building small block

[lilmagik]

Ok heres my plan. The goal for the car is for it to be a strong street runner.

Im going to use the stock crank
want to get gm vortec heads
edelbrock air gap mani
650-750 holly or edelbrock carb
373 gears for the back
700r4 /2500 stall
full legnth headers
dual exhaust
msd ignition
summit 1.5 roller rockers
Ill runnig pump 91 gas so compression is going no more than 10:1

 

[CHRIS.O]

Sounds good. Are you rebuilding the whole bottom end? If you go with 4 valve relief flat top pistons you will get around 9.5-10:1 compression depending on gaskets and deck thickness. Summit sells those vortecs for a decent price. So does www.competitionproducts.com

 

[CHRIS.O]

Also know that vortecs are limited on valve lift. I believe it is about .470. That article explains the use of special valve springs to go with a larger lift. Or you can look at RHS vortecs which handle more lift and are somewhat of an improvement over the stock GM castings.

 

[RITTER]

:idea:
If you have a $4,000 budget .... Why wouldn't you just buy a complete top end kit from Edelbrock and have the shortblock rebuilt :?:

 

[CHRIS.O]

Wow I missed the budget part. Why not just buy a crate engine? Unless you want the experience of doing it on your own. Competition products has warrantied 355 and 383 motors already broken in on the dyno in your hp range for under your budget.

 

[lilmagik]

The budget part is what I set myself out at. Its not a set budget. Sorry if that confused a few guys.
The block I purchased was actually running but had 115xxx miles on it and I wanted to build it up so now this is where I stand.
Ill be piecing this together over the next few months for next summer when I plan on bringing the lesabre out.

The imediate goal is to get the short block built. I do like building myself so buying a block isnt me. Plus its a teaching tool for my son and nephew as they will be helping me do all the wrenching.

What are some opinions on the double hump heads as an alternate to the vortecs if they were to get ported ,polished and valve job?

 

[CHRIS.O]

In my opinion dont spend the money on them. They are 40 year old technology. I would buy vortecs or a more modern head. Real port and polish work is expensive, especially if a flow bench is involved. You would easily have more than what you paid for the vortecs into port work.

 

[CHRIS.O]

Well now that I see how your doing this I would recommend that you get a hydraulic roller. The retrofit kit is about 500. Plus once you have the roller lifters and everything else you can use it later on if you decide to build a 383.

 

[lilmagik]

Ok. I might try to locate some used ones and do the spring and retainer upgrade myself.

 

[othtim]

You dont have to do the retainer on the vortecs. Comp makes some Beehive springs that you can use with up to .550 lift, only using the springs, if you dont want to cut anything.