Thread: How to build a Mini Mouse!

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Ok, I want to build a vintage hot rod motor for my Nomad. Gonna stick with a 56 265 just for the nostalgia. So the goal is to get as much practical HP and still have it drivable. Also want to go like hell. So here's the plan:

57 PP heads.
High Rise intake
Bore .80 over (would go .125 but want to have enough for another rebuild).
Get as much bumpity bump cam as possible for such a small motor (shouldn't take much but suggestions are welcome).
Rams horn exhaust (for the look)
Maybe 4:11 gears to make is skidatle (run like stink)

It is not meant to compete with a modern SBC, just meant to be old school mouse (as I am an old fart) and go as good as possible. I'm naming it the Mini Mouse as it's the smallest of the old SBC motors.

will look as original as possible except the hi rise.

Any thoughts?

"Back in the day"... 4-speed smallblocks were my choice for many projects.

With the 4:11, I would look for either a wide ratio 4-speed... or a looser converter. That way it would have a little more "dig" in low gear, to make up for the lack of bottom end torque.

Only thing I have to add is (and you probably already know this) most 265 cams are different than the later 283-350 cams. If you look at yours there is probably a flat spot machined on the very back journal. It needs that to allow oil to flow to the upper end. I have heard if you put a cam in there without that you will starve the engine of oil.

That's all I've got.

Don

Heres a pretty good read on this subject...
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/200593/