540 Engine Upgrade
11-21-2001, 04:45 PM
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540 Engine Upgrade
Hi everybody. This is my first post after "listening" for a while.
I'm in the process of finishing up a 540 cube (700 ft.lbs ) engine for my '67 coupe and was wondering what other drivetrain upgrades everyone would recommend (then I'll have the right parts in my garage to replace the broken ones). Tires will stay close to stock - maybe 60 series rears at the most.
I'm in the process of finishing up a 540 cube (700 ft.lbs ) engine for my '67 coupe and was wondering what other drivetrain upgrades everyone would recommend (then I'll have the right parts in my garage to replace the broken ones). Tires will stay close to stock - maybe 60 series rears at the most.
11-21-2001, 05:10 PM
#2
Re: 540 Engine Upgrade (Brian67Coupe)
Welcome aboard, Brian.
It's always great to have another mid-year owner on board, especially one of the good guys ('67 big block that is :D )
Drivetrain upgrades?
With that much torque, I don't think I would wait until something breaks to replace it. You can almost count on U-joints (especially on the half-shafts) going.........and they can make a real mess whipping around under there!
If the car hasn't had recent work on the rear end, I'd be looking at the differential and all the rubber cushions, etc.
I sheared all five bolts off the right rear (under normal highway driving) many years ago. Some fiberglass went along with the wheel! The bolts had been weakened at the track earlier. If yours are original, will they handle the torque?
Others with major rear end failures will offer their suggestions.
Again, welcome aboard. PICS?!?
:cheers:
[Modified by 67HEAVEN, 4:11 PM 11/21/2001]
It's always great to have another mid-year owner on board, especially one of the good guys ('67 big block that is :D )
Drivetrain upgrades?
With that much torque, I don't think I would wait until something breaks to replace it. You can almost count on U-joints (especially on the half-shafts) going.........and they can make a real mess whipping around under there!
If the car hasn't had recent work on the rear end, I'd be looking at the differential and all the rubber cushions, etc.
I sheared all five bolts off the right rear (under normal highway driving) many years ago. Some fiberglass went along with the wheel! The bolts had been weakened at the track earlier. If yours are original, will they handle the torque?
Others with major rear end failures will offer their suggestions.
Again, welcome aboard. PICS?!?
:cheers:
[Modified by 67HEAVEN, 4:11 PM 11/21/2001]
11-21-2001, 09:27 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Re: 540 Engine Upgrade (Brian67Coupe)
Hi Brian,
The good news is without flaring your wheel wells or running offset control arms, you cannot put sufficient tire on the road to really hook up. They act as a nice safety "clutch". Of course slicks and DOT slicks change the whole equation. You'll quickly learn the art of steering with the throttle!
Common problems are u-joints and half shafts, and aftermarket pieces are available from Tom's or Denny's, but don't stop there. Inner and outer axles need beefing, and w/ that much torque, you'll probably want to step up to 1/2" wheel studs. I also upgraded to a 3" driveshaft, and installed Mark Williams billet transmission slip yoke and differential companion flange. I'm a big fan of Tom's work, but its expensive. I have a good friend with a complete Tom's 1480 rear end on his nitrous'd 64 502 and he regularly comes out of the hole at 4500 rpm on slicks and runs mid 10's at 135 mph.
Jim Moore (427Hotrod) has a nasty 700 HP 540 in his 67 convertible, and recently snapped a u-joint at the strip. I expect he will be beefing his drivetrain this winter and will likely keep us posted on his project.
Welcome to the board, and keep us updated on your project. Always nice to see a kindred big block enthusiast.
Take care,
Mark
PS There are also several big cube Vettes on the C3 forum, you may wish to consider posting there too
The good news is without flaring your wheel wells or running offset control arms, you cannot put sufficient tire on the road to really hook up. They act as a nice safety "clutch". Of course slicks and DOT slicks change the whole equation. You'll quickly learn the art of steering with the throttle!
