Status update on the project.
Sold the stock L29 heads. 2.06 / 1.72 valves and 100cc chambers would have made a nice torqey 454 with a lot of throttle response.
Picked up a set of Merlin 269CC heads, 119cc chambers, 2.3 Stainless intake / 1.88 Inconel exhaust valves for just a few $ more
https://www.theengineshop.com/produc...ron-heads.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/bpo/5872782224.html
Picked up a complete ZZ502 rotating assembly. was in a Chevelle for past 9 years. spent 90% of its time in a trailer covered up. under 5000 miles on the motor. guy decided to build a 540 blower motor for his show car.
for $350 I picked up a crank, rods, pistons, flex plate and damper, stock ZZ502 cam and a custom grind street cam along with the short water pump.
I mic'd the crank, rods, pistons, etc. all perfect. not a scuff or anything on the pistons.
Had a line on a low hour pair of Gen 6 502 short blocks. made a deal with the guy for one as he was upgrading to twin 613's. Then on way to pic one up, I get a text that he sold them.
That brings me to a current dilemma.....
The guy I got the heads from has a Gen V 502 stock bore block that I can get dirt cheap. the roller cam and lifters I have wont work (cam would with retro lifters).
so I have one of the 4 choices:
- Buy the Gen V block, dingle-berry the cylinders drop in the stock ZZ502 rotating assembly, sell the Gen VI lifters, pushrods, etc and build a mild, 9.2 CR 502. Estimated 490 prop HP with 89 octane ~ cost out of pocket ~ ~800 (retro rollers, etc)
- Stay on the lookout for a stock Gen VI block, dingle-berry the cylinders, drop in the stock ZZ502 rotating assembly, build a mild 9.2 CR 502. Estimated 490prop HP with 89 octane ~ cost out of pocket ~$700 (block)
- Buy the 509 short block with the Eagle crank ~ cost out of pocket ~ $2800 (short block)
- Build my 454 into a 468, use the crank and rods from the ZZ502, sell the 502 pistons, bore notch the block and build a mild 9.5 CR 468. Estimated 460 prop HP with 89 octane ~ cost out of pocket ~ $900 (Pistons, bore/hone and balance). Basically a ZZ454 mimic http://www.chevrolet.com/performance...ck-zz-454.html
November 24th, 2016 Budget review update to the September post
Sold New L29 heads $500 ? so $1125 ahead
Cam, Lifters, rockers, etc. - $300 (less $175 for selling a friends lightning headers on CL) - $125 or $1000 ahead
Merlin 269cc heads $700 or $300 ahead
ZZ502 rotating assembly, short water pump $350 or $50 out of pocket
Things to work out
502 bare Gen V block ~$500
502 Gen VI block ~$700
509 Gen VI short block $2800
Things to still get (awaiting on above)
New flywheel - $80 GM 14096987 or machine a spacer mass and use the flex plate I have
new starter -$70
new alternator -$80
timing chain set -$125
Mehling Oilpump -$135
Felpro gaskets -$125
Fasteners (not sure I would need ARP with a mild build or simply use the stock GM)
ARP head studs -$223
ARP main studs (for windage tray) -$170
ARP rod bolts -$156
Head bolts, main bolts, etc would be about $150
Right now the easiest is the Gen V block, however taking a step back with the lifters, and the head cooling water passage issues
the second easiest is to build the Gen VI 468
now to start calculating dynamic CR to see which motor works best for reversion
