I have an Idea...any opinions?

[werewolfx13]

I actually like the idea, but agree with Del that "Unconditional Surrender" would be a better name.
If you want to do somthing different than a 350, source a good 396, 427, or 454. Or go really different and track down a BOP 400 out of a 350 diesel truck and swap in a Buick 401 nailhead..my '63 Riviera sports one of those and it really walks the dog, with a claimed 445 ft lbs of torque bone stock..but with the original '63 valvetrain w/ 120k miles, and a 2 speed auto slushbox it seems to get gallons per mile. By the time you get a good 283, and spend the money working it over to make power comparable to a 350, it wont be any more practical to drive, AND will probably cost as much as finding and mildly building a short stroke big block...I haven't seen too many of these trucks with a 396 or 427..

[JJSZABO]

SgtDel, do you do any reenacting?  I am with the 3rd MD CO A.  I had a GGG Grandfather fight for the 15th WV CO. C (Union).  I would love to chat history with you some time.  We are practically neighbors.

[eventhorizon66]

If you want to be diffferent as far as the engine goes.  I would say definitely go with a 472 or 500 Caddy motor.  They weigh about the same as an all iron SBC and make diesel-like torque.  The only drawback is that the stock valvetrain and connecting rods are weak.  Aftermarket shaft rockers and strong rods are readily available, though.   Check out Maximum Torque Specialties.  There's one in this '69 RS (read the part of the article where they discuss the engine output).  625 ft/lbs @ 2500 rpm!!!  It'll be the exact opposite of the Fuelie motor you're considering.

[Lt.Del]

With a 3 yr old boy, time is tight.  But, I have considered joining the 12th virginia reenactment group.  It is convenient, they are based here in Richmond.  I could actually play one of my five ancestors who were in the real 12th.  I'd probably portray my great, great grandfather, George Washington Welton. It's funny how many people were named after the father of our country. I have two gr gr grandparents w/ those first two names.

Anyway, GW Welton was the father of my great grandmother.  I never knew her father was in the CW when I knew her and used to visit her.  She died at age 90 when I was 15 years old.

He lost an eye at the battle of Petersburg toward the end of the War.

I'll be going through Frederick Md on my way to Gettysburg in August.  You are so close to that and D.C.  Both armies passed through Frederick both before and after the Battle.

History is my middle name.  I'll chat history with anyone who'll lean an ear my direction.    I am slowly doing a complete history of the 12th's actions throughtout the entire war.  It may sound crazy, but, I want to know exactly where they lined up in Lee's line and what they did, what part they played, in every Battle they were in.  I have been working on this book for two years and I haven't completed 20% yet...visiting every battle sight as I go along. Luckily, Gettysburg is perhaps the farthest in distance I have to go, that and Antietam.  Been to both before back in the 90's.  This time I am taking  a digital camera to help document where General Mahone's men were.  I currently have 27 books on Gettysburg sitting on my desk as I type this. I like to delve head on into whatever I am trying to learn. Having collected books since my college days, it is rather easy to do. Thank goodness for a basement that holds upwards of 8,000 books.  

   

[85MudMonster]

That is my favorite thing, is history, I'm going to major in it. Anyway, I've researched almost as much as I can find about my family on a computer. Now I'm gonna have to take some trips to find more info.

A nyway, A Caddy 500 might be what I need. Although 625ft/lbs might be more that what I'm looking for.....maybe more like 400ft/lbs...course this is the "Unconditional Surrender"............

[Lt.Del]

400 ft lbs.....hmmmm, ever consider a 383 stroker??  They are getting to be pretty common nowadays. www.delbridge.net/install



 

[Blazin]

General Grant, been done already. Years back when I was about 17 a buddy of mine had a 70 2 door Impala with a 396 in it. It was a beater. He stuffed a 4 spd. in it, some Crager SS wheels and a set of Super Wide Stinger L 60s, dual pipes. Then one night we got drunk and painted it satin gray spray bomb. A few weeks goes by and he shows up with the doors welded shut ( repainted gray ), an American flag painted on the roof, General Grant lettered over the windows, a big red 10 on the door. The next weekend we put a push bar on it.

[Lt.Del]

Call it the Unconditional Surrender.  Under those words, put Appomattox--that is, after all, where the surrender took place.

The surrender was signed by Grant and Lee in Wilber McLean's parlor.  It is funny to note that McLean moved to Appomattox to escape the chaos of war---where did he live prior to the move?  Manassas where the first and second battles of Bull Run took place, where his house was hit by canon as he was innocently sitting inside his house. 

[Lt.Del]

'nutter idea.....as you pull away from your racing competition from a stoplight, have them read on your tailgate, "Sic Semper Tyrannis".  Thus always to Tyrannts.

This the Virginia state motto. The flag has a picture of one man stepping with one foot on a slain man.  In other words, "this is what you get for challenging me."



It is very unfortunate that John Wilkes Booth yelled this as he jumped from the balcony of Ford's Theatre after shooting Lincoln. It kind of tarnished our state motto. 

[eventhorizon66]

SgtDel - any opportunity to recommend the 383, LOL.  But I think the assignment here was something other than a common SBC.

Well if you are only shooting for 400 ft/lbs.  Go with an LS6 for light weight and 6500 redline or an LQ9 for affordability and potential.  They are becoming more commonplace on these truck every day, and it's not just another 350.  I'm gonna get my hands on one of these motors someday.

[85MudMonster]

actually I think I know what I'm going to do. I have a Olds 350 block out of a '77 442. If i bore it out to a 4.186 it'll be a 373ci small block, i've got some 65cc heads for it from a W-30 Engine and a good torque cam, all I need is a 650cfm holley and a high rise intake, and I should make about 400ft/lbs give or take a little. I wish I knew what other engines used 2.500" mains that had a stroke of more than 3.385 that way I could bore and stroke it...

[VileZambonie]

bore it .068 over and use 425 pistons. The pin height should before perfect for close to a zero deck height and will bring you up to around 10:1 CR

[85MudMonster]

that's a good point. Although 4.185 is a 425 that's bored .060 over, and if you've ever seen an olds 350 then you know it can go to a 4.185 bore, possibly even more. I was thinking about the stroking of the engine and considering I want lots of torque stroking is probably not what I want to do, so I can get a low revving high torque engine. But that aside, Vile I do believe you are right, I think with the pin height on the 425 pistons in a 350 you get like 9.8:1 (give or take) with 68cc heads.

I haven't even looked at or touche that olds motor in over a year, let alone look up parts or info on it....

[VileZambonie]

I built one of these about 3 years ago for my buddy. As far as stroking it you might want to spend some time checking the block casting. I know that some of the olds 350 castsing had more meat around the main webs where other year blocks didn't and are prone to cracking.

[85MudMonster]

mine's a '77 block and it's got the windowed mains on it. I'm going to have to make a gidle for it in order to push alot of power through it.