Dr. Dan's 478
January 19th, 2020, 05:43 PM
#42
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 575
I designed this as soon as Mark came up with 4.0” crank. I got one of the first 3 cranks. I looked and studied every girdle available and BTR was the obvious choice. I build all my own stuff but being that Bill would have to take his big block girdle and adapt for a small block I decided to just get him to do the engine. He was amazed at the power this combo made even after the first pull. There’s a lot more in it but it’s more than I need for what I was trying to achieve. I don’t know of ANY pump gas small blocks that have made near this power. I cannot thank Mark enough for the crank, Bill for taking this project on, and to all the 403 haters, you can now eat your own words. This is a 496 killer plain and simple. I can’t say right now, but after texts, fb messages, phone calls after it was dynoed, some things are in the works. If you are building a sb, by a crank from Mark. Thanks for the compliments!
January 19th, 2020, 05:55 PM
#43
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
Posts: 1,719
I designed this as soon as Mark came up with 4.0” crank. I got one of the first 3 cranks. I looked and studied every girdle available and BTR was the obvious choice. I build all my own stuff but being that Bill would have to take his big block girdle and adapt for a small block I decided to just get him to do the engine. He was amazed at the power this combo made even after the first pull. There’s a lot more in it but it’s more than I need for what I was trying to achieve. I don’t know of ANY pump gas small blocks that have made near this power. I cannot thank Mark enough for the crank, Bill for taking this project on, and to all the 403 haters, you can now eat your own words. This is a 496 killer plain and simple. I can’t say right now, but after texts, fb messages, phone calls after it was dynoed, some things are in the works. If you are building a sb, by a crank from Mark. Thanks for the compliments!
Last edited by VORTECPRO; January 19th, 2020 at 06:00 PM.
January 19th, 2020, 07:42 PM
#44
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 575
My 478 sb made more power on pump gas than I’ve seen any other pump gas build, correct me if I’m wrong with proof. Car is a street hence pump gas. 83 HO with AC, and all the street car luxuries ( I’m spoiled) easily a mid 10- second car driven to the track. Best running pump gas 496 I know of has run 10.80’s
January 20th, 2020, 05:53 AM
#45
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
Posts: 1,719
Dan
I think you mean "Oldsmobile" 496-484s in your posts, sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm sure you will meet your goals of a 10 sec NA street driven Oldsmobile. Let us know what it runs!
I think you mean "Oldsmobile" 496-484s in your posts, sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm sure you will meet your goals of a 10 sec NA street driven Oldsmobile. Let us know what it runs!
January 20th, 2020, 06:02 AM
#46
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 575
January 21st, 2020, 08:32 AM
#48
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 1,847
Just got off the phone with Bill and he said "that build made me rethink some things."
So, Dan, congrats! Getting Bill to change his mind is one hell of an accomplishment.
He also called Mark's crank "pretty good", which is about as good a compliment as he'll ever give.
Good work guys!
Mark, was that a 4.371 bore? Able to find good rings at that size?
So, Dan, congrats! Getting Bill to change his mind is one hell of an accomplishment.
He also called Mark's crank "pretty good", which is about as good a compliment as he'll ever give.
Good work guys!
Mark, was that a 4.371 bore? Able to find good rings at that size?
January 21st, 2020, 09:35 AM
#49
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Canada
Posts: 88
So for this build the power is excellent, and its great that it runs on pump gas. Looking at the build what is it about it that seems to make it make more power than would be considered normal? Is it the stroke? Is it the Stroke combined with heads/cam?
Asking as I have my own build coming up and of course would love to apply the lessens learned on this build to mine.
Asking as I have my own build coming up and of course would love to apply the lessens learned on this build to mine.
January 21st, 2020, 12:15 PM
#52
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Central Fl
Posts: 7,831
Just got off the phone with Bill and he said "that build made me rethink some things."
So, Dan, congrats! Getting Bill to change his mind is one hell of an accomplishment.
He also called Mark's crank "pretty good", which is about as good a compliment as he'll ever give. You're probably right so I'll take it 
Good work guys!
Mark, was that a 4.371 bore? Able to find good rings at that size?
So, Dan, congrats! Getting Bill to change his mind is one hell of an accomplishment.
He also called Mark's crank "pretty good", which is about as good a compliment as he'll ever give.
You're probably right so I'll take it Good work guys!
Mark, was that a 4.371 bore? Able to find good rings at that size?
And I changed the crank a little since the first batch that Dan and I got. I removed all the blind holes in the front main journal and increased the radius on both the rod and main journals. That should make it even stronger.
Thanks.
Last edited by cutlassefi; January 21st, 2020 at 12:19 PM.
January 21st, 2020, 05:07 PM
#53
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
Posts: 1,719
January 21st, 2020, 05:27 PM
#54
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
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Windowed 403 blocks have lasted in NHRA stock eliminator and Super Stock trim for years, maybe a Super Stock combo can use a girdle? But in NHRA stock trim the 403 makes nowhere near the HP that Dans 484 makes.
January 22nd, 2020, 05:02 AM
#55
Out of Line, Everytime😉
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Melville, Saskatchewan
Posts: 8,936
Dan, you always inspire us 403 guys, that will be insane. I plan on at least getting my 403 based 424 short block together this year, just an offset 330 crank build with a Halo, going in my 70S. Macar1993 just had major failure but a 403 crank and a T-56 manual means double trouble.
