My VR Build Thread: 416ci / ECS / Alky / Full Build - From 'Stock'+S/C to Insanity!
11-05-2014, 04:17 PM
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15
My VR Build Thread: 416ci / ECS / Alky / Full Build - From 'Stock'+S/C to Insanity!
So, here it is! This is what so many of you have been PMing and e-mailing me about. It's in the final stages.
Here's the original thread that many of you are familiar with: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vengeance.html
The extra time this build took allowed for a LOT of scary discoveries, etc. My new LT1 engine with 600 miles on the clock was nearly destroyed, and nobody would have known why until it was too late.
Ron, David, Kevin, and Mike at Vengeance have been a serious treat to work with - I feel like I've gotten to know them fairly well over the last 5-6 months.
I can safely say that everything has been done to the Nth degree, and no corners have been cut anywhere. From top to bottom, this thing is a work of art. Starting from the complete re-working of the block, a re-design of the thrust bearing (the failed part on mine), custom Callies Magnum crank, Dewitts rad, LMR t-stat, new ECS parts, new heards, ARP goodies everywhere, custom valve covers w/ coil relocate - the list just goes on and on for pages... Suffice to say, this thing is pretty badass - more so that I had originally imagined!
I wanted to wait until we had a lot of pictures to post up. I wanted to start this when the block came back from the builder, but like with Ben's 427 thread, it's nicer to have a bunch ready to roll for the thread!
Ben and I talk often and have been giving one another crap for the build times, but we've all run into problems with these big undertakings. Totally worth the time, patience, and money, though. I can't wait to get my hands back on this (so long as the weather holds out). We'll need to see how the 416 on boost and meth stands up to the NA 427.
So, without further ado, let's jump into this!
Here's the original thread that many of you are familiar with: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vengeance.html
The extra time this build took allowed for a LOT of scary discoveries, etc. My new LT1 engine with 600 miles on the clock was nearly destroyed, and nobody would have known why until it was too late.
Ron, David, Kevin, and Mike at Vengeance have been a serious treat to work with - I feel like I've gotten to know them fairly well over the last 5-6 months.
I can safely say that everything has been done to the Nth degree, and no corners have been cut anywhere. From top to bottom, this thing is a work of art. Starting from the complete re-working of the block, a re-design of the thrust bearing (the failed part on mine), custom Callies Magnum crank, Dewitts rad, LMR t-stat, new ECS parts, new heards, ARP goodies everywhere, custom valve covers w/ coil relocate - the list just goes on and on for pages... Suffice to say, this thing is pretty badass - more so that I had originally imagined!
I wanted to wait until we had a lot of pictures to post up. I wanted to start this when the block came back from the builder, but like with Ben's 427 thread, it's nicer to have a bunch ready to roll for the thread!
Ben and I talk often and have been giving one another crap for the build times, but we've all run into problems with these big undertakings. Totally worth the time, patience, and money, though. I can't wait to get my hands back on this (so long as the weather holds out). We'll need to see how the 416 on boost and meth stands up to the NA 427.
So, without further ado, let's jump into this!
Last edited by Theta; 11-05-2014 at 04:32 PM.
11-05-2014, 04:28 PM
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Let's start with answering about 30 of your PMs asking what was wrong with the engine. I'm going to put a disclaimer here: I can only (legally) confirm that this occurred on my stock block. I can't speculate any further than that. 
Yes, this is the super-duper 180-degree thrust bearing. 600 miles, folks. Had they not checked everything thoroughly, I think we all know what would have happened with the original plan to install meth and a cam... Boom.
Here's the horror that the builder found upon first cracking into the block:
Yes, this is the super-duper 180-degree thrust bearing. 600 miles, folks. Had they not checked everything thoroughly, I think we all know what would have happened with the original plan to install meth and a cam... Boom.
Here's the horror that the builder found upon first cracking into the block:
11-05-2014, 04:48 PM
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15
I'll try! We're dodging the crap days here - just need to see when the truck can come back this way. Or else I'll have to go down there and drive it back.
I've been working on my other winter DD, so I'm having a (much smaller) amount of fun with that one to hold me over.
I've been working on my other winter DD, so I'm having a (much smaller) amount of fun with that one to hold me over.
11-05-2014, 04:52 PM
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Longblock pics coming later today or tomorrow. They're working on it as we speak. Hell, Ron skipped SEMA to work on this.
11-05-2014, 09:01 PM
#15
Looking good. I saw your car when I was down there had a sign in the seat that said no brakes so I presume you are getting a braking upgrade too. What diameter pulley are you going with on the blower? Will be interesting in what you end up with for PCV and coil placement with those valve covers.
Last edited by robertf97; 11-05-2014 at 09:03 PM.
11-05-2014, 09:07 PM
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15
That's a good point! I'm sure they'll work some magic with routing the PCV since I have the LMR breather. Not sure on the pulley specifics yet.
