Intersting Vintage Big Block build.....
Thread Starter
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Intersting Vintage Big Block build.....
From Hot Rod magazine....July 1982. I was 11.
The legendary Traco engineering builds a 427.
This article is interesting in the fact that most of the assembly procedures are exactly how we do them now......and that high dollar components in the short block are not necessary.
Another interesting aspect is the dyno numbers....they compare open and closed chambered heads as well as dual and single plane vintage manifolds.......
For all you vintage motorheads out there....enjoy
Please post your thoughts and opinions here
Jebby
The legendary Traco engineering builds a 427.
This article is interesting in the fact that most of the assembly procedures are exactly how we do them now......and that high dollar components in the short block are not necessary.
Another interesting aspect is the dyno numbers....they compare open and closed chambered heads as well as dual and single plane vintage manifolds.......
For all you vintage motorheads out there....enjoy
Please post your thoughts and opinions here
Jebby
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
thanks for posting. did you scan that yourself? if so, would you mind scanning the V6 chevette swap? don't laugh, I'd really like to see the article. this is why I buy old car magazines at yard sales, I've got a '69 that has a great article on building a L88 clone and tests the holley 3bbl carbs...cool stuff.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Deerfield Illinois
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I always wondered if a early fuel injection unit from a small block was ever
Modded and installed on a big block engine and what kind of power would be generated.
Modded and installed on a big block engine and what kind of power would be generated.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Like en early TBI system off a full size truck?
WOuld be cool...they are super reliable and get good mileage.
Very very simple to fix. Looks like a carbed motor with 1 02 sensor had on in my van most reliable vehicle EVER! Slowest too
WOuld be cool...they are super reliable and get good mileage.
Very very simple to fix. Looks like a carbed motor with 1 02 sensor had on in my van most reliable vehicle EVER! Slowest too
Thread Starter
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
thanks for posting. did you scan that yourself? if so, would you mind scanning the V6 chevette swap? don't laugh, I'd really like to see the article. this is why I buy old car magazines at yard sales, I've got a '69 that has a great article on building a L88 clone and tests the holley 3bbl carbs...cool stuff.
I would really like to see the 69' article on the L-88 if you can scan it....
Jebby
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Drifting
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Thread Starter
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: New Braunfels Texas
But it is interesting as this is pre-aftermarket era.....it represents what a good 427 could make in a C3 with no outward appearance changes.
Running a LS-6 manifold on this would yield good results.....if not the same.....and be a sneaky runner.
Jebby
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Yeah..."back in the day"....Hot Rod did some good testing. TRACO were the dudes for reliable road racing stuff. Usually weren't chasing ultimate HP....they prided themselves on longevity.
The head swap numbers are interesting. Having done that swap on a few different combos over the years...frankly we didn't see huge differences...even on relatively radical stuff. Don't think we ever felt like we lost power especially when we put closed chambers on a flat top 454 etc. I think I saw about a tenth or so on a nasty mega compression deep 9 second Nova once.
I would love to really see the "pocket porting" job they did. If they blended the throat out to edge of valve seat....that typically KILLS the flow on a set of heads and you'll lose power. 1.88's in a closed chamber head will often do worse also if you don't relieve the chamber around it a good bit. Otherwise it chokes along the wall. And a 427 really doesn't need a 1.88 99% of the time.
But they may have been fine...they did mention opening the seat up to outer edge of valve diameter to maximize area. So that sounds like they were doing what they could..but flow numbers would be good.
Anyway...love those 427's! I was never scared to jump on any comparable 454 (and some not comparable) with mine.
JIM
The head swap numbers are interesting. Having done that swap on a few different combos over the years...frankly we didn't see huge differences...even on relatively radical stuff. Don't think we ever felt like we lost power especially when we put closed chambers on a flat top 454 etc. I think I saw about a tenth or so on a nasty mega compression deep 9 second Nova once.
I would love to really see the "pocket porting" job they did. If they blended the throat out to edge of valve seat....that typically KILLS the flow on a set of heads and you'll lose power. 1.88's in a closed chamber head will often do worse also if you don't relieve the chamber around it a good bit. Otherwise it chokes along the wall. And a 427 really doesn't need a 1.88 99% of the time.
But they may have been fine...they did mention opening the seat up to outer edge of valve diameter to maximize area. So that sounds like they were doing what they could..but flow numbers would be good.
Anyway...love those 427's! I was never scared to jump on any comparable 454 (and some not comparable) with mine.
JIM
Last edited by 427Hotrod; May 12, 2016 at 05:23 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
No...it was sent from a friend.....I remember reading this as a kid though because I was crazy. The V6 Chevette was a viable build.....and GM was nothing but idiots then.....although not as bad as Iaccocas "K" Chrysler...
I would really like to see the 69' article on the L-88 if you can scan it....
Jebby
I would really like to see the 69' article on the L-88 if you can scan it....
Jebby
I had a few chevettes and always wanted to do a 2.8 swap back when I was a kid...supposedly the citations with the V6 were modded to make some decent power, though the first gen Xbody transmissions couldn't handle it...
Thread Starter
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Yeah..."back in the day"....Hot Rod did some good testing. TRACO were the dudes for reliable road racing stuff. Usually weren't chasing ultimate HP....they prided themselves on longevity.
The head swap numbers are interesting. Having done that swap on a few different combos over the years...frankly we didn't see huge differences...even on relatively radical stuff. Don't think we ever felt like we lost power especially when we put closed chambers on a flat top 454 etc. I think I saw about a tenth or so on a nasty mega compression deep 9 second Nova once.
I would love to really see the "pocket porting" job they did. If they blended the throat out to edge of valve seat....that typically KILLS the flow on a set of heads and you'll lose power. 1.88's in a closed chamber head will often do worse also if you don't relieve the chamber around it a good bit. Otherwise it chokes along the wall. And a 427 really doesn't need a 1.88 99% of the time.
But they may have been fine...they did mention opening the seat up to outer edge of valve diameter to maximize area. So that sounds like they were doing what they could..but flow numbers would be good.
Anyway...love those 427's! I was never scared to jump on any comparable 454 (and some not comparable) with mine.
JIM
The head swap numbers are interesting. Having done that swap on a few different combos over the years...frankly we didn't see huge differences...even on relatively radical stuff. Don't think we ever felt like we lost power especially when we put closed chambers on a flat top 454 etc. I think I saw about a tenth or so on a nasty mega compression deep 9 second Nova once.
I would love to really see the "pocket porting" job they did. If they blended the throat out to edge of valve seat....that typically KILLS the flow on a set of heads and you'll lose power. 1.88's in a closed chamber head will often do worse also if you don't relieve the chamber around it a good bit. Otherwise it chokes along the wall. And a 427 really doesn't need a 1.88 99% of the time.
But they may have been fine...they did mention opening the seat up to outer edge of valve diameter to maximize area. So that sounds like they were doing what they could..but flow numbers would be good.
Anyway...love those 427's! I was never scared to jump on any comparable 454 (and some not comparable) with mine.
JIM
The biggest limiter is the cylinder heads......especially the rec port jobs......
What is funny is that Ligenfelter was getting about 580-600 horse with oval port stuff about 8 years later.....albeit fully ported.....
It is interesting to me to read this stuff as it can show what one should or should not do when building a "sleeper" rat motor.
Of course you could just paint some Dart heads orange...
Jebby
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
here is the article broken up into 7 parts. there are some cool Baldwin Motion ads in the magazine I could scan if anyone wants to see the prices of their stuff back in '69...