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Big Block Chevy reading material?

TheBeast_88K5

TheBeast_88K5

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Can some of you guys toss up some reading suggestions?

There's thousands of BBC builds/articles out there.
It's getting a little hard to weed through the bullsh*t.

Most threads just end. Suddenly.
Presumably due to catastrophic failure, thus nullifying any previous info. :doah:

Just looking for good information.
 
are you looking for a particular type of build...max power, torque, rpm????

I have a reasonably well documented build of my 454, complete with eventual video of the start up, and another after the break in spring change and tuned better.

There is some chatter about parts gathering and a few links early on in the thread but the good stuff gets started about post 410...

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261694&page=9
 
HP Books put out a few BBC books,one by Tom Wilson "How To Rebuild Your Big Block Chevy" is a good one covering a stock rebuild,there is also another titled "How To Hot Rod Your Big Block Chevy" ...

I bought them both back when I had a few 454's in my vehicles,found them at a book store cheap brand new..

The HP Books is a division of Price Stern Sloan Inc,
360 N.La Cienega Bvld.Los Angeles CA 90048
ISBN-0-89586-175-5 Library Of Congress Catalog Number 83-81691

Book I have is dated 1983,so it deals with engines built before then..
The "Hot Rod" book I dont have at hand but I think its from the same publisher and also is for older carbed engines...both have extensive info on casting numbers,parts interchange ability,and many other good things in them,and also tell what modswork,which dont,and what you can do and should not do to them for best longevity and performance...
 
Bump the compression up, for torque stock heads are fine, and a small RV cam will wake a big block right up.

There is an engine builder in Glen Burnie MD that put my old 454 together. I called him and asked for some advice and what I had, he told me you could put a flower pot in one cylinder and still make power.

My 454 in my car is nothing special. Roughly 10:1, Sealed Power cam, 781 heads, manifolds, alum. intake and an HEI. Probly puts out about 350 horse. Seriously thinking of taking it out of the car and putting into the truck, but I've already ripped the ears off a stub shaft, so don't really need anymore power. But big blocks sound soooooo gooooood!!!!!!
 
76zimmer said:
are you looking for a particular type of build...max power, torque, rpm????

I have a reasonably well documented build of my 454, complete with eventual video of the start up, and another after the break in spring change and tuned better.

There is some chatter about parts gathering and a few links early on in the thread but the good stuff gets started about post 410...

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261694&page=9
Click to expand...

I'm building a 396, that's supposedly .030 over. (402.)
I have yet to verify this statement. :deal:

I would love to be in the 450hp neighborhood. :popcorn:

I know I'm starting kinda backwards, but I already have JBA SS Shorty Headers, and Super 40's.

From what I'm reading I need the 2.25/1.88 heads.
I want a mean cam, that's streetable.
A 3/4 race cam, or whatever.... I think that's a goofy term. :dunno:

It's going in a '70/C10/TH400-800hp rated rebuild/12b....
Not sure on the diff. gears yet.
 
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this is for the 70 right? are you persuing timeslips? If not consider a thumper cam...that might be the sound your looking for.

Are you going with aftermarket alum heads?
Large ovals...(781's or similar) are awesome heads when pocket ported and set up with 2.19/1.88 valves. They run good up to about 6500 rpm as well, and cheap to get still.
 
Funny you should mention, cuz I was looking at those Thumper Cams... :thinking:

Definitely wanting aluminum heads.

Obviously I'll run the truck down the quarter, a few times.
But, mainly just a cruiser.

My old man was an engine builder.
Everything we ever owned had a lopey cam.
So, I'm dying to have a decently lopey cam, in my street truck. :D
 
I really like dealing with CC...they can tell you what your looking for if you have your goals in mind, other engine specs, heads, valves, gears, tire size, trans ratios, etc.

I think the lower the intake centerline and higher the duration @ .050 are the numbers for the sound you want. If cruising is your primary goal, I think a thumper would be great....they do take a little away from the bottom end from what I've heard compared to a similar cam with more intake centerline. I also wouldn't rule out a Solid Roller....some great performance to be had from solids!
 
subbed for later.

i need to read up a bit too, we are putting a big block in my race truck this year.
 
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