Recent content by Thunderdan

Check out post #2.

Might the current heads have been heavily surfaced in a previous rebuild? If so, that would certainly throw off bolt alignment. Machine shop would likely be the only way to tell...

Perhaps I missed something in this thread, however how was the quench with the Icon pistons? Much of my reading (no personal experience so far) was that the relatively large bore and head design was that TOO LITTLE quench can cause detonation, while the tighter the quench, the more resistant...

Offy 360 intake gives up a BUNCH of torque, especially as compared to the factory intake and even more so than any modern dual plane intakes - the Edelbrock RPM is the gold standard for dual plane intakes but it is taller than the offy. 750 will definitely help it breath too. Is the...

On the outside chance you come across a big block 75-78 B or C body (or even some 79' police package B-bodies) many of them came with 2.71's in their 9.25 difs. Mine has one with 2.71's and was pulled out of field so they're definitely still out there and not the most desirable ratio...

I like this build. I have a '78 Monaco police car (A38/E86) with the factory 2.71 9-1/4 rear that I am considering a similar build for on the factory 440 and the stroker is the easiest way to reliably do this with low stress on the configuration. Aside from the relatively mild cam you spec'd...

Having a good idea of the current spring rate will be very useful, but if you're using your existing FT springs then they aren't anywhere near strong enough for a roller cam that you're considering, let alone with hydraulic roller lifters as these lifters are *much* heavier than factory ones so...

As other have mentioned, those bores/pistons will at least need a good soaking with marvel mystery oil, acetone, or a combination of different compounds, but the block can be saved. Industrial 413's are *thick*, but there's always a limit. A machine shop can determine the bore thickness with...

The fact that you had to ask your machine shop to check it twice as they were not thorough in the first place is concerning....

Hughes offers 413 pistons? I checked and looks like all they have for RB's was for 440's. Silv-o-lite offers cast and I believe speed pro offers some flat-top hypereutectic ones, but there's lead times on those being made. Be prepared to do quite a bit of work to those old heads to get...

First off, what are your goals for this build? Seems like it's primarily a street engine, but how heavy of a vehicle are you putting it in and what gearing are you going with? The 413 is just a 440 with a smaller bore (with thicker walls) so aside from the big valve heads, all the same 440...

Clever set-up! Thanks for sharing.

Looking to clean up and repaint my 6-hole cop wheels, but need to know what rattle can paint gives the most durable & close to factory (Black) color attainable? Eastwoods? Duplicolor? Rustoleum? Thanks in advance.

Care to share any pics? That sounds like a very nice setup

Back when I was a tire store manager, we had a common tire package for the A-body (colonnade body) GM models of 255/60/15 on the factory 15x7 wheel, which was the minimum width wheel that the tire could (officially) handle and kept the heigth closer to the 27.5" that the factory came with. Many...