeze"....Uuuuuuuuuh, .....that'd be none then

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by ProdigyCustoms

Realistically, 700HP would be PLENTY, but in a world full of 1000HP cars, it needs to have it.

Frank-

Since asked for an opinion.. You said in a world of 1000 hp cars, it needs to have it. Well, your car is so out of the ordinary & ahead in so many other areas I wouldn't worry about it, besides when will you ever be able to use it all? The car will handle so much better w/out the extra weight up front, not to mention how much cleaner it will look. Not sure what kind of intake you are using, but a fabbed Sheet Metal Intake would look killer. But then again I'm kinda partial to them. Either way..The car is amazing & can't wait to see at SEMA.

Brent

[ProdigyCustoms]

Done deal. it will be a All Aluminum 540, N/A motor. Should be 750HP no problem, maybe more depending on how nice the heads come out. Still trying to work out the nitrous, but even without, it will be awesome.

Thanks for the opinions and compliments. Let's see if it can live up to the hype.

[Canadian_Hot_Rodder]

Sounds awesome to me. You won't be sorry with that choice. Throw on some AFR 335 CNC'd heads and AWAY you go!! Those should be able to feed that sucker.