Getting Excited about My Engine
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 1,101
From: Huntsville AL & Hills of Southern TN
Finally got some pics from the engine shop. I have some internal pics that are just beautiful. I wish I had the time to participate in the build, but... someday. Dyno runs soon! Pretty jazzed.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 1,101
From: Huntsville AL & Hills of Southern TN
Thanks for the interest guys. It all started here. You guys my only go-to group of car guys. Several months ago when we decided pulling the engine would simplify replacing the front end I decided to have the engine inspected/rebuilt.
I had a really hard time finding a trusted engine shop within a 1-2 hour driving distance of our home. I'm sure they're around, but after talking to the local racing community and going to visit shops I didn't find a confident choice until learning about a performance engine shop in Atlanta with engine and chassis dyno (who's name I don't think I can say here).
This car will be passed to my son so I wanted to preserve the original GM L72 parts but build (as much as possible) a bullet proof bottom end to protect an February 1966 cast 942 block that goes with my April build car. So it was about protecting that rare block. When I asked engine build advice here many of you VERY knowledgeable engine guys suggested making a 496 since it really didn't cost more. I decided 450-470ish hp would be enough with our engine requiring a .070 to clean up all the bore. I think our 427 now is about a 440? That right with .070 over. So with a really tough 7,000 rpm bottom end in mind here goes:
Callies Compstar 4340 forged crank
Callies Compstar H-Beam Rods
KB ICON forged Pistons
Brodix Race Rite Al heads which dimensionally match the stock L72 intake and exhaust
Roller Rockers (I think Comp Cam)
Comp Cam hydraulic roller cam (gotta get the specs) Our car doesn't have PB or PS and I wanted to preserve the lopey L72 idle. I have receipts documenting at least 2-3 cam replacements in this engine. The car was rode very hard and from looking at the frame often put up wet!
I wanted to keep the (made in December 1965), beautifully rebuild 3247 done by Eric at Vintage and the original L72 intake. Which bolts directly to the Brodix heads that match ports and locations.
We live where it's HOT and we drive a bunch. So didn't think going to headers over the stock L72 CI exhausts would increase pleasure. So the CI exhausts are ceramic coated so they'll still bolt up to the side pipes.
I've never been much above 5,000 rpms because I just didn't know what was in the bottom end of the engine. Good thing I didn't. This one will zing to 6500-7000 without me wondering about a big bang. Although the orange valve covers don't look TOO bad, I think chrome will look better and be more "L88ish". Maybe I'll call it an L81, half way between L72 and L88. I'm REALLY having fun making this mine vs duplicating exactly what it was about 52 years ago. Thanks to all you veteran engine guys who generously gave me advice months ago. Maybe Neo-L72..... L72Neo... I think she's gonna need some bigger pipes so she can breathe.... Fun stuff. Thanks all.
I had a really hard time finding a trusted engine shop within a 1-2 hour driving distance of our home. I'm sure they're around, but after talking to the local racing community and going to visit shops I didn't find a confident choice until learning about a performance engine shop in Atlanta with engine and chassis dyno (who's name I don't think I can say here).
This car will be passed to my son so I wanted to preserve the original GM L72 parts but build (as much as possible) a bullet proof bottom end to protect an February 1966 cast 942 block that goes with my April build car. So it was about protecting that rare block. When I asked engine build advice here many of you VERY knowledgeable engine guys suggested making a 496 since it really didn't cost more. I decided 450-470ish hp would be enough with our engine requiring a .070 to clean up all the bore. I think our 427 now is about a 440? That right with .070 over. So with a really tough 7,000 rpm bottom end in mind here goes:
Callies Compstar 4340 forged crank
Callies Compstar H-Beam Rods
KB ICON forged Pistons
Brodix Race Rite Al heads which dimensionally match the stock L72 intake and exhaust
Roller Rockers (I think Comp Cam)
Comp Cam hydraulic roller cam (gotta get the specs) Our car doesn't have PB or PS and I wanted to preserve the lopey L72 idle. I have receipts documenting at least 2-3 cam replacements in this engine. The car was rode very hard and from looking at the frame often put up wet!
I wanted to keep the (made in December 1965), beautifully rebuild 3247 done by Eric at Vintage and the original L72 intake. Which bolts directly to the Brodix heads that match ports and locations.
We live where it's HOT and we drive a bunch. So didn't think going to headers over the stock L72 CI exhausts would increase pleasure. So the CI exhausts are ceramic coated so they'll still bolt up to the side pipes.
I've never been much above 5,000 rpms because I just didn't know what was in the bottom end of the engine. Good thing I didn't. This one will zing to 6500-7000 without me wondering about a big bang. Although the orange valve covers don't look TOO bad, I think chrome will look better and be more "L88ish". Maybe I'll call it an L81, half way between L72 and L88. I'm REALLY having fun making this mine vs duplicating exactly what it was about 52 years ago. Thanks to all you veteran engine guys who generously gave me advice months ago. Maybe Neo-L72..... L72Neo... I think she's gonna need some bigger pipes so she can breathe.... Fun stuff. Thanks all.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 1,101
From: Huntsville AL & Hills of Southern TN
Oh.... it's a '66 vert that went into the shop for a little fiberglass work that went from project creep to project stampede. It's all good.... I could have a boat as a hobby. 
So I still think it's relatively cheap enjoyment that my wife and I both enjoy. All about yer point of reference (most of the time).
So I still think it's relatively cheap enjoyment that my wife and I both enjoy. All about yer point of reference (most of the time).
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,484
Likes: 2,352
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Beautiful looking pieces-parts you have there. If your build is as top shelf as those parts, it should be super stout.
Looking forward to seeing the final results.
Looking forward to seeing the final results.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: New York New York
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Beautiful looking!
What compression does the engine have and can you run pump gas?
Joe
What compression does the engine have and can you run pump gas?
Joe
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 372
Likes: 93
Motor looks awesome. Looking forward to the dyno report. Before you spend any money on some chrome valve covers, look into the GM Performance parts covers. One bummer is the 427 decals are discontinued. I bought these for a truck I was building almost 20 years ago, and now they are going to wind up in my '64.
