This sounds like a ridiculous engine swap, but..

[VileZambonie]

It runs mint. I will put some gas in it tomorrow and take a video clip of it. The crankshaft splay is 90° apart even fire so with that whole bank producing no power it's fairly well balanced. I'm not done with it though, I plan on adding a radiator and clear hoses maybe a charging system...

[Captkaos]

I would LOVE to see the video on this.  That is SWEET!

[VileZambonie]

Here's a quick low quality video:

#1
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/?action=view&current=001.flv

#2
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/?action=view&current=003.flv

[Captkaos]

That is sweet!  What ever made you decide to build it. 

[VileZambonie]

I teach automotive technology and what better way to get a student to understand what 1500 feet per second is than to show them? Besides it's cool 

[123 pugsy]

Definitely cool! I want one!

[Captkaos]

I teach automotive technology ................

I didn't realize that was your profession.  it is definitely cool.

[VileZambonie]

Thanks! Yeah that's what I do! It was fun and easy to build but like I said it isn't done yet and when it is I'll take a few good quality pix and vids

[Stewart G Griffin]

OK, could you explain exactly and in great detail how exactly did you do this.

Obviously i'm not interested in taking one of the heads off and leaving it off.

What i'm mainly concerned about is did you have to do anything to the carb?

What about intake manifold?  Did you block off 4 of the runners?

What about ignition?  Can i simply unplug 4 of the wires?

How did you handle the keeping the lifters in?

[VileZambonie]

Well It's a dual plane manifold (see other thread on that) and I blocked off the left bank using a block off plate I made out of sheet metal. I RTV'd it and bolted it on. The cutaway head I left the two valves exposed but welded the oiling holes shut on the ends of the rocker arms. The lifters once they move up in their bores aren't going any further - no pressure= no oil spray. You cannot simply not have wires hooked up. What I did was mad a plate and threaded spark plugs into it to allow a visual of the spark firing that is wasted. Electricity takes the path of least resistance and if you simply unhook a wire it intensifies the firing voltage of the coil. Essentially you get a lightning bolt looking for somewhere to go. Usually to the distributor base is where it ends up and often spikes the module putting it out of it's misery. It can also overheat the coil very quickly.

[Stewart G Griffin]

OK, you're going to have to teach me like i'm 5 yrs old because i'm new.

1)It appears that you have a rochester 2GV;  Should i use a 2 barrel for this?  Can i use the quadrajet that i have now (note: i also have a 2GV).

1a) It also appears that you have the stock chevy manifold---for the 2gv?  Should i block off the ports 1,3,5,7, (or 2,4,6,8 whichever it turns out to be) at the point where they meet up with the head or sooner?

2)  How, exactly, did you secure the lifters in their bores?


3) Can i take the 4 metal blades out of the distributor cap that aren't being used?


By the way, here is an interesting link about converting a SBC to run on 4 cyls.  One of the very few i could find:

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvilleother/page%205.html

[VileZambonie]

Do you want to build one of these or are you trying to make your 8 cylinder a 4 cylinder for fuel efficiency in your truck? This is not going to make double your fuel economy. You will be pushing that thing so hard to get it to work for you all you'll end up doing is killing your engine. There a lot better ways of improving your fuel economy and still having a truck that will move out of it's own way.

[Stewart G Griffin]

I may put "it" into a small nova or monte carlo.

I still believe it will help fuel economy even in a 1/2 truck because i drive real slow.

By the way, i feel we should switch to the other thread because we kinda hijacked this one.

[VileZambonie]

If you seriously want 4 cylinders why not put a 2.5L 4 cylinder in it? You could probably get a car with one for $50 bucks and you would have half the weight and half the problems.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Pls see other post.