One step closer to regretting my decisions!!!!

[bracketchev1221]

Well, I decided to pull the plug on the body work on my 70 SS396 car for now. So being that the car will be coming home I have decided to pull the 70 apart and do what things I can at home myself. One of those things is pulling the mystery 454 out of the car and getting it ready to go in the 80 Malibu. I call it the mystery 454, because when I bought the 70, the owner conveniently knew nothing about it. He swore it was a 468, but also a .030 over 454. I do know its got 702 casting closed chamber heads on it, a solid roller cam of I think just under .600 lift with 10" vacuum. I would bet its a cast crank, 2 bolt block, with possibly 3/8" rods. I want to build a decent hydraulic roller/Aluminum head 496 for the Chevelle, and I want to do a v8 conversion on the 80. Being I have this mystery engine with really no value, why not put it in the Malibu?? The car is a 229 V6 so a chevy small block would be the "smart" choice considering I have all the accessories. But that would cost money. I have the big block, the old 1 3/4" Chevelle headers out of the car and Big block AC brackets. I also have a set of late model Short black chevy big clock valve covers off a Mercruiser engine. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG??????????

 

[superbon54]

Send it!!! The no buck, roadkill style projects are sometimes the most fun. And they usually make for the best stories later, so don’t forget to keep us updated.

 

[motorheadmike]

One of my biggest missed opportunities was putting an L89 396 in my Monte. G-bodies should have proper muscle car engines.

 

[69hurstolds]

Don't bend the pushrods and you're golden. As previously stated...SEND IT!!!!!!! Have fun.

 

[KCP]

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG??????????

 

[bracketchev1221]

I just know I should go small block. But by the time I spend $2500 for a crate motor, and sell the big block for peanuts it’s hard not to put it in. I really don’t even want to take the big block apart to find out bore size. Maybe I’ll pull the pan off to change some gaskets. I keep getting ideas that keep adding money. So we’ll see.

 

[superbon54]

 

[Ribbedroof]

Might have the truck "thumb" rods in it...they're pretty stout for a 3/8 rod.

 

[bracketchev1221]

I can hope. I looked in the cylinder with a camera and they are small dome pistons with a closed chamber head so it’s probably a 10:1 motor. I’ve already been asking around for a Chevy 502/502 hydro roller that someone may have pulled out!!!

 

[mc1984ss]

The good news is the black valve covers should fit! That should make it a no brainier!