572 Donovan or Supercharged LS

[LS3 HQ]

Hey guys I'm not sure I'm looking for an answer here or maybe just some advice but I have a Donovan 572 bbc that came with my 69 Camaro when I bought it about 5 years ago.

Lately I've been thinking of going the LS route. Mainly because I want to do long trips in it (weekends away etc) and a little on reliability/fuel econ as well.

If I stick with the BBC I was going to run EFI on it so maybe the reliability will not be an issue so much. I've been looking at the Don Hardy blown 418 and if I do decide to go LS I think something along the lines of this is what I'd like.

I guess I'm also wondering if you guys could give me some advice on what the Donovan motor is worth if I was to sell. It made 640hp with 8.4:1 comp. Has Dart Big M heads & manifold ( I think they flow around 440cfm from memory, TD rockers 1.7 ratio, 3/8 comp cams .080 pushrods, Callies crank, JE Pistons, Oliver rods. Has comp belt drive and a Stewart water pump. Can't tell you much more than that. I think the cam is a hydraulic roller.

Motor has only ever been dynoed and that was before I purchased the car. I guess at the end of the day it comes down to dollars. If I can sell the bbc for good money then I'm more than halfway sold on going the LS route.

What would you guys do? I know this is pretty heavy LS orientated around here but would like to hear your opinions.

Cheers

Luke

[GregWeld]

Ah... the ever on going motor struggle. We've all been there.


Here's my "thoughts".


A 572 Donovan is more about "drag racing" / "Pro Street"... IMHO. Big cubes make big HP and it would certainly be a torque monster... Those giant pistons suck big gas and air each time they're drawn down the bore...


I'm running a Don Hardy LS3 (480HP) in Gwen's '33 Ford... We just drove it from San Francisco to Austin Texas... We drove it from San Francisco to LA and up the coast and home to Sun Valley Idaho last week. Drops of oil used? Zero. Times I opened the hood to check to see if things were okay? Once. Drops of oil under the car? Zero. I had to stop to pee more often than I had to stop to get gas. Times to 100+ MPH? Every time I came up on a car/truck on the highway and wanted to pass (Think Nevada desert driving).


As always - it depends on how you want to ultimately use the car. I'd take the LS over the BBC if I'm just wanting to drive it. I don't think reliability has much to do with it... carbureted motors have been driven gazillions of miles without issue. To me - that (reliability) says more about the "mechanic/owner" than it does about the metal parts. Roy Brizio was the only break down on this last trip, out of 20 hot rods, most of which were running SBC carb motors... and his repair took about 20 minutes. It was a coil that gave up the ghost... after 93,000 miles... The only "complainer" on the trip... the 509 cubic inch, all aluminum "W" motor.... his gas tank just wasn't big enough. When we'd all stop for gas (these are hot rods - they have small tanks).... most were down to a 1/4 tank... we'd be at 1/2.

[glassman]

I went the LS route on my 70 and it was the best thing i've done to the car.

This community aside, i had a buddy talk me into it bout a year before i did it.
Did my research and yeah, waaaaay worth it. Lighter, faster, stronger (in my case vs my sbc) and 24 mpg at 80 mph (i only have a tune, headers, and LS6 intake on my LS1).

I have had it on the track 3 times now, gave it an extra half quart of oil "just in case". Oil used at countless runs to 6500 rpm, bout zero, but unlike greg, i've got an oil leak at the front of the pan, but hardly and it ain't worth fixin cause its like two drops a month and a little dirty after a long freeway blast.

Good luck with it...

[Musclerodz]

Everyone we every converted to LS and built another car, guess what they used, another LS. If you want to drive it alot, I would go LS all the way.

[LS3 HQ]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm thinking the LS is the way to go more and more so I'll see what happens.
Any idea on what it would be worth to sell?

[RPitts]

I would look on racing junk under "Drag Race engines" look to find something to compare to. Thinking around the 14-16k range.

[Hydratech®]

Occasional blast here and there? Keep the 572 BEAST and put EFI on it

An occasional road trip / drive it anywhere? Supercharged LS

You get the best money for an engine when a purchaser can still see it in action under hood, and also make a blast down the road. It is worth a helluva lot more that way as opposed to already plucked out and sitting on an engine stand.

[transam]

Had a fuel injected 572 in my 69 camaro
Pros. Instant power
Burnouts for blocks

Cons
Loud
6-8mpg
Adjusting solid roller rockers
Vibration
Weight


I run a turbo 408ls2 in my iroc and it does 20+mpg on the highway
Its pretty quiet. I dont need to fiddle with it. Its smooth. And it trapped 137mph on street tires at the track. I also run a ls2 with a kenne bell in my trans am. I would never go back to a bbc.

[Sheck44]

Went from a 496 BBC to my supercharged LS ... not even close, the torque #rs are insane !! 550 at the rear wheels at 2300 rpm = crazy amount of fun

[Vegas69]

The resale market on a big block is WEAK. Plan on taking it like a man if you decide to go this route.