Team Chevelle banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Planning Stages of BBC

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 39 Posts

2/75NastyNewbs

· Premium Member
Ryan
Joined
·
2,593 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Well I’m finally at the point in my life that I’m going to step into the world of big blocks. I’ve had several small blocks over the years but never a BBC. I messaged Mike Lewis yesterday and he is back to building engines. He’s just a few hours from me. Just wanted to start a thread to pick your guys brains. I still owe mike a phone call.

Goals:
Rowdy street car. Full weight 70 malibu. Face melting torque. Likely hydraulic roller. 6500 RPM max. Run AC. Dead reliable. Keep the cost somewhat conservative. Car currently has a th350 with gear vendors and 12 bolt with 3.55. I’ll likely swap to a th400 and keep the 3.55s. I’ll source a converter after all is said and done with the engine.


I’m thinking production block 496 with production heads. I really like the 496 mark jones puts together. Something like that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kopfjaeger, 66rat and 427L88
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#3 ·
2/75NastyNewbs said:
Well I’m finally at the point in my life that I’m going to step into the world of big blocks. I’ve had several small blocks over the years but never a BBC. I messaged Mike Lewis yesterday and he is back to building engines. He’s just a few hours from me. Just wanted to start a thread to pick your guys brains. I still owe mike a phone call.

Goals:
Rowdy street car. Full weight 70 malibu. Face melting torque. Likely hydraulic roller. 6500 RPM max. Run AC. Dead reliable. Keep the cost somewhat conservative. Car currently has a th350 with gear vendors and 12 bolt with 3.55. I’ll likely swap to a th400 and keep the 3.55s. I’ll source a converter after all is said and done with the engine.


I’m thinking production block 496 with production heads. I really like the 496 mark jones puts together. Something like that.
Click to expand...
Mike or Mark are both good choices for what you wanting.
 
#5 ·
Boy every time someone tells me they want to step into a BBC I remind them of my mild 406 that run in the high 10's sporting a puppy hyd cam. I love blowing BBC's off the track or on the street, but the BBC just looks way cooler then a SBC. Go for it on that 496, as when I put the L-29 heads back on a new short block it will be a 496 also, the 496 rotating assy costs the same as 468 does.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lookback
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#8 ·
If I had it to do again I'd of used a 502 block and built a 540-565 and if it weren't for wanting ac went with a bigger cam and Solid roller, had my Brodix heads pro ported, my heads & rotating assb came from Wolfplace and all Top Notch parts from what the race engine/machinist builder said (y) (y) :)
 
#9 ·
Hey Ryan - I think you need to clarify/be sure of your goals a bit:

You say rowdy street car and massive torque and pull to 6500 RPM....but you want to keep cost down and still have working A/C. (Frankly....I, too, like all of these thoughts!)

But I'd go with as many cubes as you can muster but keep the cam in the mid-220s and rev "only" up to 5800-6000 RPM....and then call it a day.

You should still be able to come out with a high ten or low eleven second street car and keep your A/C.......which is really impressive.

That is, if you can hook up. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2/75NastyNewbs, mrpaticular, Texas Squirrel and 2 others
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#11 ·
Im in the break-in stages of my solid roller 540 and while its a riot, I was close to doing a 496 as well and they're nothing to turn your nose up at. Im sure you'll be happy with either of those builders as I, among others, considered them as well.
 
#12 ·
Look at what a good set of oem heads w new guides, valves maybe new seats are
compare it to a good set - dont get cheap - al heads run -flow from rovals... just saying... look at weight saving and some perf improvement
before you decide
make the decision before you spend money and regret decision...
wonder why I say that?...
and no matter what recommend u go all roller , but it is another decision for you
 
#13 ·
If you are planning to get Mike or Mark to build you an engine I would suggest telling which one of them your budget and what you want to accomplish, then let them decide what to build. Trust what they are telling you. While you are waiting on the engine to be built you can spend some time shopping for new tires. You are going to need them.
 
