Personally I can see both sides of this issue. I will end up with an RB wedge in my Duster, but only because I can't make a Slant do what I am trying to accomplish.

I have a Slant that is faster than most, but I am suffereing reliability issues. Sometimes being unique ain't that cool.

However, this is still a Slant board. If you wanna talk V-8, go to Moparts.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

In all honesty, the only reason I am keeping a slant in my Valiant is the hope that forced induction will wake it up without killing the economy. I found with the FWD turbododges that I could have both and that led me into the slant 6 world. That, and the fact that I wanted to go back to RWD.

I do believe that a well build turbo slant can put out an easy 300 hp, which is easily equal to a stock 360 w/ a 4bbl. If I can't get that out of the slant, I have to admit I will give up.

It's just too cheap and easily to make decent power with a V8. Don't know if you noticed or not, but Bolig swapped a 360 into the Dart Sport that people here beat him up about in regards to his choice of carbs. No more slant for Randy.

The opinion is that if I swap an intake, headers and a cam into my slant and it runs 15's, why not swap a V8 instead that runs the same number before swapping the same parts.

In a similar vein to the turbo/supercharger runoff that the Drakes and slantzilla chewed on, do you think a slant and a V8 would be competitive with each other, if equal money is spent? You could even charge the V8 guy for his motor. I have to admit that I think the V8 would be faster, dollar for dollar.

[preparing to be beat about the head and shoulders with a slant 6 cam]

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

That's the same line the Chevy guys use to justify putting small blocks in anything with wheels. It might be true.
It might be even cheaper to buy an old Rustang or Cramaro.

Your car, your money, your taste. I'll stick with the Slant Six.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

Just remember that you have to be wary of blanket statements. Many, many V-8 motors will not run 15's in the quarter. I have thumped dozens of 5.0 Mustangs, Camaros, and Mopars with a 15 second Slant because the owner/driver was clueless. Tossing money is not a guarantee that speed will result. Best example is the '68 Hemi Charger at RT66 that ran 17:90. Yes, I did go looking for him.

If you are starting with a Slant car, it is much cheaper to build a 14 second Slant than it is to do a V-8 conversion and run 14's.

Start at the back and get a good rear first, then decide if you want to stay with a Slant. You will need the rear anyway whether you do a Slant or a V-8. The worst way to build a car is toss tons of money into a motor with a stock trans/rear. Disappointment and disillusionment will always follow.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Granted, but the same clueless guy in a 15 second slant would still run 16's or worse. The driver being capable was assumed.

The question isn't "will I be able to beat people with a V8", but "will my car be faster, or as fast, with the same money spent on the slant rather than the V8?".

The chassis was also a given. If you have to swap in a stronger rear, slant or V8, then you can't penalize the V8 guy for it. The motor (and trans) is where the difference is, so that should be the focus of the question.

Was Magnate clueless? I am asking a legitimate question here, not trying to take a poke at Steve. Does he know how to drive? Best I can read, the Slant Sickness car ran 14.9's off the bottle, and made 152 hp at the rear wheels. In my mind, with all the work he put into it, I would have been sick to my stomach with that number. I ran 15's in my '74 Duster 360 with a 4 speed and 3.21 gears. The motor was rebuilt with '71 pistons (9.5:1 comp?), stock heads with 2.02/1.60 valves, Isky 270 cam, cast iron 4 bbl with a Thermoquad, 340 free flow manifolds and 2 1/4" dual exhaust. Money for money, I bet I didn't have any more into my car than Steve did. Oh, and I was averaging 17 mpg, to his 15. That motor cost me $1200 in the early 90's, but I did save some due to a connection. Did Steve ever break down the cost of his motor?

The problem is, cubic inches makes speed. The slant is down in displacement. If going fast is your only goal, go with the biggest motor and in the end, it will probably be cheaper. That's the reality of it.

For me, there is more to life than just going fast, but I don't want to give up speed entirely. I like being unique, but life goes to fast to drive a boring car.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Oh, and just so I am clear, I am in no way advocating for coming here and asking how to put a V8 in a car. That would be like going to Moparts and asking how to put a SBC in a 33 Dodge.

Now, if the question was "if I should" or "convince me not to", that would make sense.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Now, if the question was "if I should" or "convince me not to", that would make sense ("convince me not to")

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Go for it, You live this life only once.

The Slant Sickness SL6 that Steve built hardly cost him anything.
Let's face it, when you work for Hot Rod all you have to do is pick-up the phone and ask suppliers for the parts you need for your next build-up story.... boxes start showing-up at your door.
Hell, I drove down to LA and assembled that engine for him. I do think he had to buy some spray paint and other small parts.

If you already have a SL6 car and can do some work yourself... and you are a good "shopper" for parts, you can go pretty fast for cheap using a SL6.
If you are a "open your wallet and let 'er rip" person, doing a V8 is less $$ and hassel.
DD