Common problems are u-joints and half shafts, and aftermarket pieces are available from Tom's or Denny's, but don't stop there. Inner and outer axles need beefing, and w/ that much torque, you'll probably want to step up to 1/2" wheel studs. I also upgraded to a 3" driveshaft, and installed Mark Williams billet transmission slip yoke and differential companion flange. I'm a big fan of Tom's work, but its expensive. I have a good friend with a complete Tom's 1480 rear end on his nitrous'd 64 502 and he regularly comes out of the hole at 4500 rpm on slicks and runs mid 10's at 135 mph.
Jim Moore (427Hotrod) has a nasty 700 HP 540 in his 67 convertible, and recently snapped a u-joint at the strip. I expect he will be beefing his drivetrain this winter and will likely keep us posted on his project.
Welcome to the board, and keep us updated on your project. Always nice to see a kindred big block enthusiast.
Take care,
Mark
PS There are also several big cube Vettes on the C3 forum, you may wish to consider posting there too
11-23-2001, 10:44 PM
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Re: 540 Engine Upgrade (67HEAVEN)
67HEAVEN and ML67 thanks for the help and the welcome. I guess us '67 folk need to stick together. Could you suggest any good suppliers for the hardware ??? :seeya
I'll post some pictures soon, but I hope my ride looks as good as yours when I'm finished. :D
Brian
I'll post some pictures soon, but I hope my ride looks as good as yours when I'm finished. :D
Brian
11-24-2001, 09:49 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
11-24-2001, 11:33 AM
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Re: 540 Engine Upgrade (ML67)
Thanks for the supplier suggestions. My wife just walked by me working on the computer and asked what I was doing. I told her I'm just working on my Christmas list. :blueangel:
Wait 'til she see's this (drive shaft, u-joints, half shafts ...) :D :D :D :D
Wait 'til she see's this (drive shaft, u-joints, half shafts ...) :D :D :D :D
11-24-2001, 02:11 PM
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Re: 540 Engine Upgrade (Brian67Coupe)
As long as you're on street tires you won't have much problem..... other than going straight!!!
I sheared and outer stub axle with the 427 on slicks. The first time I actually got it to hook it died! It was the 10th launch on slicks total. The night I installed 90/10 shocks, unhooked sway bar and launched at 3500 instead of 1500 rpm it died on the second launch. But it hooked good!
I killed a halfshaft u-joint (Spicer good stuff) on the first launch on the same 10x26" slicks with the 540. 2000 rpm "walk it out of the hole" deal. Nothing hard at all. No dry hops or anything.
So like Mark said, this winter I will be putting in good stuff. Tom's is awful expensive but make beautiful stuff. They have some proprietary deals with an axle mfg. I believe to get the stuff made, so it's pretty low volume, thus expensive. Much of the stuff is actually from the "truck world". I'm working on some alternatives to spending $4-5000 back there. I think it can be done, but I haven't spent the time yet to get real serious.
The center section is pretty tough, but it can be machined to install 12 bolt guts when you get real serious. The real issues are the axles (inner and outer) and the halfshafts. If actual launching on sticky tires is in the future you better plan it into the deal!
And welcome to the world of "Extreme Midyears"!!!
Jim
I sheared and outer stub axle with the 427 on slicks. The first time I actually got it to hook it died! It was the 10th launch on slicks total. The night I installed 90/10 shocks, unhooked sway bar and launched at 3500 instead of 1500 rpm it died on the second launch. But it hooked good!
I killed a halfshaft u-joint (Spicer good stuff) on the first launch on the same 10x26" slicks with the 540. 2000 rpm "walk it out of the hole" deal. Nothing hard at all. No dry hops or anything.
So like Mark said, this winter I will be putting in good stuff. Tom's is awful expensive but make beautiful stuff. They have some proprietary deals with an axle mfg. I believe to get the stuff made, so it's pretty low volume, thus expensive. Much of the stuff is actually from the "truck world". I'm working on some alternatives to spending $4-5000 back there. I think it can be done, but I haven't spent the time yet to get real serious.
The center section is pretty tough, but it can be machined to install 12 bolt guts when you get real serious. The real issues are the axles (inner and outer) and the halfshafts. If actual launching on sticky tires is in the future you better plan it into the deal!
And welcome to the world of "Extreme Midyears"!!!
Jim
