keep the slant, make it eat lightning and crap thunder...

 

mine is relatively mild and im pulling 170hp and 200ftlbs at the rear wheels. there is room for much more...

 

If money is an issue, as it is with most of us these days, I'd take John's advice..Run what ya brung.

 

4 barrel intake, 500 CFM carb, header, Comp cam, bore it .030 over, get some head work done (largers valves or a full port and polish), rebuild the lower end with Clevite 77 bearings.

As for the tranny, if it's an auto its probably going to be the 904. There are parts out there like shift kits and good rebuild kits, they may be a little harder to find and may cost a little more than that of a 727. I wouldn't swap it though as the 904s are still a good strong tranny when built right.

If you have a manual, I'd find a light weight flywheel, centerforce dual friction clutch, and threw in some new bearings and washers inside the tranny.

Onto the rear. if you have a 7 1/4, there are parts out there. Heck, I saw a sure grip unit for one on ebay. I would upgrade since you want more power. I'd find an 8 1/4, lock it, spool it, throw a sure grip into it (whatever you want, just make sure that both tires are spinning). Then find a set of wheels that will allow you to fit some fat tires out back and a little narrower tire up front. Thr in some really good shocks and a swaybar front and rear and you'll have a great street car.

 

if there was enough engine compartment space i would do the twin turbo setup. i know turbos don't sound like a good idea in a muscle car and i used to hate turbos all together but then i put one in a 3.9l ram. you may get beat off the line but then you'll scream past them. Some junkyards sell them relatively cheap. Around here if i can actually find them i can get them for 40 bucks each. the only thing is you have to spool it up for a good launch.

 

Crave - you threw a turbo on a 3.9 in a ram? Didn';t know you could do that. Wouldn't mind having one in my dakota.

 

it was a pain in the *** to do. we made custom headers and only put on 1 turbo. just something fun to do with a spare truck i had laying around. except we had the turbo underneath the truck in a box. My friend did all of the throttle body and injector work that was needed as well as doing something with the computer. i think i ran it at 7 lbs of boost but not sure about all of the turbo stuff. i do know it was fast after that but didnt have as much launch unless you spooled it up. also gas milage was 16 on the highway and like 9 in the city. never had it dyno'd though. hit a big washout in the road and folded the truck into almost a 90 degree angle.

 

but i knew the frame was bad anyways. to get it to pass inspection i put jb weld in the holes and squished mud on it to make it look like the rest of the frame. probably wasnt a good idea

 

i'd go with john's setup
the slant six is a great engine, and skies the limit with it