Event Coverage Big daddy goes racing with the 60 Elco!

Lloydfest at the drag strip! I love it! That might cause me to drive my Silverado instead of riding my ElectraGlide. It might be me and Little Truckdoctor, Mrs. Truckdoctor is starting a new school bus driving job and may not have the time off.

 

Hey, yeah, keep the bitch floored!

 

Nice improvements, reminds me of my Henry J thread when I was trying different combos to whittle down the times.

 

I'm #60

 

Actually, it's Win by a foot
If you can't get there, lose by 3/4 of a car.

Can tell a few here never bracket raced... ;-)

 

Lloyd...I told you there was .75 left there for next time out.
But remember, the first second is the cheapest one. LOL

 

Lol yes you did. But I'm actually surprised how little this big block is costing. I always assumed it was a fortune. Guys here local are LS, and I know they spend a lot of money. It's also good to be good friends with the machinist lol

 

Lemme get this straight @Lloyd's paint & glass , when you say ruckus do you mean as in bringing the ruckus or causing a ruckus? Inquiring minds want to know. He he.

 

I'm a disturbance lol

 

I looked into BBC parts for a 454 rebuild on Summit. Seems even bearings were more than twice the cost than a SBC.
Either way, gotta be more cost effective than making a Hemi or Flathead run fast

 

The best thing that ever happened to a big block Chevy was the advent of the LS. Now every crackhead wants one, so the price of a big block has dropped more than half around here. A 454 core was $1000, now they're $400. I'm guessing $2500 total on this one I'm building.

 

Nice. I had looked 4/5 years ago, not recently. Are you getting prices locally or online for parts?

 

Some online. Master kit from Northern is like $600. I pretty much just need rod, main, and cam bearings. Which Jamie keeps most of that in stock. Re-ring kit from Northern is around $250. Rings, bearings, and gasket set. New pistons I'm thinking about come with rings. Need a freeze plug set. But intake, headers, etc are what's gonna cost, couple of my buddies are on the hunt for used stuff, and I'll be combing through the swap meet at the hot rod reunion week after next

 

About two years ago, maybe longer, I gave my Torker2 intake to a guy to try on his boat engine.
I think I’d have rather sent it your way. Never heard back from the guy.

 

I know everyone thinks bigger is better. Personally if I had a 454 block I would be looking for a 396/427 crank to build a 427. I feel these engines just seem to work good and last long time and can be built to be a really strong runner.

 

I hate people like that. Probably why I don’t have any friends anymore.

 

EXACTLY!!!

 

Rats rule...gotta get me one.....

 

That is true...... when the car you are campaigning is sorted out and you know its proven performance and times.
In Lloyd's situation, every run should be "balls out" until he gets the car where he wants it and gets a sense of it's consistency. Then a real world and realistic dial-in can be decided, and then he might be able to "win by a foot".

 

Already own the 454 crank, can't afford to buy another crank lol

 

Trade it off.

 

I gotta ask, if building a BBC from a 454 block, what are the benefits of destroking it?
I’d think building up one of the “newer” 8.-whatever liter engines would yield more power.

 

I love my destroked 400

 

The more the stroke the more the side load on the cylinders.
427 just act like happy engines, kinda like a 327

 

It is a bit of a trade off. You lose some cubic capacity, but the shorter stroke makes things a little more "revvy".
Sometimes the gain outweighs the loss.

 

So you’re saying you’re disturbed? He he.

 

If Lloyd is listening to us, I would say yes.

 

If you guys only knew

 

Not to be a killjoy, but a big inch 400 sbc build will make a ton of power and be lighter. And this coming from a bbc guy. But then I'm on chemo meds so .................

 

L-man, you had another successful evening, you and the car are still going. You also got into the next step faster. As for the plug reading:
1. those are worn, and already been through heat cycles and coloring. This could be 'read' for a change if you remember exactly what shade they were before. Tough through a monitor and camera. A bit less rich, which should still be safe.
2. You want to shut it off in the lights and not fire back up and idle to the pits if possible. That will give you the most accurate picture. This is not always possible or safe, so this is up to your discretion.

The timing does seem a bit much, but most of my experience is with 1/4 mile and others have said eighth is less touchy on this. I also mainly run other brands. Just keep an eye out for top end misfires, glazing the plugs (looks like glass or a 'clear coat' no matter the color) and 'pepper' spots. You have said 3.42s and big tires. What is the RPM through the traps? I assume it's in D (or 3rd).
I won't pass opinions on plug reach, temps, and other stuff that the SBC guys can cover much better. I will offer one thing I have seen first hand and know works. Instead of 3/4 to one turn preload for the lifters, try a half turn. Valves will float a bit less, all other things being the same. Winding 'the one that brought you' to 6K might be a bit much, but we all suffer that straight line rev 'till it slows mindset. Those little engines can take a lot of abuse.