Ugly Ash

hey guys.
I am thinking of selling all I have sitting in the shed and attempt to shove a big block into (one of my) HQ's.
I was wondering what sort of stuff I should look out for such as:

• sourcing a big block, where to start looking?
• cooling, I have heard they like to run hot in Q's, how do I stop that?
• best accessories, which heads to look out for, manifolds, cam, carb?
• T350, t400 or t700 which is best?

I am looking at fulfilling a long-term goal and having a car I can drive to the track and roll out 11's all day and drive home, I think this is the best way for me to achieve this. what do you all think?
Thanks
Ash.

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need some parts for a BBC:

• fuel pump (VERY important)
• some nice rocker covers

also need a rachet shifter to suit (thinking about a pro stick or similar)

greenhj

if all you want to do is drive there and run elevens, why not deal with what you have and whack some giggle gas on it?

Cheapest option by far, and you can have a sedate engine for cruising etc.

If you deadset on the big block, a mild one horse per cube 454 will do the job easily.

Transmission is easy, t400 ftw.

T700 will cost cubic dollars as will a t350 to deal with the torque from a healthy big block whilst a t400 will do it stock but built right.

Radiator, as big as youll fit, try wider and higher rather than deeper, get some proper fans and seal the nose up to the rad. support so the air has nowhere else to go.

A big block is thru the bonnet any way you care to mention unless you use a duel plane which would be most likely enough to get you an 11 but a healthy air cleaner will be required so you may not fit it in anyway.

Legality wise, I think youll struggle to legally get any more than 427 cubes in a h series unless its a ute/tonner or heavyweight statey.

Bracing/checking of the shock mount may be needed, most are cracked from years of abuse, i believe the wb had some gusset added ex factory so its not a big deal to fab up something similar.

Plenty will say you dont need it but with 500 ish lb/ft on tap, id prefer to do it anyway.

parts selection ill leave to others better informed but realistically you dont need to go so big to run 11's, its not just engine cost, but exhaust, fabrication and all the other stuff starts to add up especially if starting with not much in the way of an engine.

Personally, nitrous would be way cheaper, a set of good pistons/rods in a 308/350 and a reasonable cam and cleaned up heads will do it.

if your greedy like most of us, i guess a nice big block is a good start.

Ugly Ash

yeh, never been a fan of the gas, but I have always pondered 2 things, a blown small block or an aspirated big block. the blown motor will always be out of reach for me, so I think the BBC is the way to go.
and yes, being a boilermaker, everything is always overengineered, so the bracing will be done.
I will probably try to purchase a half decent used engine to get everything set-up, then start saving to make my modifications as far as go-fast is concerned.
thanks Greenhj, you are usually the first fo fire away with your thoughts, and they are valued as you already have what I am striving for (11sec quarters).

__________________
need some parts for a BBC:

• fuel pump (VERY important)
• some nice rocker covers

also need a rachet shifter to suit (thinking about a pro stick or similar)

355HZ

in terms of finding an engine you should seriously look at the world or gm performance crate motors. I know you wont be able to say you built it yourself but when you can get a 454hp 454 complete from carby to sump for around 10k how can you go wrong?

quarter pounder

Ugly Ash, do some research and check with QLD Transport as to what you can and can't do first. If you get a green light, ring Superformance or anyone else who can supply BBC/T400 combo and go from there.
I'm with you on the Nitrous (steroids) stance.
OH! the Salisbury diff will probably wave the White flag too!LOL.

greenhj

another thing, clearance to the brake booster may be tight depending on choice of rocker cover.

Steer well clear of most crate offerings unless theres a local distributor willing to change over when/if you have a problem.

I saw a GM 572 crate destined for a 55 chev, pan came off for a look (straight outta crate ex u.s.), full of metal.

ended up a tear down where a few "issues" were found or a boat ride both ways and weeks without an engine.

Ugly Ash

thanks green, can't afford the crate motor just yet, so will look for a second hander to start with, gotta be better than what i have now. then I can spend on things like brakes etc... will probably fabricate my own extractors, brace the chassis and stuff like that. would just like to set things up for more fun.

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need some parts for a BBC:

• fuel pump (VERY important)
• some nice rocker covers

also need a rachet shifter to suit (thinking about a pro stick or similar)

BLQWN

Check out the new Street Machine mag mate - all you need to know in the newest issue.
GO THE BLOWER!!!!, hahaha, get a PWR alloy radiator, mine dosn't get hot with AU fans on it, get a smaller booster off a WB, like mine.
You may need to go 4 w discs to for rego.
cheers

Woodsy

Ash, have a talk to Asylum (Tim) on here about his big block going into his tunna. He's over in NZ at the moment on his honeymoon but should be back in Oz sometime next week.

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Thomas Oliver Woods 16/05/40 - 20/08/07

You will always be with me Dad

AGGRO

Ash - speak to Darren bout whats legal and whats not, you have his number so nothin stopping u there.

You could get a blow through set up procharger like im doing ash its not that expensive, the kit is going to cost me $3700 including freight to my door for a blow through non intercooled P1SC.

Ugly Ash

yeh Rowan, your engine could probably cope with that, and as I said, I have a dream... fattie is going in!!
and yes Blqwn, I have just finished reading this article, as usual, it is written to take 4 pages and tell you very little. sure it gives an overview, but I would like to hear from the experiences of others. and mate, selling up everything, what project are you looking at now? the HK?

__________________
need some parts for a BBC:

• fuel pump (VERY important)
• some nice rocker covers

also need a rachet shifter to suit (thinking about a pro stick or similar)

Ugly Ash

thanks woodsy, thats the kinda stuff I want, people who have done it before.

__________________
need some parts for a BBC:

• fuel pump (VERY important)
• some nice rocker covers

also need a rachet shifter to suit (thinking about a pro stick or similar)

Woodsy

I know one thing for sure mate, he'll tell you all the little things that big glossy magazines like SM wouldn't even begin to touch on. I'm sure he'll be happy to fill you in on all the things that "should" have been a direct/easy fit but ended up being nowhere close.

The good thing about Tim's build is it is being done to a fairly tight budget so at the very least you'll get a true indication of how to increase your cubic inches without going (too) overboard with the cubic dollars

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Thomas Oliver Woods 16/05/40 - 20/08/07

You will always be with me Dad

BLQWN

SM was just a basic overview of BBC's, jeez we had no internet 20 years ago putting sbc's into torries, hq's etc - you guys sure have it easy...
Not selling everything, just thinning out the dead wood..
HK?, might leave that one for when my boys are older and it can be a project together....dunno yet, good luck with the BB.

epitaph

can you show me where you found the P1SC kit for that price? does that include fuel system? carby mods? brackets and pulleys?