Need a new motor

[atis]

Seems like an easy question but...

I need/want a little more tq. Not for racing or smoking tires but for towing. I pull a 5000lbs trailer (loaded) about 4000 miles a year. Other then that I use my Hoe to take my soccer gear to practice and carry my rc planes to the field to fly and the once a year family vacation (stuffing the wife and 3 kids into a Mustang isnt easy and I am the only one thats comfortable). So she see's driving duty 3 days a week most of the time. I bought her used (87,000 miles) and now with 169,000 miles the head gaskets blew (3 weeks after replacing a leaking intake gasket) so I figure its time to just replace the motor. I would like 400 foot pounds of tq and am on a budget of about ~$3500. I am going to install her myself adn plan to re-use the vortec intake and replace/upgrade the spider. Any suggestions and links would be appreciated.

I have a 2000 Hoe Limited (5.7 Vortec) and everything is stock except the radio.

Thanks

 

[blueflamed03]

GM crate HT 383

http://www.gmhorsepower.com/HT-383.php

 

[atis]

thats out of my price range....its $4500

 

[Chevyrider619]

U get what you pay dude.hehehhee "bryan "

 

[atis]

I agree, but from what I have read on the 383 I would need to replace my entire exhaust and change the RR's an intake to get over the 400 fptq...without those mods I have read to expect 380 fptq. The price for the gain of 10 fptq over the stock motor just seems over priced. Am I missing something when comparing the Vortec 5700 and the 383?

 

[blueflamed03]

alot more cubic inches and low end torque. Exhaust will be the same, the 350 and 383 extrernally are identical.

Just search for a 383 longblock, use all external's.

 

[atis]

I read the stock exhaust chokes it out so you have to go to a 2 1/2 inch exhaust to get the power and tq. I will do a search on her to see if I can find it cheaper. I like the numbers but hate the price....especially since I only need the extra power once a year. How bad is the mpg on her? My 5.7 got 18mpg highway. (8mph when towing)

 

[blueflamed03]

will be worse. yes, for any real power, dual 2.5" pipe is good, or a good flowing single 3" will be fine.
Gas mileage will vary on cam, compression, gears, driving habits.
But a fresh 355 may be better than doing the 383.

 

[branndon_b]

or a long block and a blower...

 

[atis]

I have 3 Mustangs and all are NA, so if I buy a blower you know where thats going to go! LOL Around town I drive the Hoe like I am driving Miss Daisey, the Stangs are the ones that get beat on.

Any specs that I should look for on a 355? Also any suggestions on good companies to look at for motors?

thanks for the help.