Well, a friend and I went to the salvage yard to find parts for his '78 TA. When we get back to the main office, there's disassembled 454 laying in the corner. I ask about it and it's for sale.

454 2-bolt block 1978 truck .040 over with the block being stamped HI-PERF

454 heads fully rebuilt, but unknown specs, almost positive they are bonestock. Also vintage 1978. Are these the peanut ports that people hate?

According to the owner of the salvage yard, the motor had been freshly rebuilt and the heads reworked for some HD truck. WELL, something happened and the former owner had spun damn near every rod bearing, ruining the crank and rods. The block, however, seems to be in excellent shape. I really feel like it could just be honed out. I couldn't catch a fingernail on the top ring groove as there is almost none there.
He quoted me $100 for the bare block and $200 for the whole mess. That would be the peanut port (?) heads, valve covers, oil pan, etc. BUT, the crank and rods are junk.
I would LOVE to build the BSE for my 70 and I'm thoroughly sick of messing with the warmed over 355 that's in it now.
I already have a set of LS3 '71 402 heads. I also have some 3/8" 427 dimple rods. I think I can piece together the big stuff as in maybe buying a stroker crank and piston kit later. Does the above price sound ok on the block or should I spring for the whole disassembled package? Thanks!

------------------
Justin Wray
Fathom Blue 1970 Malibu 1/8th mile best of 8.48 on wore out 26x8.5x14 slicks. 1/4 mile equivalent is 13.10's
Still tuning for 8.30 in the 1/8th or 12.99 in the 1/4. Whichever comes first...

$200 isn't bad a deal(that's about what I paid for mine,and it needed a crank and came with peanut ports)..the heads will probably be peanut ports,but check 'em out anyway.The valves could be used reused in another pair of heads if you don't go to the 2.19/1.88's.

------------------
My 70 SS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/mr4speed70SS1)
Engine pic (http://chevelles.com/showroom/mr4speed70SSengine2)
My Black Cherry 70 SS454 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Photo0031.jpg)
The launch (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/CClaunch.jpg) 13.54 @ 100.20/2.03 60 ft. with radials,2.73's,and thru the mufflers
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible
1985 Cadillac Eldorado
Chris Corwel,TC Member # 785
Member # 141 AMCA

The crank is ONLY ruined if it cannot be turned down to a size to fit available bearings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ask if he will allow you to take the crank to your machinist for inspection and have it miced. Also, if the rods can be re-sized, then they can be salvaged. Obviously, it would be prudent to try to learn what caused the bearings to spin.
I don't have the dimensions for peanut port heads, but the SMALL intake ports on peanut port heads is IMMEDIATELY identifiable. Only the big trucks used peanut ports, so it is possible that they are oval ports.
Anyway, if the crank, rods and block are salvageable, then yes, $200 is quite fair. IF, JUST IF, the heads are oval ports, then $200 is a VERY good price for everything.

------------------
Tom Parsons

DZ is right about the crank, just ask Bill K about that.

Since you have some nice rods, and semi closed oval port heads already, maybe you should consider just getting the bare block for $100, and get one of the cheapo cast 4.25 stroke cranks, since otherwise you will be paying $100 for a crank core, assuming the heads are junko. If they are large ovals, then get the whole thing!!

------------------
Frank W
G-3 Chevelles Rule
74 Laguna Type S-3 Warmed over 305
4 bolt 454 now in garage 3.42 Posi
90 Mustang LX Notch 5.0/5 speed daily driver
Homepagehttp://www.chevellepages.com/folingo
Club Page clubs.hemmings.com/bearingburners (http://clubs.hemmings.com/bearingburners)

I think a bb crank can be ground to fit .100" under bearings if you look for them and will be just fine! Don't know if bearings that size under cost more then say, .030"s or not, but if not, should save you the cost of a crank kit ...

But I DO LIKE THE cheap stroker, 4.25" crank for a 496!!! pdq67

Just for the fact of I'm goin tomorrow to buy the block for sure....I'll grab the casting numbers on the heads and if they pan out...maybe I can go back and pick up the rest of the stuff.
I'm no machinist, but honestly, the crank looked awful. Heck, he might let me have it since he thinks it's bad, just to get it out of his way. That might be worth a shot. As I said, I'll check out the heads as they looked like fairly large oval ports to me. I know for a fact that they were cast in 1978. Let you know more tomorrow!

------------------
Justin Wray
Fathom Blue 1970 Malibu 1/8th mile best of 8.48 on wore out 26x8.5x14 slicks. 1/4 mile equivalent is 13.10's
Still tuning for 8.30 in the 1/8th or 12.99 in the 1/4. Whichever comes first...

