smietana

Would this be a good block to start, as a mild performance motor? Any drawbacks to a mid 70's 455 block? Here are numbers on the block 396021 FA. No heads, just the block with crank, rods, and pistons.
Thanks Tom

64Rocket

It is a great starting point. Bore it, get forged pistons, deck the block some .025 and find some heads like "C"'s, "E"'s or "G"'s. Can't go wrong.

Gene

smietana

Thanks, wasn't sure of those 73-76 455's

507OLDS

Tom,
You'll be fine.Bore it +0.030. Have it checked first though.
If you need heads,I can send those too.

smietana

Thanks Brian, motor is going to be a slow build. Looking to be able to drive it this year, with the 350. Looks like a good deal so I might take a shot.

smietana

Ok got the short block checked out, it's stock. Has been magna fluxed and checks out. The only parts that came with the block, are the crank and 7 rods (yes just 7 will need 1 if I stay with stock rods) everything else has to be bought. When I am done I would like it to produce between 400-425 hp. I do realize that there are other factors, I am thinking of a TKO 5 speed and a 3:09 posi rear. Not set in stone. I do plan to use edelbrock heads an intake. Looking for some input on other items. Compression and cam, being the questions.

ah64pilot

Question: What are you basing decking the block .025" off of? I'm asking because he said 400-425 hp and it seems that if you arbitrarily deck the block .025" you would bring compression up drastically. I had my deck taken down .006" and I'm at 10.63:1 compression w/ Keith Black flat tops and a .054" head gasket. I would only take off what is needed to clean up the block and let the piston/ gasket combo make the compression number you need.

cutlassefi

Would you happen to have the piston number?
Normally the decks are bit high, taking .025 off just brings it even in most cases.
I had +.003 deck clearance on this last one with KB IC886's and Edelbrock heads, came to 10.3:1 with a .043 gasket.

smietana

I plan to have the block decked the minimum trying to compile a list of parts I will need to have the block assembled. Everything is open to advise to achieve the 400-425 hp range.

ah64pilot

Same same, IC886/KTD, but .060" oversize. This is the second time this motor has been built, the first time by a crummy spit 'em out shop when I was in high school. I have no idea what they took off the deck, if anything.

The latest build was done by Nickens Brothers Racing Engines here in the Houston area. I do know that Nickens took off .006" but it was done in Dec. 2009 and I know they told me but I don't remember the deck height by now. I assumed that the CR was so high because of the flat top piston but it could be that the previous builder took off .020" who knows. I was in high school, on a budget and looking for BBO power. I got it cheap, and it lasted for 3 years before it spun a rod bearing.

I should correct my earlier statement, I remember having Nickens calculate the CR w/ a .040" head gasket, the .054" gasket is what I ended up with. When I built the short block I wasn't sure if I was gonna end up w/ the Edelbrock heads so I used a Felpro cast iron head gasket thickness to be on the safe side.