OK, so my friend has a 70 nova. He also has his 454 in the machine shop to be fully machined for a 4.25 crank and also is receiving 4 bolt splayed. I am working on this with him and we are to the point of buying EVERYTHING for this engine. This guy is doin’ pretty good in the money category (for being 19 years old and all, as am I) He is going to buy: an all forged rotating assembly (brand new), Hydraulic roller cam and lifters, needs an intake AND carb, headers and exhaust...and anything else I didn’t mention. Part numbers would be helpful!

The items he DOES have are: a pair of 781's ( oval port, 118cc chambers, 256cc intake, 114cc exhaust, not sure on valve sizes) .030 454 block. So pretty much working around those heads, what can you guys recommend for a combo that has a max RPM of 6500, PUMP gas, street strip, and is eventually going to use nitrous. He has nothing for a rear end or tranny now, so we will be building the car around the engine...

Any and ALL help will be GREATLY appreciated, so have at this poor engine, and let’s see what team chevelle can come up with! I'm talkin' what compression, cam, head gasket, zero deck… EVERY thing! graemlins/beers.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif

P.S. I will be lurkin’ here so if anyone has questions about something more specific, shoot away. Thanks.

'68,

First, a 496 motor doesn't need to spin to 6500 RPM, 6000 is plenty, most guys only run them to 5800 or so. I know for a fact, Mike (Wolfplace) can set you up with an all forged balanced rotating assembly including SRP 10.0/1CR pistons for open chamber heads, including rings and all bearings for around 1800.00 or so. If he is dead set on the hydraulic roller, then go for it. But you may also want to talk to Mike about getting a custom ground hi-lift ISKY hydraulic flat tappet cam. When I was looking at mine, we were probably going to drop in a custom grind [H392/H584 lobes 292/244/.573 Int, 298/252/.573 Exh. on 112LSA, 110ICL. If he wants to go even more radical, yet still streetable use the H443/H393 lobes 296/248/.602 Int, 304/256/.595 Exh). They can do the cam on a P55 Core (special cam core) for about 180.00. Something like the above will get you into the 550+HP range depending on how much is done to the heads. But the big issue is about 600FT Lbs of torque.

First off, thank you for the reply! I know a stroker big block doesnt need to rev to 6500, but this guy is kinda persistant, he really wanted to go all out and 8-71 it, but I was able to talk him into something more realistic and driveable. What would you recommend for an intake? I'm kind of lost as to what would be good...just an air gap? or victor? or is there a better alternative than edelbrock for this combo? I was thinking maybe a 950 HP holley, 4150 series, am I wrong in thinking this would be good for the application? He is set on using a hydraulic roller. Also what kind of stuff can you recommend be done to the heads?

Again, thanks for the contributions! graemlins/beers.gif

If the guy is dead serious, he will need to define his cash budget. He will also need to define his performance goals ie. high 10's, low 11's, etc. Use the what I gave you as a baseline and go from there. The oval ports he has will work on a street 496, but may choke a drag 496.

Well, let me ask you if low 11's, high 10's are possible on a car that is driven just about every weekend, with the 781's...(those are the goals, hehe) Thanks! graemlins/beers.gif

Oh yea, budget....19 years old, living at home, working 60+ hours weekly, making base pay of $19.01...this dude has got tyhe money and a car that is getting some very nice christmas presents. roller cam, head work, around 2000 on rotating assembly, whatever intake, exhaust etc..

Tell your buddy this - take half of his net income and deposit it into a growth account - right now while there are a ton of good buys. Take the balance and look around for bargains on parts and make a few minor compromises here and there. Street cars don't need the best of everything. Once your over 500HP and 500FT Lbs of torque, it won't hook anyway on street tires. Do the deposit thing like I suggest and in 20 years (ripe old age of 39), he will have more money than he could possibly spend and still have volume of cash left over.

Ok, he already does do that, so....yea. Any ideas on parts? should we just assume 950hp holley, victor oval port, 10.5:1, roller with 245 degrees, 2" headers? graemlins/beers.gif

JMHO, he should buy from his machinist, give the local guy some of the business. The machinist will look over the parts and decide if they are ok and send back any that are defective and pass on any info and the proper parts to y'all.

Sounds very much like what I'm building right now. Mine is nearing completion.
I used a Scat Crank, Manley I beam Sprotsman rods and SRP pistons. Also added the splayed main caps....not a trivial job.
I'm going with a solid roller, comp XR292R and am using the Isky Red Zone lifters.
Also going with a 950 Holley and I bought a World intake.
I'm not going with oval heads, but instead chose the AFR 305's with CNC chambers.
We should be on the dyno within a month....
And while it's on the dyno, we plan to test a 1050 and a Victor454R.
My intended useage is strip with a little street driving (to get it to the strip)
I am hoping for mid 10's or better.....a much simpler 468 ran high tens in my car.
If it doesn't go faster....I'm wasting a bunch of money on the 496!
Good luck!
Ron

BTW....my car is a 69 Nova.
Ron

Ron, CHP just did a nice 496 like that using the next smallest cam in the Comp XR line, the XR286-R10. 600 lbs ft and 625 hp on 91 octane!!!

Ya, that'll get it done! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Oh by the way, the engine builder we are going through is named Doug Green (I believe), DGmachine, I dont know if any of you guys know him, but he is pretty big around here...a lot of racers use his engines. We do plan on doing all our business with this local machinist. graemlins/beers.gif

What I have gathered so far is...new aluminum heads, otherwise the 781's will be the limiting piece...isky red zone lifters, a cam with around 245 @ 050 and 550 lift (I am correct right? any in grinds particular? perhaps a harold grind?) 10.25-10.5:1 max...2 inch primary, 3 inch duels, victor (or a world products maybe? any special ones people like? oval port..) 950 HP, I think that is what i have conjured up

I wana say thanks again for the input you guys give. graemlins/beers.gif

Isky red Zones are solid roller lifters. You can and probably should use a cam well over .550 lift. Something in the .580+ range in a flat tappet hydraulic or hydraulic roller w/ about 240 - 245 @ .050, but for a solid roller lift gets into the .600's. But in reality, to gain the benefit of a solid roller, you need a well prepped set of factory heads or some good aftermarket heads. I suggest you go to the engine builder you want to use, tell him what you want to achieve and go with his recommendations.