Good find Justin! You can borrow one of my engine stands if you will set it up in your living room!

------------------
1967 Chevelle Malibu - Granada Gold & Capri Cream
1965 SS Convertible - Crocus yellow with black top

The 67 Restification Project profile (http://groups.msn.com/Restoringmy1967chevelle)
Parts needed/wanted (http://groups.msn.com/Restoringmy1967chevelle/partswanted.msnw)
Team Member 1756

Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause...kids.

[This message has been edited by jmhardin (edited 10-23-2002).]

Ok guys, I went back to the boneyard and bought the .040 block for $100. I really think it's a good deal. I thought I might score half of the junk anyway, because most of the rods and pistons were still in the block. However, my friend and I went out into the yard to get some more TA parts and when we got back the block had been stripped clean. Guess the guy thought he was doin me a favor. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif
We were almost late for work, so I decided not to try to test my bargaining luck on the crank just yet.
I did grab the casting numbers on the heads, tho. They are vintage '78 with the numbers 346236. I looked it up in "Chevrolet by the Numbers" and they say they were a late '75 replacement head that apparently carried on thru '78 and probably beyond. Stock, they were fitted with 2.06/1.72 valves and 113cc combustion chambers. The intake ports looked pretty darn big to me. Are these the real deal or the dreaded "peanut ports"? Could they be made to flow as good as the 049's and the 215's?
If they are good heads for a 10 second BSE buildup, how much would they be worth? They have just been rebuilt back to stock http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif and are visually in very good shape. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
I'm pretty excited about this whole thing. I've wanted to go big block for what seems like forever. I hope I can get everything together and stomp my friend's 377 small block butt come next spring.
Oh, and John....let me ask my wife if I can use your engine stand to assemble it in the living room........HOOOOOONEY.........
Get back to me guys. Thanks!

------------------
Justin Wray
Fathom Blue 1970 Malibu 1/8th mile best of 8.48 on wore out 26x8.5x14 slicks. 1/4 mile equivalent is 13.10's
Still tuning for 8.30 in the 1/8th or 12.99 in the 1/4. Whichever comes first...

All right Justin! The extra stand I have is just holding that busted 400SBC.

Now, when you (we, you know I want to help) drop that rat in you gonna have some left over mouse parts! Also going to MS this weekend and will be parts hunting too. Need anything?

------------------
1967 Chevelle Malibu - Granada Gold & Capri Cream
1965 SS Convertible - Crocus yellow with black top

The 67 Restification Project profile (http://groups.msn.com/Restoringmy1967chevelle)
Parts needed/wanted (http://groups.msn.com/Restoringmy1967chevelle/partswanted.msnw)
Team Member 1756

Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause...kids.

Well, John, I figure if you can find me a 454 crank and maybe some rods, that might be a good start. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif If I can't find a suitable crank, then I'll start looking at affordable stroker kits ala 496 cid.
This project will probably take a while, but when I get started, things should roll fairly quickly.
Wish I could load up with you this weekend for a salvage yard treasure hunt, but I have to work....again.

------------------
Justin Wray
Fathom Blue 1970 Malibu 1/8th mile best of 8.48 on wore out 26x8.5x14 slicks. 1/4 mile equivalent is 13.10's
Still tuning for 8.30 in the 1/8th or 12.99 in the 1/4. Whichever comes first...

to the best of my knowledge those are peanut port heads, i checked my book "How to rebuild big block chevy engines" by Tom Wilson and it said they were truck heads with very small intake ports.

Also found this to confirm it, peanut ports.
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum4/HTML/012016.html

Hey Justin, there is one in the Merchandiser classifieds. No price but phone number. Stop by the bono Jr. Food and pick one up. Pg 34.

------------------
1967 Chevelle Malibu - Granada Gold & Capri Cream
1965 SS Convertible - Crocus yellow with black top

The 67 Restification Project profile (http://groups.msn.com/Restoringmy1967chevelle)
Parts needed/wanted (http://groups.msn.com/Restoringmy1967chevelle/partswanted.msnw)
Team Member 1756

Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause...kids.

Justin, I have a forged crank&stock rods w/3/8 bolts. The crank is ground .020 on the rods and mains. I removed it from a motor w/ 8000 miles on it. I replaced w/ 4.25 crank &longer rods. If interested e-mail me .

Justin,

You find a crank yet? I have found one local at Vaughns shop.