Dan's 454 Street Strip Malibu engine build
 

Starting off the new year with an engine build!
I bought a marine 454 engine -Mark IV - very low hours. Cast crank 2 bolt caps.
I should be getting my block back from Doc (FRYNTYR) with a .030 bore done to match my pistons.
Looking forward to putting this together over the winter.

Got a screaming deal on a pair of 781 heads that had been recently gone thru. They've got fresh stainless big valves, a mild port match, roller rockers.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/Sm...0/SNC00044.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/Sm...0/SNC00046.jpg

Here is the Cam:
COMP CAMS 11-456-8 CHEVY 396-454 "XTREME MARINE" RETRO-FIT XM296HR CAM, Hydraulic Roller Tappet, Advertised duration 296/302, 242/248 duration at .050-inch Lift .566/.566
I've got a set of the Comp 887-16 Lifters.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/Ss...0/IMG_3667.JPG

Speed Pro (7060P) forged pistons with .095" dome (same as TRW L2399F)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/Ss...0/IMG_3671.JPG

Factory GM "thumb" rods w/ ARP bolts, floatingr pins.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/Ss...0/IMG_3673.JPG

Dan

What Intake & Carb would be a good match?
 

Need to go shopping for an intake & carb to work well with this engine.
It is a street and strip occasional use car.

What do you think I should be looking for?


Dan

Finished boring the block Dan, hopefully it'll be getting decked tomorrow while I'm honing Kevin's block

I think a Weiand Stealth, Action Plus or either of the RPM manifolds. A nice happy medium in carb size would be the holley 830 HP with either the annular or down leg boosters. Just bought one from holley for James (randomguy) for a sweet deal. They are refurb ones that were new but returned for some reason. They go back through them and sell them as refurbs for around $200-$250 less.

I also bought one to put on my chevelle with the latest 427 going in soon. I;ll be running the RPM because the hood clearance is a little better. About .180 lower plenium.

Most excellent, Doc! Appreciate you lightening up that Boat Anchor for me!
Did you send the crank out for balancing? How does it look, BTW now that it's out?
I'll be needing a full set of bearings, too, of course.
This is going to be some fun. Guess I'd better get my engine building space ready to go!

Dan

I need a flex plate and balancer you will use to have it balanced. If you don't have either, and want new, I'm sure I can get a good deal on brand new from the balancer as I have done a bunch lately and he's been giving me stuff at cost.

If you want a price, I'll call tomorrow and get a quote.

Crank is very nice std, much like the block.

Oh, yeah, I'm going with a flywheel, remember the factory light one I showed you at the BBQ? I've also got the cut down balancer. You were saying that perhaps it might be unwise to use those on the street due to the lack of inertia, but it would sure wind out quick!! Do you think it would be that much of a bear? I'll be running a 4:10 gear set & I'm going to put my GearVendor OD behind it eventually.

Dan

It will hit hard on the throttle mash. With a thumpy cam it will surge a little more at low RPM with the light parts. I run an aluminum flywheel behind my chevelle.

The wheels will break lose easier with the light stuff but once spinning the heavier stuff will help carry the burnout farther.

If those are the omes you want to use, I'llneed them both to have it balanced.

Sounds like you're getting ready for a whole lot of fun Dan!:D

Really nice Dan! Great to see it coming along.

Looks to be a great street build, using an RPM intake?

Nice build looks like your compression will end up around 8.7-1 I would zero deck this engine and maybe mill the heads and use a thin gasket to get the compression up as much as possible(although not necessary) the rpm is the perfect intake for this Build up.

Tom M. in a PM, brought my attention to the "issue" of the cast iron roller crank mentioned in my list above.
Has anyone used any techniques or coatings to improve cam life, such as Lubriplate?
Or any other suggestions to help keep my first BBC together.
I know I need to get a cam button for the build.

Thanks
Dan

I've never used any of the coatings. I did run a Comp 288AR solid roller and it was a -8 cam as well. I never had a problem with mine, but there is no guarantee ever with the cast roller cams.

Looks like its going to be a fun engine you are putting together, hope it all works out for you

Jeff

Just picked up a set of stainless bolts for the engine. - Intake, down to oil pan. Nice looking kit for $50.
Where is the best place to get my Head & bottom end bolts? I've got a windage tray to install.
Also, what head gasket part number do I need to get.?
I've got an aluminum 3 core radiator on the way. $170 delivered to the door. I post up some pics when it arrives.

Dan

Well myself, I always and only use ARP head bolts and all ARP studs in the bottom end. Adding ARP bolts or studs really beefs up an otherwise stock bottom end.

As for the head gasket, I always use a Fel-Pro 1017-1, but I would try to go a bit thinner and boost the compression in this case. I would have to do a search of the head gaskets to figure out which one would be thinner.

jeff

Here's the Aluminum radiator - It came today
 

Arrived on the doorstep today.
All Aluminum, built in cooler. Looks like it's put together nicely. They have great feedback on this A body radiator, so I was pretty confident in ordering it.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/S0...0/IMG_4409.JPG

I'll have to fill 'er up and pressure test it

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/S0...0/IMG_4410.JPG

This is the only thing that ticks me off, so far. Why cant a company here in the U.S.A. or Canada make a product like this for the same reasonable price??
Regulations? Lawyers? Taxes? Labor? - I guess it all figures in. Sigh....

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/S0...0/IMG_4412.JPG

For $170 delivered to my door, I'm quite happy.


Dan

Its labor that is a huge part of the US made parts.

id do a rpm intake with any where from 800-950...please put a 400 behind it...good luck hookin er

Aw..'cmon Russ -- a Muscle car needs a 4 speed!!
At least I do! This ain't a drag car, but I'm looking forward to jammin' the gears.

This is gonna be some fun!!
I love the sound of a tough big block. Went to one of the get togethers at Doc 'n Tammy's place and even though I'm half deaf, I was hooked!!
What a great sound!!

Dan

Stainless Bolt kit
 

Picked up this very impressive bolt kit from eBay seller AlloyBoltz



http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/S0...0/IMG_4463.JPG

Under $50 delivered to my door.

Dan