surprise under valve covers
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
surprise under valve covers
The engine (454 NOM) on my 68 convert ran well when I got it so I spent my time fixing suspension, electrical and brake problems. I finally decided to see if I could add a little more power to the motor. I had it dyno-ed to check my starting point and was surprised to get 304 rwhp on the LF-8, which was supposed to have 250 hp at the flywheel. The PO put headers, intake and a 780cfm carb, but the hp still seemed a little high. When I pulled the valve covers I found a set of roller rocker arms. Nice surprise. I'm going to see if I can get a rough idea what kind of cam is in it by using a dial indicator on one of the valve spring keepers to check lift. Heads are 1976 vintage peanut ports, so I'm going to put a pair of large oval port aluminum heads on it and maybe upgrade the cam. Sounds like a good winter project. RA
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
"300HP at the rear wheel is nothing to sneeze at. " True, but with a decent set of heads and a cam with at least 0.500 lift I should get well over 400 hp out of the 454. If I want to go really crazy, I might change the flat top pistons to dome top to boost the compression. Or- as my better half remarked the other day "Why do you need more power? To get pulled over by the cops more often?" RA
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,218
Likes: 9,355
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
the surprises Bubba left for me werent that cool, other than a new cabin wiring harness he hooked up incorrectly
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
RA
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,218
Likes: 9,355
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Yeah- this is the ONLY good surprise my Bubba left me. The others were like you mention- electrical problems everywhere, shift linkage hooked up so the four speed shifted 1-2-4-3, no reverse lights or reverse switch, parking brake internal parts completely missing, no turn signal and parking lights or sockets on the front, wires cut off everywhere, aftermarket stereo and amplifier with at least 15 feet of extra wire stuffed up under the dash. But- the car sure was pretty and sounded good. I've fixed all of the problems and had fun driving it this summer. Now I plan to add new internal guts to the LF-8 truck engine as my winter project. Working on these cars is addictive!
RA
RA
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Dec 23, 2016 at 08:15 PM.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
surprise under valve covers- continued
HAHA our Bubbas were brothers. Mine had the shift lever on 180* out so it kept slamming into the console in R,1,3. No reverse switch and wiring cut, Dash light and turn signals not working, after market stereo had momentary digital tuning ***** and he used a wrench to turn them 360 destroying all the internal circuit boards, a lot of extra wiring tucked under the dash, wiper motor hot wired to the alternator with speaker wire, incorrect screws everywhere and none matching, lag bolts holding the seat backs on, the top installed incorrectly and adjusted so poorly that he bought extra weatherstripping and double layered it to block the wind around the windows
"lag bolts holding the seat backs on" Well you wouldn't want them to fall off now would you? That is one I had not heard of. I got one more surprise when I removed my intake manifold. The front and rear gaskets were not used- instead it looked like bubba used caulking and for good measure put some around the water passages also. What a mess to clean off. I also finally found out what brand my intake was. It was chrome plated and real pretty but no writing anywhere on it. When I removed it I found the authentic "Made in China" brand name on the underside. Think I'm going to replace it- it won't match up with my new rectangular port heads.
RA
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,218
Likes: 9,355
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
good luck eradicating Bubba. I'm not done yet but getting close. I still have to replace the top
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
I'm not sure who the mfgr is. I looked everywhere for a name or logo and there is nothing- at least on the top and sides. When I remove them, I'll look on the bottom, but I'm not expecting to find anything. I thought they might be the Jegs house brand stainless steel rockers, but when I put a magnet on one, it stuck fast, so they are either steel or a stainless alloy that has low Ni content. I would have preferred Al, but these are free, so I will use them.
I also bit the bullet today and ordered ProMaxx rect port Alum heads, Lunati 268 duration hydr flat tappet cam/lifters, Weiand Stealth intake, timing chain set and a pile of small crap to do the install, as soon as my back-ordered gasket set gets here. I should have time to polish and match the intake and head ports while I wait for back order.
I posted a couple months ago that one of my neighbors is Lee "The General" Edwards, a two time national IHRA champion. He has retired from racing and now makes high end racing engines for younger drivers. I think I will see if he can give me some free advice on some of the fine tuning he would do on my over-the -counter parts. RA
I also bit the bullet today and ordered ProMaxx rect port Alum heads, Lunati 268 duration hydr flat tappet cam/lifters, Weiand Stealth intake, timing chain set and a pile of small crap to do the install, as soon as my back-ordered gasket set gets here. I should have time to polish and match the intake and head ports while I wait for back order.
I posted a couple months ago that one of my neighbors is Lee "The General" Edwards, a two time national IHRA champion. He has retired from racing and now makes high end racing engines for younger drivers. I think I will see if he can give me some free advice on some of the fine tuning he would do on my over-the -counter parts. RA
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
I also bit the bullet today and ordered ProMaxx rect port Alum heads, Lunati 268 duration hydr flat tappet cam/lifters, Weiand Stealth intake, timing chain set and a pile of small crap to do the install, as soon as my back-ordered gasket set gets here. I should have time to polish and match the intake and head ports while I wait for back order.
RA
RA
Jebby
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
rect heads
I also thought twice about the rect port heads. They may be a little sluggish at low rpm, but I am hoping with the other improvements to the engine that power will come on at 2000 rpm. Plus, I plan to polish the ports so I can see myself in the reflection. I plan to do another dyno run and that will tell the tale. I am also going to add 22 cc domed pistons to increase the CR from about 8:1 to the low 10:1 range. I have not pulled the heads yet- I am paranoid about not taking parts off until I can put something back in place. New heads and gasket set should be here tomorrow and then I get to see if my block still has standard size pistons or if bubba bored it out. This all would have been easier if the PO had replied to my letters requesting info on what he (or bubba) had done to the engine. RA
Pro
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 567
Likes: 82
From: Auckland
There was just the engine with terrible fuel economy (I never expected anything great but 6 or 7MPG was just bad), it's amazing it was even running with the number of problems I found. There was the rear spindle flange that had be cut with a plasma cutter. And of course all of the wiring mods that just mad no sense at all.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
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From: Sunrise FL
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
surprise- continued
Yesterday I finally dropped the front suspension cross linkage and pulled off the oil pan to confirm that my mystery engine was actually a 4 bolt main. Crap! only a two bolt. Sturdy engine, but could have been sturdier. However, the day improved when most of my parts order arrived by FedEx. Lunati cam and lifters, Weiand Stealth intake, timing chain and gears, rocker arm studs, PR guide plates, head bolts and a pile of little stuff. Still waiting for my aluminum heads to complete their trip from CA. Tracking says the are "in transit". I can't wait to see the dyno numbers with the new stuff installed. RA