#14 ·
Talk over your options and intentions with Mike, he is an amazing wealth of knowledge.
I'd hate to think of how many emails I tortured him with figuring out what I wanted for a street engine combination.

When I left his place from dropping off parts, I asked him, so any chance of getting close to 800 horsepower at 7000 rpm.
I got a funny little chuckle, and a grin response.
When he got dyno results in, I asked " how'd she do?"
His response was " she a little ROWDY" and sent me this. (So be careful in telling him you want something ROWDY.)

Image
Image
 
#15 · (Edited)
Hahaha! ROWDY at what budget!? $550HP$ $600HP$ $ 650HP$ $700HP$ ;)

A stroked 4.250" bore BBC is a proven combination, so you can't miss. Even the 4" "stock" 454 maybe able to muster what you need, particularly if Mike matches heads and cam in a well planned build, which is what he does! How much rowdy is up to you and your pocketbook. If you wanted to keep it low octane drinking, 4.25" stroke would be a good equalizer. As would the 4,5" bore as Rick $ay$. That size of pocketbook thing!

It was a joy to have a pro help me with the build. I wouldn't change a thing, even the "stock muscle car idle". Not as rowdy as my old 427, until you LET IT EAT. Then it's INSTA PULL and mostly blowing the tires off near WOT. 600 ft lbs does that dance well. That's my 2 'sense' , BBC can make a diesel -like amount of TQ around 4000 rpm, so a "TQ-built" BBC doesn't have to rev past 6500 or less.

Personally, although do miss the revs of my short stroke BBC - it made great power past 5000 - the easy drivability of a 550+ hp mid range TQ BBC is sort of amazing. My ONLY goal with Mark was try for 600 ft lbs.

you describe to Mike what kind of RAT ROWDY you desire and he'll get it done!
 
#16 ·
Get your list together. 100lbs more on the nose.
Springs mabey. Radiator depends what you have now. Pulleys. Brackets. Off the shelf headers with stock and some aftermarket heads. New exhaust.
Going TH400 is a good ideal. Don't take much to make 400 stand up to new engine. I'd go cast iron heads, they don't grow as much as aluminum ones. Another goodie driveshaft. You'll have fun.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Thanks guys. Currently camping with my son so service is limited. Yes, “rowdy” is pretty up to interpretation I suppose. I guess I mean I don’t need a smooth idling grocery getter. Mid 230s at .050 on a 108 would be fine. That’s what I have now in my 383. As far as weight on the nose, I currently have and aluminum radiator and UMI springs. I can shim those up if needed. I don’t have any BBC parts laying around like headers.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#19 ·
LaVelle said:
Talk over your options and intentions with Mike, he is an amazing wealth of knowledge.
I'd hate to think of how many emails I tortured him with figuring out what I wanted for a street engine combination.

When I left his place from dropping off parts, I asked him, so any chance of getting close to 800 horsepower at 7000 rpm.
I got a funny little chuckle, and a grin response.
When he got dyno results in, I asked " how'd she do?"
His response was " she a little ROWDY" and sent me this. (So be careful in telling him you want something ROWDY.)

View attachment 776141 View attachment 776142
Click to expand...
One of my old engine builders used to say years ago, "you want something Rowdy just use the biggest cam they sell" :ROFLMAO:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2/75NastyNewbs
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#20 ·
Alan's 71 Corvette (username shouldntbehere) ran high 10's with a 3.08/TH400 and a/c sporting an MJ pump gas 496 that made 650+ HP
Eventually mid 10's with a 3.36 gear. Might even be quicker now.
Cam was 238/248@.050 110 LSA Isky hyd. roller
 
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
About this Discussion
38 Replies
21 Participants
Last post:
2/75NastyNewbs
Team Chevelle
posts
5.3M
members
131K
Since
1998
A forum community dedicated to Chevrolet Chevelle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restorations, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Performance Engine Chevelle Tech Body Shop