Thread: First Engine Build Please advise.

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I have a 1979 Chevrolet 1/2 ton short bed pickup truck. The truck has no engine or tranny. I want this to be a screaming truck. I would prefer to stick with a small block, but will defer to the experts here if they think a BBC would be better. The only requirements that i have are that i want 400-450 HP and for it to be streetable. Also what trasmission would you recommend with this engine. Like i said this is a blank slate and i will go with whichever build idea is the best. I can get a new block or start junk yard hunting if i know what too look for.

thanks in advance

Justin

I have a 450 hp 383 in my deuce. It has very good street manners given the amount of power if produces. I would try to find a 350 roller block so you could use a hydraulic roller cam. If you choose a cam with around 230 degrees duration @ .050, you will have a truck that will be fun to drive on the street. My 383 has a CompCams 280 Magnum cam, flat tappet hydraulic lifters, AFR 190 heads, Eagle cast steel crankshaft, Eagle SIR connecting rods, SRP forged flat top pistons. I would recommend going with the AFR 195 Eliminator heads with 75cc chambers, SCAT crankshaft and I-beam rods, flat top pistons, and CompCams HR 286 cam (part # 08-450-8). Add a good set of headers and a 750 carb on a Edelbrock RPM intake, and you will have a screaming truck! A well-built 700R4 with a 2400-2800 stall converter should do the job.

In 35 years I have had in my 57 chev the following: 283, 327, 350,
383, 468, and now 496. You will probably get all kinds of suggestions,
but for me it's BB all the way from now on.

Justing, I suggest that you go to the GMPP web catalog and look at the offerings from GM. I am NOT suggesting you buy a GM crate motor but their lineup has a great listing of different horsepower engines....and they are designed to be reliable. The web catalog lists the specs so, if you decide to buy or build an engine, you have some guideline regarding what it will take to achieve the desired output.

mike in tucson

yep a 383 by the time you run the price list down it is not going to be a low buck build and there things you need to watch when building a 383 may be fun in some lite car . but at the end of the day CID rule and your moving a truck . a 489 /496 / with a stock bbc block use a mark 6 roller block and a set of good heads be at about the same price as a 383 . or abit more for a 510 i have them to and have 113/127 more cid the eagle rods are ok but the cranks are so/so your better with the scat cranks just a better crank casting and over all finish . i was thinking that eagle just had a bad run but seen to many to think that any more . as for were to get one there is two guys on here that build and machine engines not hard to get what you need may be hard to stay only at 400/450hp

Originally Posted by rdobbs

In 35 years I have had in my 57 chev the following: 283, 327, 350,
383, 468, and now 496. You will probably get all kinds of suggestions,
but for me it's BB all the way from now on.

nice to see you post when you get tired of that 496 i have it .s father soon to be for sale

Ok so since this will be in a fairly heavy truck i should look at builing a BBC. I do not want to buy a crate motor (though the 572 is nice) I will probably look at buying a new bare block from GMPP. Should i go with a LSX block or something i can get from the junk yard and if so which casting numbers and such do i look for?

Thanks
Justin

lsx is not a bbc