Putting together a nasty SBC

[Tacoma]

ah, you're good to go then.

Let me know if you change your mind and want a 454 instead. Imagine that with zoomie and a tunnel ram LOL WAY overkill. And pricey.

 

[mbryson]

.............and I've even considered using a 6" rod kit. I don't think I'd do a roller cam this time, even though I'm a believer in them. I'd like to try keep the project low-buck, but shoot for 450 HP. Low buck and 6" rods.... .........

Oh, you did say that....

A friend of mine built a de-stroked 400 (400 block w/ 350 crank) that was insane. That could be a cool build, they are the opposite of a 383 and turn high RPM's very well. A 6" rod de-stroked 400 would have a nice flat torque curve and spin some serious revs.

That would be a fun build if you could find a good block. My friends engine had Trick Flow Alum heads, about 11.5 to 1 compression and a massive roller cam. It spun to 8500 RPM. That thing was a 700+ HP car... and he drive it to work about once I week. You'd hear him coming from 4 blocks away... fast as hell car with a 4500 RPM stall converter... First time he ran it at RMR with a bit of NOS, he turned a 9 sec quarter and got kicked off the track... :greg:

377's are KEWL. They don't seem to last long, but they rev to the moon and right now.

 

[ricsrx]

the race ended abruptly when one of Provo's Finest saw us coming over the viaduct pushing 100 MPH. Young and dumb....

Been there, 1982 heading home to Price after a weekend in Provo (did I just say that?), up against a 70 somthing Nova, my 82 rx7 open header and holly carb, past red line in 3rd, he wasnt gaining and shifted down, he over shot his HP curve, I left him after that. Its funny how you think when your a kid, Well theres the cop, were as good as busted so stay on it and see if he can catch us........he never did. they didnt take you strait to jail back then.

 

[Greg]

Oh, you did say that....






377's are KEWL. They don't seem to last long, but they rev to the moon and right now.

Reality and lack of big money will probably mean that I don't use 6" rods or build a de-stroked 400. :-\ I can dream in the mean-time, can't I?

I'd be happy with a standard SBC with a good set of heads, a lumpy cam and a few other minor upgrades to make it breath better.

 

[mbryson]

Reality and lack of big money will probably mean that I don't use 6" rods or build a de-stroked 400. :-\ I can dream in the mean-time, can't I?

I'd be happy with a standard SBC with a good set of heads, a lumpy cam and a few other minor upgrades to make it breath better.

Oh, dream away. Nothing wrong with that.

A decent running small block is pretty fun. Even a pretty basic one.

(you're making me jones to get that 454 in the garage torn down....it does need heads)

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Just buy a Nelsons Race Engine... A nice twin turbo 454 small block would getcha movin..

 

[Greg]

Oh, dream away. Nothing wrong with that.

A decent running small block is pretty fun. Even a pretty basic one.

(you're making me jones to get that 454 in the garage torn down....it does need heads)

Ooohhh... a 454, huh? Sounds like a fun project!

Just buy a Nelsons Race Engine... A nice twin turbo 454 small block would getcha movin..

And I thought I was dreaming with 6" rods and a de-stroked 400...

 

[jeepin4x4james]

You know what they say... Dream BIG

 

[Greg]

If I could keep the engine budget under $2000 I'd be happy. I think that's doable.

I have a TBI 350 core, could use the short-block if it's still in good shape. Figure rebuild kit at $200 + machine work @ $500 = $700. http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM-SBCKIT1-000&autoview=sku

I'm really liking this Lunati mechanical flat tappet cam, $160- http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=LUN-00013LK&autoview=sku

I found a set of Vortec heads that have been freshly machined with Z28 springs for $300.- http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/1162755274.html


That gives me about $800 to get an carb, intake, ignition and all other small parts. I think that's possible!

 

[Twisted]

Sbc

That thing was a total sleeper, I raced lots of muscle cars with good success.

Had one of those myself, in a 1986 GMC Stepside 4x4 w/Std.Tran, 3.73 gears. 1969 4bm out of a Chevelle, .30 over, steel crank, standard length rods, 10:1 pistons, world products sportsman 2 heads 72cc 2.02, custom cut cam for weight of truck, gear ratio....etc. went with 1.6 ratio rockers. When I first built it, I ran a ported & polished Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake with a Performer carb. Ran really well, (turn around 6500) but wasn't really for the 4X4 scene. Dropped it down to RPM Performer intake, made it a little more multi-purpose. Not sure what the hp was, but it held it's own against a few "fast cars".

Ended up giving that truck to my daughter for her 18th birthday. Not sure what she did to it, engine is making bad noises. Havn't investigated that one yet.

I love the SBC! Fairly cheap to build (unless you get way radical), make good hp quickly, and if treated with some amount of respect will run for a long time. I'd like to build another one to put in my Commando!

Ooops, almost let that one go too far. Started having SBC withdrawl.

 

[Tacoma]

That gives me about $800 to get an carb, intake, ignition and all other small parts. I think that's possible!

hey, if it suits your needs I've got a Performer intake you can have. and if you need one I'm sure I have a distributor laying around.

 

[Tacoma]

(you're making me jones to get that 454 in the garage torn down....it does need heads)

Regular heads, or something special? I've got spares.

 

[Greg]

hey, if it suits your needs I've got a Performer intake you can have. and if you need one I'm sure I have a distributor laying around.

I'd probably end up running Vortec heads, so I'd need an intake built for them. Thanks for the offer though! Apparently Speedway Motors has some inexpensive Vortec intakes.

Looks like the equivalent to a Edelbrock Performer manifold, the Power Plus manifold (good to 5500 RPM) is $134!- http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Power-Plus-Intake-Manifolds-for-Small-Block-Chevy,1622.html

They also have one similar to the Victor Jr for $180- http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Profe...k-Chevy-Vortec-Head-Intake-Manifold,7132.html


Is it an HEI dizzy? May be interested if so.

 

[Tacoma]

yep, it's HEI.

That's a good price on that manifold! crikey

 

[Tacoma]

oops, I messed up the names of those sites, here's the right ones:

www.racingjunk.com

http://www.dragstuff.com/classifieds/

http://www.racersalvage.com/

 

[78mitsu]

what about building a 427 SBC from a 400? offset grind a 400 crank run a 5.30 rod and the right size pistons. You can run a HUGE cam with that much displacement.

 

[Twisted]

Came across this listing on craiglist. Sounds like it may be a good starter block, possibly useable heads & maybe a few usable parts.


http://austin.craiglist.org/pts/1164201727.html

 

[Tacoma]

I wouldn't trust that crank....

 

[Twisted]

Yeah, crank may not be worth it. But if the block is actually in good shape & machined & not cracked & the heads are good, might be worth a couple hundred bucks.

 

[mbryson]

Regular heads, or something special? I've got spares.

Definitely something torquey, but modernized and aftermarket. It'll be going in a Vicky one day. Black with a blue pearl.