If you're anything like me...

Your car ends up looking like this:


Your engine ends up on a stand (hmmm, I wonder what's in those white boxes behind the motor???):


And all your parts end up in a pile like this:



But the good new is...
Stuff like this:


...gets replaced with stuff like this:


And heads like these (80's era GM "peanut port" iron heads):


...get replaced with heads like these (Brodix RaceRite Oval Ports):


I'm now three (maybe four) weekends into this, and who knows how much my $8 valve spring has cost me so far in actual dollars. But I sure have been suffering a bad case of "While-the-motor-is-out" symdrome.

Besides the top end, I think I'm about to pull the trigger on a new camshaft to go with the heads, a custom grind solid flat tappet from Chris Straub.

And also on my shopping list is a new rotating assembly: 4.25" stroke Callies crank, forged SRP +.060" flat top pistons and forged rods. What's that add up to you ask? In the end, I'm hoping for 9.1:1, 496cid. And somewhere around 550hp/600lb-ft.

If I can keep busy wrenching a little every weekend, plus keep my side work bringing money in, I hope to have my Chevelle back on the road by mid- to late-August. Hopefully, this all goes according to plan and I can keep this thread alive with progress pics over the next few weeks (if you're at all interested). Well, enjoy for now.


Nelson V.

Sounds like a project! I'll be looking forward to seeing more pics. While you've got it open, you gonna rebuild the trans? Will it handle 500 hp?

Matthew

Quote:Yeah, that's another variation I use. And don't get me started, it really doesn't take much more than that to get me on the phone with one of my favorite vendors or local builders; just ask Andy!

But seriously, I will actually be obstaining from touching the slushbox during this current downtime. It's a TH400 that was reportedly built using B&M fare and set up for 1/4 mile duty. Either way it will suffice for now.

Eventually (read: October/November timeframe), I will be doing some form of overdrive: either a GVOD added to this tranny or a new TKO600. If I go with the former, I will have the TH400 visited to ensure it's readiness. If I go with the latter, I will likely need to rework the tunnel, which means it will be a good candidate for being a project to execute in concurrence with other body work (and paint), which is my winter goal...

Hmmm......I see this turning into a frame off....got a rotisserie? Lol.

Matthew

damn. it's a cascading hell, ain't it?

More compression Nelson, ...What are the cam specs?

Leaving he heads as is or getting them ported some?

Quote:9.1:1 is about as high as I'll get with flatties and 115cc combustion chambers. I'm pretty sure I don't want to go domed again. I'm happy with 9.1:1. As it is, I was probably only squeezing 8.6:1 before.

Not sure on the cam specs yet (somewhere around 230's duration at .050, and ~.550" lift). Chris is waiting for me to make my final decision on displacement and compression.

The heads are already gasket matched on the intake, plus I bought the CNC-ported combustion chamber option.

Holy crap! I like your style!

I sure hope I never break one! That looks very expensive! :sad5:

Here’s the first installment of “progress” pics. I didn’t do a lot of wrenching this weekend. I tore down the motor a little more in preparation for sending the block out for machining.

And I did a Krylon Special on the under-hood section of the frame:





Nelson V.

Got's to love a rat motor man!

Update 7-31-2008

Didn't get much done last couple weeks except actually making money to pay for my loot. I did do a little wrenching last week, but forgot my camera at my brother's house. So this update is a week late. Hope this will keep your appetites whetted.

Here I am tearing into the old rotating stock. OK, yes I am flexing for the camera:



I also did some suspension work. The adjustable, upper control arms were already run before on the car but failed.



The red sleeves are made out of 1" hex aluminum stock. I had some coilovers in the car and I pre-loaded them incorrectly, leading to failure of one coilover, as well as the hex aluminum (see below). So I made new adjusters for the control arms. New stock is 1-1/8" Chrome-Moly. I had them nickel plated because it was free. Also added some Cherry Red Krylon to the previously rusty cross-shafts.
(The acrylic blocks in the background are my sidework that are helping to fund the goodies.)


Next on my to-do list...
This weekend I intend to finish tearing down the short block so I can send it for boring and decking when the new rotating mass arrives (hopefully next week or so).
Also, planning to hang the suspension back onto the frame.

Lastly, after much hemming and hawing, I finally ordered the new rotating assembly last week. I got:
Callies Dragonslayer Crank with 4.25" stroke
Compstar H-beam rods
SRP Flat-top pistons
Everything forged. Combined with my 115cc combustion chambers in the RaceRite heads, I'm looking at 8.9:1. Very pump gas friendly. Force-feed friendly. Next week, I'll sharpen my pencil and finalize the grind with my camshaft vendor.

To be continued....

My thoughts..

Your rear end up to the task?

Also... why forged? More rotating mass that doesn't sound like you will be needing at that compression ratio.

Unless she is gonna get some spray... you know.. while you're in there :D

Quote:The 12-bolt posi seems okay but leaks; so it will also soon get a visit. My brother is planning to romp my car down Oceanside Boulevard as soon as it runs. So if I lollygag and end up breaking it after I build the motor, then I'll know for certain it needs work.

As to the forged internals... I don't plan to spray. But I also never planned poke and stroke this motor either. Who knows? I also don't plan to blow it either. But when more of these unplanned events occur, and they will, I'll be ready.
:thumbright:

Unless you are going to supercharge it Id highly recommend raising the compression so youre not disappointed with the way it runs. With a good alum head you can run plenty more!

Neat reading about those arms, I want to install something similar on my Vette.

Quote:http://www.specprod.com/CATALOG_DIR/SPC_2008_PerfCat.pdf

Call Mark Savitske at scandc.com.
He's a dealer for SPC and really knows his stuff. Just be prepared to spend a half hour on the phone. Tell him Nelson V. from Team Chevelle sent you (probaby won't give you any special discount, but it'll earn me brownie points).

i did the same thing in 72 and wiped out my l88 in my race car my but pukered up so tight you coulndt drive a needle in with a sledge hammer the only thing i could salvafe was 1 head 6 pistons and rods plus the intake
racing days over

Updated thread: 8-24-2008
It sure seemed like a whole lot more than two or three weeks, but the mass finally arrived this week.
4.25" Stroke Callies Dragonslayer Crank
4.31" Bore SRP Flatties
Compstar H-Beam Rods


Tomorrow the block goes into the shop for machining....
Nelson V.

that crankshaft weighs more than an entire Honda engine...