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L88's in: gear head marathon

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G

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Well you ain't seen two knucklebusting gearheads rip out a wimpy, wimpy, 396 nad install a real Big Bore 427 L88, as fast as us guys. Had to fab a few things, pull a rad hose off an old delivery van (( why do people cut things just long enough!)
)and a torch the old flexplate apart to free a nasty bolt, but start 13:45 hours, finish 21:08. Well, hell, what am I saying, sure you guys have!

L88's in. Can't say without a hitch. Started missing or something just two minutes out of the driveway. I think we wiped out a plug wire, but when I started to test, I got an open curcuit across three of them. Guess you can't test spiral core supression wires that way, I know I did before. Odd side plugs looked very good. Didn't check the even side. Fired her back up and limped her home, 75 miles of the New York State thruway.

Ran mint in the garage!

I say limped but when you hit the squirters, it lit up, even with a limp. I can tell this lil rat is gonna rip.

New Centerforce clutch is AWESOME. Has a little "ring" or something going on, but it grabs.

We were too wiped to even have a beer, having my nightcap ( Molson Stock Ale tonight), as I speak.

Now I can honestly say

Gene Chas
Gold Member 62
67 SS L88

HUWAAH!





[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 08-28-99).]
 
R

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#2 ·
Hey Gene!
Great to hear! I think Jasons national chevelle day WAS yesterday! I got the 65 too! Check out my post in Bench Racing! Doctors orders go grab 4 gears...and rev it in the morning!!!
Good Luck!

------------------
Steve
64SS-327-4spd-sold to Original owner!
65 Malibu 283/PG!!!
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/stevedmalibu.jpg
Team Chevelle Member #71
 
6

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#3 ·
gene
thats great!you know it allways seems there has to be this little nich that get you frizzled,never fails.Im sure its a minor problem,you will get it in no time.so its better than the 396?you got a monster in there now,enjoy.yea you made good time installing it,took me 5 1/2 rzzzz to do mine but I just put the block ,tranny and headers in,finished up a few days later,had the eaby jeabys on the fist fire up,but when it fired and after I broke in the cam,then played with the timing,I knew I had a good one!hell,your still smiling ,aint ya?good luck!let the mighty rats rain of terror reak across the muscle car waistland.good day,man 67rat member #199

[This message has been edited by 67RAT (edited 08-29-99).]
 
J

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#4 ·
May all the 67 Rat equipped chevelles do a 30 foot burnout in honor of this hallowed day! The day Gene's 427 came to life!!!!! Good job, Gene. And good luck with her!
..........Joe
 
G

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Hey guys, thnx for the rebels yells and toasts. I was smiling that whole ride home ( with a few Hail Mary's thrown in for good measure).

BTW, it was nice cruising above 3 grand without the "magic fingers" effect from that old clutch/flywheel. Balance is key.

Left the old headers in place to make the job easier. I couldn;t think of a good way to make the switch from my 3" to the new Hooker's 3.5" collector. The dude welded the 2.5" system in place. The old ones are very small tube and rusted. Solid. But way rusted. Curious to see what the addition of 2" primaries, w/ 3.5" collectors and 3" head pipes will do. So I have a header day to look forward to. Uug.

Jon, I've been advertising that 396 all summer long and apparently can't give it away. And I won't. I'll keep it as a backup, but I'd sure prefer to have a down payment on the paint job!$1500 FOB Fremont.

Well, let's see how long it takes me to cure my miss ( new solid Taylors go in tommorow ), and how it takes to dial her in. BTW I decided to go with stock orange valve covers. I had a beat pair of stockers that, suprisingly, fit nicely over the Crane rollers ( why do they make those ploylocks so damn tall!). I did a quicky strip and shot them with 4 coats of that Dura something ceramic Chevy orange and 3 coats of clear, and they're friggin NEON. Maybe I should gone with the Chevy orange/red instead. Or maybe my new covers will be done in Chevy orange neon. I kinda like it.

Oh, and the polished aluminum heads and intake are very cool.
 
J

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#8 ·
Nice to hear it went well Gene. I was lucky enough to ride in a 67 Vette that had a transplanted L-88 (even drove it once). So I think I can say I know what you are in for. When I had my 11 to 1 396, my vette buddy and I would drive to the local airstrip and cut 15 gallons of unleaded premium with 5 gallons of 100 Octane AVGAS. No problems with ping or detonation. Apparently AVGAS has much more lead than any blend of car gas ever had, so there is plenty with the mixture. If you're running 12.5 to 1, you'll need something (like you didn't already know!).

Let us know if you run a 1/4 and/or a rear wheel dyno, I am curious what kind of time you can do or HP you can get. I am going with a 454 HO in my 67 and would like to compare.
Thanks,
John Walker
 
G

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
John, no problem. While the motor is already broken in, the clutch ain't and I still have that miss to work out. But when its ready, it "test and tune" time. Not only will I get some numbers from a Gtech ( the 396 ran a 13.6), but I'll do it "live fire" at the local strip's "test n tune" night.

The CR on this motor is not 12.5, the pistons wre flycut, we calculate about 10.7:1 or so.
 
A

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#10 ·
Congrats Gene....hope to "catch" ya out one night...if ya know what I mean!!!!!

------------------
Bruce M.
Buffalo, NY
Team Chevelle #197
69 SS Chevelle
80 Malibu
members.aol.com/amhpd17/index.html
 
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Gene Chas
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