rumblebox

iTrader: (9)

EDIT:
The 454 that was in the truck was pretty much trash after one of the rod caps came loose and mated with the oil pan. Look at the last photo, and it becomes crystal clear as to why......Yes, all of those rods came out of the same engine.

So i bought a complete 1973 core with 049 heads and a forged crank to rebuild. It made .060" over, and the crank made .010." I ended up with flat-tops and an "RV" cam due to budget constraints, but i did install some headers, an air gap knockoff, and a Holley Sniper EFI setup. With 120cc chambers and the pistons .037" down the hole, the compression is pretty pathetic, but I broke-in the engine on the stand, and all i have left to do is swap fuel tanks, plumb the new system, hook up the throttle, and build the exhaust.

I took my time to clean/fix all the electrical connections throughout the whole truck and make the wiring look as factory as it could.

I also swapped to an 80's cluster so i could have an electric oil gauge, volt gauge instead of ammeter, and temp gauge with actual numbers. i kept the old speedo and gas gauge though.

I have a 4" lift to install and some H2 wheels with the 35" BFG's for the street, but I'm going to refinish a set of steelies and put 255 85 R16's on them for the proper classic look if i want.


DISREGARD EVERYTHING BELOW THIS:

EDIT: The heads are 781's with 1975 castings. I'm going to zero the deck and measure the chamber volume so i can determine the exact dome volume i need to achieve 10:1. I'm also using thinner head gaskets to tighten the quench and hope for a better burn.


My uncle bought this truck brand new. For a truck that has definitely been ridden hard and put away wet, it has minimal rust and dings. He installed the 454 in the 80's, and the 4speed/Tcase have been replaced somewhere along the way too, which are still tight, along with the front end.

I haven't looked closely to see what year the 454 is, but I'm really hoping it has oval heads.(however unlikely) It has a rod knock, so I'm going to do a few mods while i have it apart:
-flat tops
-mild/medium cam with the modern firing order (LSX, 8.1L)
-single plane intake (carb undetermined)
-long tubes with an X-pipe and magnaflows exiting in front of the wheel
-oval port heads if it doesn't already have them.

Other short-term plans include sound-deadening, an NV-4500 5-speed, wide OEM-style steel wheels, '69 style hubcaps, E-fans, reinstalling the original rear bumper,

Long term plans include a full restoration(which won't consist of much more than mild bodywork and a dash pad), EFI, 6 or 8 speed auto.


Etc, etc

1994Vmax

iTrader: (4)

Cool project. Word of advise on the pistons. If you want more than 8:1 compression I wouldn't use a flat top with the old open chamber heads. Even at zero deck ( which you likely won't be and be in the hole slightly) you will need a bit of dome on the piston to get your compression up to the 9:1 or higher territory. As an example I assumed a .040" compressed gasket and being only .010" in the hole with 115 cc heads and flat tops you are at 8.3:1.

On an old big block a bit of dome piston is your friend! Or heads with smaller chambers.

rumblebox

iTrader: (9)

I actually figured that out in a hurry. I'll update my oritmginal thread accordingly.

1994Vmax

iTrader: (4)

I love those old square body 4X4's and wish I could find one that rust free here lol. Most that age now resemble the titanic lol. Or look like my 86 Blazer.... so Titanic lol.

I have a buddy with an engine shop and he is forever all about flat tops in 454's.... I guess because he likes building dogs lol. The last one he built for some clueless owner was that exact 8.3:1 compression like I used as an example..... why I will never know.

rumblebox

iTrader: (9)

Flat tops are fine for smaller chambers.

1994Vmax

iTrader: (4)

Yeah but show me any common big block heads with small chambers lol. You need to get a closed chamber head from the 60's or a set of Vortecs to even get below 100 cc. Even most aftermarket heads are 110 cc or bigger. I mean stock vortecs and flat tops barely gets you 9:1 depending on the variables. Flat tops are great for... blower motors lol.

rumblebox

iTrader: (9)

on a mark4, not very. Lol

rumblebox

iTrader: (9)

major update in OP.