Recommended big block Chevy reading

[L67ss]

Planning splayed mains too

 

[L67ss]

But yeah 496 is what I'm planning

 

[565bbchevy]

Planning splayed mains too

My 496 was a 2 bolt main and I bought Milidon nodular iron splayed caps and had them machined to fit.
My current engine uses a World products block with billet splayed caps and my new engine uses a Dart block also with billet splayed caps.

 

[L67ss]

Unless it pretty much falls into my lap I'll be sticking with factory blocks. I'm actually hoping both 454s I get are factory 2 bolts

 

[565bbchevy]

Unless it pretty much falls into my lap I'll be sticking with factory blocks. I'm actually hoping both 454s I get are factory 2 bolts

The 2 bolts will be stronger and if you do the main cap conversion they will probably be stronger than you will need but it is nice to have the extra insurance.
My 496 held up great and I ran some Dart oval ports with a street roller back then.

 

[L67ss]

Yeah after I get the second one built I'll go back and likely build the first one more serious. Looks like I may also be picking up an 86 Monte and it'd make a good motor for it

 

[565bbchevy]

Yeah after I get the second one built I'll go back and likely build the first one more serious. Looks like I may also be picking up an 86 Monte and it'd make a good motor for it

Big block Monte's totally suck, I think you should look for a different car.

 

[L67ss]

Well I'll have my big block cutlass

 

[L67ss]

I love starting with base model cars with weak engines just so I end up with a higher increase of HP over the stock motor. I believe the Monte I'm looking at has a 4.3

 

[Bar50]

There was a magazine series called 'Project Blue Collar 454'

2 bolt blocks are not weak.

Cast cranks take epic abuse.

Oval ports kill up to 6500 RPM.

Truck rods (thumb print) with good bolts will take as much as the block or crank.

The big block Chevy does not need a high volume oil pump.

-049 and -781 are the best flowing oval port heads. Epic with bigger valves.

Costs almost the same to build a 496 as 454.

A flat top 454 with 396 heads makes a great street 9 to 1 motor.

Look for 96-up roller cam motor and then score some Vortec 7400 (L29) heads.

I have some of the books mentioned above. Just depends on what you wanna build and a realistic budget.