Found this over at the FGMCC website.
This video shows a 1971 Chevelle, and helps to highlight just how much stress your front suspension actually endures.
Still wondering why I have almost 5,000.00 in my cars’ suspension?
I’m not.
Looks like the 496 Build is on hold. *sigh*
The machine shop is swamped due to it being racing season here in NE TN, so they can’t take on the job until several months from now.
So now it’s going to be simply a top end rebuild with the all new LS-6 Heads, new cam, Weiand Stealth Intake and new Holley Carb.
So back to the drawing board for this stage of the project I guess, but it’s not all bad, I will just move onto other areas, it’s not like there is not a hundred OTHER things I want to do with the car. Maybe like they say it’s just not meant to be right now.
All things considered, I think doing the top half will yield some nice improvements in HP, anything has to be better than those smog heads that are currently on the engine.
I think I will probably start turning my attention to the braking system, and converting it over to a 4 wheel disc setup, and maybe do some interior work as well.
Stay tuned, pictures are coming of all the work that’s getting done currently!!
I have to admit selecting the camshaft and valve train components was interesting, mostly because everyone seems to have different ideas of what profile works best.
In the end, since I have a street / strip set up I decided to go with one of Lunati’s “Voodoo” series cams.
Here is the spec on my new hydraulic cam that will be installed into the 496.
- Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 276/284
- Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 233/241
- Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .554/.572
- LSA/ICL: 110/106
- Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd
- RPM Range: 2200-6400
Lunati’s website says this about this cam:
Hydraulic. Hot Street cam, likes 2800 converter, Hi-Rise type dual plane intake with 850cfm carb, headers, 10:1 compression and 3.73 gears. Likes up to 200HP nitrous.
That’s pretty close to what I have set up so far, with the exception of the converter, which will be coming, but I’ve depleted the money tree pretty bad this past month, so now I have to wait awhile for new pieces parts.
This cam should give me a nice lopey idle but not be so radical that I have issues running it on the street and operating vacuum for the brakes. Brakes are good. ‘Specially when you live on a mountain, Ahem.
The heads get treated with all new stainless steel swirl polished Manley Severe Duty Intake(2.19) and Exhaust (1.88) valves, with Lunati full roller 1.7 Rocker arms, and Lunati Springs
Controlling the cam timing will be an all new Pete Jackson Noisy Gear drive:
And of course all this just HAD to have a new set of Valve Covers to complete the set up….So I went with these:
So now I wait, the car’s undergoing the rear suspension and other upgrades, the motor is being pulled and sent to the machine shop, and basically, it is just a sit and wait for it all.
With luck….2nd week of June I will have it back. Stayed tuned.
So the last piece of the puzzle finally arrived yesterday.
The BMR X-treme Rear sway bar has finally be delivered and will be installed over the next coming weeks.
Here are some pictures, I selected what is known as the Black Hammertone finish, the other choice was red, which I thought was a bit too much.
BMR took over a month to get this piece to me, but I think it will be well worth the wait!!
Another shot with all the hardware and the sway bar:
