Thread: 496 build tips

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Hello all, I am in the works of getting a mid 80's 2 bolt 454 truck engine and TH400 trans. The trans is a core (needs rebuilding) and the engine was supposedly a running engine when pulled. I am looking to make as much hp on pump gas as possible (93oct) and am planning on using the Coast High performance 496 rotating assembly with some AFR 335 heads with a static comp. ratio of 11.0-11.5:1. I have been kinda worried about the 2 bolt block and was trying to find some info on re-drilling the 2 bolt caps and converting them to 4 bolt or just getting the aftermarket Milodon or Pro-gram main caps. The Milodon only cover 2,3,4 and not 1,5 where the Pro-Gram cover all mains. Can the Pro-Gram caps even be used on a non 4 bolt block? Sorry for the newbie questions as this is my first ever BBC build. I know some will say I should have gotten an aftermarket block, but I am getting this engine for very cheap......$250. If the crank is forged, I can prolly get it cleaned up and re-sell it as well as get the rods reconditioned/shot peened and resold as well. Any other helpful tips/suggestions towards my BBC virgin build is greatly appreciated!!

well you should not need the 4 bolt ,but i done them and you have to watch what your doing there is abit to it .heres is one that i did last summer that was a 496 blower engine it was done with pro gram caps .just about all my machine work and builds are BBC from 396to632 as far as any thing bbc i can help.i some times a get nice program caps and other stuff as well

Cutless 86, you may be an experienced engine builder, that I do not know. I
do know that in my days I have built many small block chev motors, but nothing bigger than the 383 with two four barrel carbs..............

If you are not an experienced builder, and you are talking 496 cu inch BB
with lots of HP, you should spend the little extra and have a Pro do it for
you, especially if you are going to put a blower on it.....Either way, you are
going to spend some $$, and the extra money spent knowing it is done to
exact specs will save you money in the long run....

I would take Pat's advice on anything he tells you about the engine you have.

This is an ambitious build for a first ever BB build. Pat has built from one end of the spectrum to the other and if you go thru this sight he comments on most posts. Call him on the phone and put together a plan for your build. There is more to it than deciding on parts to bolt on. I wish he was in Texas.

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. I would rate myself from 1-5 with 1 being total noob a 4. I have built a few SBC 350's a couple SBF's and an Olds 350. I do not plan on going FI unless I am sure using the Pro-Gram mains will make the block strong enough to handle that kind of power. If I do go FI, it will either be a pair of turbos or a centri blower like Procharger or Vortec. If I can get this car to run consistent 9.90's to 9.80's on pump gas n/a, then I won't even bother with FI. I realise what you guys are saying in that the block prolly wouldn't even need to be converted to 4 bolt, but I like peace of mind and that is priceless......lol. I won't be doing the conversion myself, the machine shop I choose to do my block prep work will be doing it for me. So with that said, are the Pro-Gram mains able to be used front to rear on a 2 bolt block? If so, the that sure sounds a lot cheaper than $2000+ for an aftermarket block.

Originally Posted by oldcutlass86

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. I would rate myself from 1-5 with 1 being total noob a 4. I have built a few SBC 350's a couple SBF's and an Olds 350. I do not plan on going FI unless I am sure using the Pro-Gram mains will make the block strong enough to handle that kind of power. If I do go FI, it will either be a pair of turbos or a centri blower like Procharger or Vortec. If I can get this car to run consistent 9.90's to 9.80's on pump gas n/a, then I won't even bother with FI. I realise what you guys are saying in that the block prolly wouldn't even need to be converted to 4 bolt, but I like peace of mind and that is priceless......lol. I won't be doing the conversion myself, the machine shop I choose to do my block prep work will be doing it for me. So with that said, are the Pro-Gram mains able to be used front to rear on a 2 bolt block? If so, the that sure sounds a lot cheaper than $2000+ for an aftermarket block.

you did not see the photos of the two bolt main block that i put all 5 pro gram caps on ?the block can take alot of HP but you did not say how much HP you think you need to see to make it 9.90 car ? your thinking the caps are cheap but it is about a 450 of labor to put the caps on with out the price of the pro gram caps . so a 2700 dollar block start looking good but it will still needs some work to but your starting out with a better block were the bulk heads of a $2700 block is thicker .walls are thicker.decks are thicker .water jackets are open up for more cooling. better oiling ,the added valley boss for the head bolts .all this said could you build a GM iron block to take over 800+ hp ?yes but its a time money deal to your going to buy a new block spend $$ with all machine work and race prep the block . i fixed used blocks and sold many blocks i have see blocks that failed and were past fixing . from a crank breaking. pistons failing .valves busting .so there more to this then your block . at one time i have done every repair to a bbc block GM and others . dart .world. bow tie cnc bow tie .world pro blocks .i have done all the added race stuff to GM blocks . as for if a two bolt can be made in to a 4 bolt yes its the same block from GM just with two less holes in the main web and the caps. so yes a good set of caps could help but are $300to $700 alot of shops get $200 and up for a line bore to cut the metal out of the new caps as there a lot to cut out of the new caps. so this as well puts it past $1000 for the labor and all 5 caps . alot of shops will not work on a block with the cheap over sea s caps on them has they will not finsh nice when boring the 3 main caps see all the load of power as the cranks trys to pull down putting more load to center of the block .thats why you only see 3 caps for sale .you can added more but this is were some stop when putting caps on a two bolt block .the back caps is were alot of machine shops screw up.... alot .. there is the rear thrust to deal with as well this needs to be rigth or the crank will not have end play needed for the thrust so some oil get in on it .if the back cap is cocked the you have a big mess. you want all load running on the upper and lower thrust ...can not work if the cap is 100% FukUp thats why many just do 3 or 4 and not play with the back cap for the added time making it fit and the money just for a billet back cap is about $400