[RickyHill]

Looking putting a car together as a driver. I want a 496 with the 4 1/4 stroke and engine guy wants 522 with 4 inch stroke. Car is a 1966 chevelle 2 door hardtop. Just a driver but want it to be a bit of a spirited car that can dip into the 11s if there comes a need. What would you guys do.

RH

 

[GRN69CHV]

What engine components are you starting with [ Block, Heads, Crank]

 

[-SS454-]

I like the 522 as an engine better, but it doesn't seem to needed for what you want. It's your car, you make the call.

A 496 can be built cheaper and easily make a enough power to get into the 11s.

 

[92Camaro]

Looking putting a car together as a driver. I want a 496 with the 4 1/4 stroke and engine guy wants 522 with 4 inch stroke. Car is a 1966 chevelle 2 door hardtop. Just a driver but want it to be a bit of a spirited car that can dip into the 11s if there comes a need. What would you guys do.

RH

There are many ways to approach this. What do you currently have in engine parts, block, heads, etc? How is your Chevelle currently set up chassis wise and what is the rear tire size?

92Camaro 🍻

 

[69-CHVL]

You can get into the 11's with a mild 454.

 

[Lew540]

If you are going with a 522 with a Bow tie or Dart block that would be a nice way to go. I am assuming the 496 is a 454 motor with a crank. The bigger bore unshrouds the valves and it is like having a free 20 cubic inches when compared to 496 (it is worth like 25 hp using a same size engine with smaller bore). Also the ring sealing and block movement under stress when you get to 700 hp is less with a bow tie or Dart Block. A 496 is a good motor but a newer block is better but will also be more expensive too.

 

[WHT/73]

I don't think it's his car.
I'd jump off a cliff if a 522 can't "dip" into the 11's!

 

[GoFast Beaumont]

There’s no replacement for displacement!

 

[WHT/73]

There’s no replacement for displacement!

Uh......

these are a good replacement! lol

 

[GoFast Beaumont]

Uh...... View attachment 725721 these are a good replacement! lol

as much as I want to say yes, I’m gonna say no given my current setup haha

 

[68Chevele]

You can get into the 11's with a mild 454.

Bingo!

 

[dragginwagon406]

Looking putting a car together as a driver. I want a 496 with the 4 1/4 stroke and engine guy wants 522 with 4 inch stroke. Car is a 1966 chevelle 2 door hardtop. Just a driver but want it to be a bit of a spirited car that can dip into the 11s if there comes a need. What would you guys do.

RH

You and I have similar tastes 😂

Build the most reliable, most tame, easiest to drive package which still runs the number you’re looking to run. I also built mine to run on the tires I intended to run.

With valve springs, we’re talking cams under 0.600” lift and an engine which can drink the fuel you intend to purchase. I built my engine to satisfy all these boxes. I’d have to believe with a set of AFR 265s, my car would be in the 11.6-11.7s with 2.56 gears and stock stall, on 225/70-15, that’s with a 496. Why go for extra expense if you don’t need it?

On the other hand, if you had a big bore block, would you really only want to run 11s? My goal would be 10s with 2.56 gears 😂 I’d build a 565 with AFR290s and a fairly mild cam, and it would lay down serious grunt.

 

[Leadhead]

I'd go with the shorter stroke 522.

 

[Stokerboats]

If the goal truly is "dip into the 11's" I can't see much benefit in the 522. 496 will easily dip into the 11's and a torque advantage. In a 66 the oil pan can be a limiting factor although I've spun my smaller 499 (than my 565) up past 6800 and run bottom tens. I see no benefit on a driver with the 522.

 

[77 cruiser]

You can get into the 11's with a mild 454.

Or a good 406.

 

[RickyHill]

Thank you all. The thing is back in the late 80 early 90s i had a 1966 chevelle ss396 with my tunnel rammed l88 with m22 and 5.13 gears. Car was fast and the rez is 20 mins from town. I put a deposit on a car that is in storage now. Another 1966 chevelle ss. This one is blue. Very nice restored car. Has a mild 396 with 700r4 and 3.73 12 bolt rear. I have been thinking it would be really nice with a 496. I have block sniper efi some intakes. Need crank rods piston heads cam. Now my engine guy was all for it till a friend of his passed and had a 522. It was a complete running engine. Took it apart just to check it over. Has bow tie block scat light weight crank 6.535 rod scat rods je pistons arp head studs dart 320 race series heads with comp shaft rockers. This set up is only 1500 more then a cast scat crank rods wiseco piston deal with rings and bearing. So with heads and rockers it would be much cheaper for the 522 then building a 496. I was just thinking the 496 would have better torque sooner for a driver with overdrive and 3.73s then the 522. But sounds like a mellow 522 would be preferred by other members but usually the cost is more then a 496. This time it is not. Engine guy want to sell me the 522.

RH

 

[bh10]

The more cubic inches with the shorter stroke the better. Your oiling system will appreciate it as well the longevity of the motor.

 

[BB68]

Are these stories even close to real?

 

[540Hotrod]

The 522 sounds like the best deal for sure...much better parts.

Stroke doesn't automatically make TQ.....cubes do regardless of how you get them. The 522 will make more. Cam and heads/intake will determine where that happens with respect to RPM. Cam will make the biggest impact.

JIM

 

[427L88]

The Dart 320 heads wont prefer mellow street duty for sure. 290/305 is the biggest I'd go for something running to 6500, even AT 522 CI. Unless you keep it a bracket motor with deep gearing. You could cam it to use heads with low md lift velocity.

Darts Pro 1 320 on a 509 werent too impressive years back. Alas it could have been the cam choice.

As Jim says, the 522 sounds like the best deal in this case. Tuned appropriately.