Hi Folks,

I'm getting started on another Mopar project after leaving the LS world where I was for awhile. I am going to do a 68-69 Dart build to break into the 8s.
The car will have a tubular front end, CalTrac rear, and a Powerglide in between.
I'm hung up on which way to go with the engine. I have a "230" block and have considered either doing a 500" kit with it plus a 250 shot, or keeping it at a .030 overbore 400 and getting a nice rod length/piston weight combo for a turbo combination. 400 cubes is plenty for a turbo combo and the thicker cylinder walls wont hurt.
Either combo will be running on E85. Both combos would have quality shortblocks with a partial block fill. I realize what the car will need for strength, my last Mopar was a B body that broke into the 9s with a 446" and NA. That combo was way too owly to do any limited cruising and I'm not doing the race fuel thing again.
I'm just seeking out some opinions from guys who have been there and done that. The turbo setup will be pricey, but they don't give away nitrous kits and bottle refills either.
I read an old post about preferred heads for turbo apps. I think with a 406-ish" build I would run a B1/BS, but if someone has a better idea please chime in.

Any weigh-ins on this would be appreciated

I vote 400/turbo if your going efi. I like the head choice also. Would be a very dependable high hp engine.

That's where I'm at, I have a .030 400 forged flat tops .090 in the hole. Stock stroke and some killer -1s off Guppy's old engine and a single 75mm to start with. Gonna call Bullet for a cam Mon.

I haven't decided for sure to go efi or not yet with a turbo. I just came from the efi world though, and after initial expense, life sure can be easier that way.

Not all the 230 block castings are the thick main web cold weather variety, I always sonic test any stock block before starting to build one, I learned that lesson the hard way on my first pump gas 400 block 451 C.I. combination motor for a customer, it split a cylinder wall on the dyno after several pulls I've seen some pretty scary 400 blocks on the cylinder wall thicknesses On the turbo deal I would go right to a set of CNC B1 originals or maybe a set of CNC ported 440-1, skip the small stuff to start with My current bracket motor is a cold weather 230 casting (Thanks AndyF 400 block with a 4.250 stroke crank,4.350 bore with 14.0 to 1 compression ratio, solid roller cam, single E85 Dominator on a 400-3 intake in a tube chassis 1970 Cuda that weigh 2750 with me in it, runs low 9s at sea level, hoping to run high 8s next time out to the 1/4 mile track at Woodburn, OR