January 23rd, 2020, 06:51 PM
#56
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 575
Here is the 403 with a Cage
http://www.mondello.com/page8.html
http://www.mondello.com/page8.html
my 478 was design by me, after mark made an affordable crankshaft available. The obvious choice for the girdle was BTR. It’s a billet piece. There’s really nothing at all exotic about my engine, other than Bill took his bb girdle and made it work. He did an amazing job on the heads as is everything. As I said before, I lean heavy on the conservative side of builds because I want my stuff to last. The cam is fairly moderate, steel rods, basically you could pick up the phone and buy everything in it except pistons and crank with 1 phone call. The block is NOT filled. An engine dyno is hard on an engine vs in the car, so I believe it will last along time, make bb guys cry, and the 403 haters hate even more 😂😂😂😂😂
January 23rd, 2020, 07:00 PM
#57
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Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
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It carries the power pretty good past peak HP, very important when it comes to drag strip performance. When your only looking for 10s its not as important, but I'm sure the builder was looking to go much faster. Looks to me average power throughout a pass would never falls below 670 HP. Does anyone know if this 463 made it to the track?
678 HP
136 MPH @ 3500 pounds
1320/136 = 9.70
678 HP
136 MPH @ 3500 pounds
1320/136 = 9.70
Last edited by VORTECPRO; January 23rd, 2020 at 07:17 PM.
January 24th, 2020, 10:02 AM
#59
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 2,792
It carries the power pretty good past peak HP, very important when it comes to drag strip performance. When your only looking for 10s its not as important, but I'm sure the builder was looking to go much faster. Looks to me average power throughout a pass would never falls below 670 HP. Does anyone know if this 463 made it to the track?
678 HP
136 MPH @ 3500 pounds
1320/136 = 9.70
678 HP
136 MPH @ 3500 pounds
1320/136 = 9.70
February 2nd, 2020, 05:53 PM
#63
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
Posts: 1,719
So did this one above. Not Bills work above though. Its a shame they had to build that big bore block with compromises. It seems all production blocks from any manufacturer has something thats no good, thats the problem with production parts.
February 2nd, 2020, 06:06 PM
#64
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 272
No it didn't. It had a halo. There is a difference.
February 2nd, 2020, 06:13 PM
#66
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 272
You could just look at the other photos in that thread you stole the photo above from and see it for yourself, then compare to what is on Bill's website...
The difference is obvious - one ties to the caps to the block and requires oil pan modifications, the other doesn't.
Since VTP was rude enough to steal a photo without credit or citation: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/real...ld-t16955.html
The difference is obvious - one ties to the caps to the block and requires oil pan modifications, the other doesn't.
Since VTP was rude enough to steal a photo without credit or citation: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/real...ld-t16955.html
February 3rd, 2020, 05:32 AM
#69
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Central Fl
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Since VTP was rude enough to steal a photo without credit or citation: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/real...ld-t16955.html
February 3rd, 2020, 06:01 AM
#70
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs Colorado/Thousand Oaks Ca
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Oh he’s done that before. Before ROP crashed this last time he had a pic on there of an Olds iron chamber welded up to look like a true wedge shape. Problem was it was a pic in Harold Bettes’ book that he took credit for. Dale (GMRocket) called him out on it. Nice to see he’s consistent!😉
You consistently have your facts wrong. Some of the pictures in Harold Bettes's writings come from my shop. Welded cast iron is a common occurrence at my shop. Consistently fast.
Last edited by VORTECPRO; February 3rd, 2020 at 06:41 AM.
February 3rd, 2020, 09:53 AM
#71
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Lucky for you that old post doesn’t exist anymore, because that’s not what came out in the end.
February 8th, 2020, 12:14 PM
#73
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wakeman, OH
Posts: 1,063
My 478 sb made more power on pump gas than I’ve seen any other pump gas build, correct me if I’m wrong with proof. Car is a street hence pump gas. 83 HO with AC, and all the street car luxuries ( I’m spoiled) easily a mid 10- second car driven to the track. Best running pump gas 496 I know of has run 10.80’s
February 8th, 2020, 04:38 PM
#74
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 2,792
For a minute I thought I was on the original realoldspower
BTR
http://btrperformance.com
JSMachine
http://www.jsmachineoldsmobile.com/PRODUCTS.html
The limited quantity Noel Sevigny Girdle
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...smobile-40148/
BTR
http://btrperformance.com
JSMachine
http://www.jsmachineoldsmobile.com/PRODUCTS.html
The limited quantity Noel Sevigny Girdle
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...smobile-40148/
Last edited by Bernhard; February 8th, 2020 at 04:53 PM.
February 11th, 2020, 03:15 PM
#75
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,896
My 478 sb made more power on pump gas than I’ve seen any other pump gas build, correct me if I’m wrong with proof. Car is a street hence pump gas. 83 HO with AC, and all the street car luxuries ( I’m spoiled) easily a mid 10- second car driven to the track. Best running pump gas 496 I know of has run 10.80’s
I took the floor mat’s out of it this weekend and ran a new PB!
February 17th, 2020, 06:46 PM
#79
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wakeman, OH
Posts: 1,063
