I just bought another 454 today, but unfortunately I won't get to my original goals I had set out for the '78 Malibu.

I picked up a short block '73 454 two bolt with 20k miles on it for $450. The compression ratio is 10.5:1. The motor comes with the Crane Gold roller rockers and pushrods for that price. It also has a forged GM crank and rods, TRW pistons, a Crane Hydraulic 226/236 (@ .050), .534/.553, 112 LSA cam, lifters, a Cloyes true roller timing chain, Melling high volume pump, and Moroso 7 quart pan.

I'll be happy with low 12's or high 11's. I'm still going to bolt the GMPP alum rectal heads and the Vic Jr intake on, 'cause those are what I've got.

The way things have been going with my bills, this is the best I can do. I still didn't think it was a bad price for the motor.

Now I've got a BBC for all my cars! :D Just wish the gas prices would come down!! :(

If it's OK you should be arrested for stealing it. ;)

I trust the guy. It is a great price. I'd look kind of goofy showing up at the jail in handcuffs. :D

Good score Sean..I'm sure low 12's will be easy..high 11's w/tuning.Those G bodies are alot lighter than our A bodies,and with that motor with the right gear,convertor,etc. you should meet your ET goals nicely.Stick with an RPM though,you will lose tq/hp with the Victor Jr,especially with that cam.You'll be shifting that motor around 5500-6000 max.

you should be able to get low 11's out of that pretty easily, Sean. if it's a drag car, it really isn't hard to get a malibu down to around 3100lbs plus whatever the driver weighs. they're a good 300-400lbs lighter than a Chevelle. maybe i'm too optimistic, but unless you really mess something up, i don't see how it could possibly run 12's in car that light. 10.5 to 1 compression is pretty decent to start out with, i'd try and get a bigger cam if you could though.
heckuva deal, no matter how you slice it. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

'Roger that' on the Air Gap. I was just checking out the prices, and they aren't to bad. Well worth the money.

They -78-87 are lighter, but not that much lighter. They're still full=framed heavy cars. I should be able to get it down to around 3200-3300 with me in it, but that's with some serious stripping out, daown the car.

I just got an email from the guy saying he ran 11.24@125 mph with this motor in a late model malibu weighing 3400 pounds. He was using GM ovals, 2.19/1.88 valves.

Originally posted by SS_Sean:
'Roger that' on the Air Gap. I was just checking out the prices, and they aren't to bad. Well worth the money.

They -78-87 are lighter, but not that much lighter. They're still full=framed heavy cars. I should be able to get it down to around 3200-3300 with me in it, but that's with some serious stripping out, daown the car. they're definately THAT MUCH LIGHTER Sean. i've actually messed with the G-body cars more than my own Chevelle. the frame on a G-body isn't even close to the thickness or size of an old A-body. they are more narrow and shorter too. i haven't personally seen a Malibu weigh more than about 3250lbs with a sbc and no driver, that makes it at least 350lbs lighter than my 71 Chevelle with sbc and no driver. they are much lighter, that is one of the main reasons they have become so popular, that and the fact that they only cost a fraction of what an old musclecar like a chevelle costs. and with aluminum heads you'll knock off around another 50lbs or so. they aren't light compared to a Chevy II or a Mustang 5.0, but they are light compared to a Chevelle. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

That sounds like you got a heck of a deal Sean! Way to go! I take it you won't be out at the track this summer though? I'll be out there probably by the middle or end of next month... or in August.

The car was cheap...$200 for a roller. Anyway, Chris I know I've been around and around about a cam selection, but since I've finally actually purchased a short block what do you think about the cam that's in it now? It's in the right RPM range for me, but I don't care for the 112 LSA. I'm not going to run nitrous in this car any time in the near future.

Check this one out...Compcams 11-676-4 XS268S 230/236, .553/.568, 110 LSA 1600-6000...that's actually right in the ballpark of what's in there now, a little more lift, and 2* less lobe seperation. That looks pretty tastey.

I'd imagine I'm going to loose some compression by going from 781 heads to the GMPP alum sig series heads. They have a 110cc volume. I can't remember the 781's volume but it seems to me it was lower than 110cc. Perfect would be 9.5:1, or right around there. I think I'd be really pushing it on pump gas at 10.5:1, and if I would have to run race fuel I may as well shoot for a higher CP.

781's are open chamber 119-121cc

Ooops...that was supposed to be 118cc volume on the aluminum heads. Sorry. Still looks like the cylinder volume will decrease slightly, and increase compression...depending on the thickness of the head gasket, right? It's my understanding the aluminum heads require a relatively thick gasket, though, which may balance things out...

Thanks for the numbers on the 781's, Robert. I can't remember all this stuff. smile.gif

Originally posted by RacnJsn95:
That sounds like you got a heck of a deal Sean! Way to go! I take it you won't be out at the track this summer though? I'll be out there probably by the middle or end of next month... or in August. I was out there last night as a spectator. A friend of mine runs a '79 elky, 13.45@103. I just popped in to say hi to him, and see what was going on. Was a lot of fun! As soon as I get my Chevelle back on the road I'll probably come out there once or twice. I bought another carb and am waiting on shipping. I hope to make it down there next Friday for the nostalgia night at the track. It'll be 72 and older only, plus a car show deal. It starts at 3:00pm. HOPEFULLY I'll make it.

Inexpensive gaskets for iron block/alum heads is the gm #6768, @ $16-18 a piece. I'd put a real cam in that thing ( esp with more compression) and go! Hard to believe it ran 124 mph with that cam.

Sean,I would run the shortblock as is,and bolt on your aluminum heads.That cam will work fine.Out of curiousity...thats a pretty impressive ET with that set up..was he spraying it? I would have guessed low 12's/high 11's easy with the lighter G body..low 11's is even better! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I thought the same thing, guys. I'm just telling you what he told me. He said he didn't spray it. I'm going to go solid with it just to be silly. I think a solid with a little more agressive profile would do well. If the tax man doesn't get me this next spring I might be out on the track next summer.