Well guys, I'm taking the plunge into a new motor. The wife let me free up some cash, Although I have to come up with the balance myself. Since I have purchased my rear posi and gears from Monzaz ( Jim ) along with a few other parts here as well as Summit lol, I figured I would stay within the CO forum on my engine build.
Mark ( Cutlassefi) has been very helpful in working with me on a build plan going forward , andwill be helping along the way. It will be a couple months out yet until I can get the rest of the cash together, being in U.S $ and crate shipping, However I figure it will be all worth it.
I can't thank " Mark " anuf for his time and awesome technical support.
Thanks to all CO members for their continued help and support with all my questions since joining 6 months ago .
Cheers,
Eric

 

Plans for the build? Mark is a straight shooter, bought a few parts from him.

 

A stroker 375 , forged pistons, scat I beam forged rods, clevite bearings, custom hyd roller cam/lifters, full roller rockers, one piece restricted rods,cloyes billet t/c, pro comp heads, edelbrock rpm, 750 slayer quick fuel, billet dist. new flex plate balancer.
In around 400 hp, It should move my heavy 76 a little better.

 

Olds 307 and 403 I read a post of yours with regards to cleaning up the # 8 heads and going with flat tops, That had me interested for sure. Marks build will give me an awesome motor then I can play around with the stock one afterwards. I'll need something to do over the winter .

 

That sounds nice, what'd that set ya back as I'm looking to do something like it

 

I would prefer not to mention the price I was given. As prices differ somewhat with each build depending on internal parts used.
My suggestion would be to IM Cutlassefi (Mark) and I'm sure he would answer all your questions giving you sound advice on which way to go.

Eric

 

A build like that won't be cheap, probably 7 grand but will make very good power. The #8 aren't bad heads once you unshroud the bowls, especially the exhaust side. We do need something to get through our long winters.

 

I have been taking notes from many of your posts!!!!
Cheers Eric

 

Sounds like a great plan Eric. Good luck with the build. 400 horses, wow, that'd be awesome!

 

Thanks Mac !! I have to be on my best behaviour over the next few months LOL, My wife has given me the go ahead soooo.... I'm bein really good!!! 400 horses should get my heavy 76 going. Its a good thing my wife likes the car.
I'm hoping to have anuff $$$ for Mark to start on it early sept. The U.S exchange and shipping will be a killer but I told my wife that's alot of horses. Put-r-ther!!

 

dare I ask why not bbo ? Im a big fan of the small blocks but I got my car on a serious diet . No power steering , drum brakes all around , no rear interior etc etc. I had a 77 cutlass for a short time with a 463 bbo man that thing boogied out real nice it did run high 11's well before I got it. I eneded up selling it but for a tank that thing moved for a pig of a car.

 

I really didn't give the 455 much thought copper, The 350 with 400hp should be more than anuf power for the handling in my car I figure. Just about everything has been replaced in this 76 except the engine.
I have to ask.... what are the advantages between the bbo vs sbo in a tank of a car like my 76.
I figure any more than a 350 I'd be getting too many tickets lol.
I never discussed a BBO option with Mark.

 

You get more torque ! more torque means more *** hauling stop light to stop light lol. Plus you end up with a more milder build since you have the cubic inches and you might end up having to do a little less machining . personally on a car like yours the 455 will move it wayyy better imo. My current 355 is in the 380 to 390 hp appx. And I know a milder BBO would probably be able to keep up with me. By milder I mean better street manners. my 355 needs all the cam I can run. Im sure a custom cam like mark would probably have made for you would be better than an off the shelf unit like I run but to be honest for what I think you are after a mild bbo will do . The big block will make all the grunt on the lower end which you will feel. The saying goes you drive TQ. you brag HP. With A 375 you gain 25 cubes but with a 455 you gain 105 cubic inches off the bat ! personally I would not sink money into a stroker unless I was going to do an all out race engine from a dx block. Im big into small blocks but if I had to stroke my small block to get it into the 12's I would just go with a big block. The only reason I have not gone to bbo is I have lots of parts and spares for the sbo.

 

I'd have to agree with Copper. I had an old 4x4 chevy with a BB and it would smoke those big arss tires. And that was stock and running like crap.
Would that be a direct bolt-up, Copper?

 

From a small block to big block you would probably only have to change headers and I know for some years there is a slight difference in mounts im not 100 percent on that. I know 76olds went with the smaller exhaust and that's where thinking ahead and going bigger might have payed off., but now that he is stepping it up that small exhaust will be a restriction. I think though a mild .030 bbo would not only cost less but pack a nice enough punch for you to be happy and you can still get it in the 400 hp range. With all that money you saved you would be able to go to different headers and a bigger exhaust lol. Not much difference between bbo and sbo.

 

Thanks for the input copper, mac... Geez I've been behaving so well for my wife now you guys have me all stressed out 'n' in need of a shot of Jack lol. I will take this into consideration and speak with Mark. I did go with the 2 1/4 mandrel bent welded stainless with flow master super 44's It is really tight with the 2 1/4 pipes, the shorty headman headers would have to go as mentioned to long tube. If the price for a mild bbo is less expensive then a built 350 then that would defiantly be the way to go for sure. I threw the TCI staurday night special T/C in and notice a small gain. Not sure about the 350 trans - bbo . Would I need to step up to the 400 trans also if I were to go with a bbo?

 

The th350 can live behind a mild bbo. It has a few weak spots but they can be upgraded relatively cheap. Lots of guys running th350's behind big block. The price between bbo and sbo is the same. the big difference will be in not needing specific machining for the rods , and the added cost of the chevy rods. You talk to mark but imo you car needs a bbo.

 

This.

If you run some basic simulations in a dyno program, even if it's not 100% accurate, you see that comparatively the 455 makes over 100 Ft-Lbs more torque than the 350 across the RPM range.

 

Thanks Copper / Fun 71, I will give be speaking with Mark again soon and discuss these options. I had only mentioned to Mark that I wanted a decent built 350 not thinking about going BB. I'm sure he will give me additional options.
Cheers Eric

 

I've learned through the years that whenever a decision is particularly difficult it's because the options are both really bad options or both really good. I think you have two really good options here. Whatever you decide, I think you'll be happy.
Good luck Eric.