MIKE J said:
The first thing ID suggest is verifying exactly what engine you have currently, and doing a tune-up and compression check, you need to verify what your working with, and if its the original engine or something else, big block engines, mid 1970 trucks and cars commonly came in sizes from 366-454 cubic inches,your car is more likely to have a 396 or 454 than a 366 or 427, but over the years previous owners could have swapped parts or whole engines,
and without verifying what you have under the hood and its current condition, compression ETC. your working basically BLIND for now!
I,ve built well in excess of 80 big block chevy engines over the last 45 plus years,
so Ill let you in on a few basic facts! that will save you a great deal of wasted time and money
the secret or logical path to building durable power is found,
by
simply GAINING KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE
and learning from the past successful results others have achieved,
step one is read through these thread's very carefully and
start by checking your current engines vin and casting numbers,
so you know what your starting with,
and do a compression check,
you can't logically make choices on mods,
until you know for certain what you have and need to do,
you can rather easily boost power by over 150 plus hp
with off the shelf parts,
much more power could be tapped with careful machine work and carefully fitted and well matched parts
read the links and sub links below
a day or so spent doing reading and research,
(reading links and threads)
will frequently save you thousands of dollars and weeks of wasted work.
if you want a fast dependable car you will need to either do the research required to know exactly how and why things should work, or pay someone else to do the work that has taken that time and effort.
many guys ignore proven combos, because it may cost more than they want to spend, and either insist on using components they own currently or think they can buy far less expensively than the components, I know from experience will actually work.
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/casting-numbers-vin.93/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/big-block-chevy-info.710/#post-54050
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-system-mods-that-help.2187/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/another-496bbc.5123/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/finding-a-machine-shop.321/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/torque-specs-calculator-links-etc.1222/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...gine-to-match-the-cam-specs.11764/#post-57987
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-in-building-a-good-engine.11682/#post-54682
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ne-have-any-power-potential.12343/#post-61018
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/a-mid-range-454-bbc-build.8215/#post-54632
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ting-started-in-the-car-hobby.339/#post-60187
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/#post-51823
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/block-prep.125/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/installing-engine-bearings.831/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-and-installing-connecting-rods-pistons.247/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/chevy-big-block-vi.9857/
have you ever taken the time, and effort,
too step back and grab a legal pad and pen, and logically make a reasonably complete list of the parts you,ll need,
and do the research required too list every part, (including all the small components like bolts, bearings gaskets) and their current cost, where you can find those components for sale, and part number, brand and supplier, and the phone numbers etc.
and call a local machine shop to get a better idea as to the labor cost of a project your looking into starting?
once you do theres commonly three things youll face,
the first is generally a sense of being over whelmed and depressed at the un-expected,total projected cost!
the second is a very common and strong temptation to either scrap the whole idea or to start substituting cheaper and generally considerably lower quality components that in the long run will eventually make the completed project either not worth owning and certainly something your less than proud to own.
and the third is the strong tendency to purchase parts that you find for bargain priced that either are not well matched to the intended projects goals, or nearly useless when matched to the project goals, but the bargain price seems nearly impossible to pass on.
all these tendency's result in a great many partly complete or abandoned projects, or projects that don,t resemble anything close to the original intent, or projects that never get started in the first place.
the completion of a well designed project will take some detailed planing and the ability to stick with the original projects part list and goals, and doing your research in detail, as to both the parts and machine shop costs, the time required and in many cases the tools that you might need,and of course youll need a place to work and store the project while its being built or repaired, well before you start buying components
yes I know! everything costs more and takes longer than you expected,
and simply bolting on a performance intake manifold and slipping a new cam in the engine,
is very unlikely to produce the kind of power levels you hope for on the budget you wanted to spend,
and its unlikely to be accomplished over a single weekend if your not highly experienced,
and have access to a good many more tools that the average begining hot rodder has.
that being stated....its certainly not hopeless, and yes its done all the time in stages on a budget,
you just need to understand EXACTLY how and why you need to do things and ,
the key is KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH.
(and a decent local machine shop and a few experienced friends certainly would help,
so joining a couple local corvette and muscle car clubs,
and seeking out the more skilled members would sure help too)
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