396 build question

[nitrovette]

Ive got almost all the motor tore apart in the 70 chevelle so far everything looks good,only break in time on motor.But heres what i found so far what do you think.

70 396-402 truck motor
820 402-454 113cc heads ported
performer 2-0 intake ported
nodular iron crank cut 10/10 balanced
gm rods -balanced -arp rod bolts
forged pistons-l2354 30 over domed,looks like .125 i got to look up specs.
double roller chain,dated 4-85 thats when it was built and never seen road since then
hardened pushrods
crane antipump up lifters
trw cam 308 dur intake 328 dur exhaust 500 lift intake 505 lift exhaust
2 inch primary headers

So far thats what i got,tonight ill pull the heads and see what pistons are in it.So far what do you think its a 4 speed car and i found out it had 4.10's in it but not now.Im gone to rering it since i dont know if they broke it in right and dont want rings not seating.If my brother was alive i could ask if it was broke in right but hes not.

[HWYSTR]

What's the question you have? If the combo is good? I don't particularly see anything wrong with the combo, though there are things I personally would have done different. I probably would have gone with a lighter set of pistons, and probably chose a different cam. Given this was built years ago? then I would say that at the time it was done right. You could change the intake for say an RPM Air-Gap or Torker II, depending on the cam & rear gears. If it's a M-22 then I would say go with 373s, either intake would be good, even with that cam.


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[nitrovette]

yeah it was built in 85 by first owner and its a m21 trans,im gone to go with 3.73's and i was thinking of the air gap intake.Thanks

[HWYSTR]

Depending on the 1st gear ratio of the M-21, you may be better off with 355s or 331s.

I think the combo you have is very respectable, and you'll have fun with it. With 331s, that thing will be a blast to drive everywhere and anywhere you want to go, and give you great performance.


By the way, sorry to hear about your brother....


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[nitrovette]

Thanks i appreciate it.I just dont want to put 3.31's and be a dog of th e line 3.55's might be better.Thanks again,big block stuff is new to me im a small block guy or ls1's.First time doing a big block.

[HWYSTR]

If you plan on running 17s, your tire diameter will be roughly 26 or so inches, and you'll get it out of the hole. Big block torque will take care of that, and actually, if you run too much of a gear, you'll just spin, not to mention your highway manors. I lived with 373s for 5 years in a big block A body, and many times felt it was too much. Just FYI, think hard about what you want to use the car for, that will help. (Mine is a daily driver that I take to the mountains, beach, long trips, etc, and still is my daily driver since '91 or so.)

[nitrovette]

Nice lemans,yeah i keep forgetting about the big block torque,Im currently running a 73 corvette with a modified ls1 ,ls6 intake ,3.70 gear 700r4 (low first gear)hooker sidepipes with 1 7/8 primarys into 4 inch tubes,with a 27.5 inch rear tire .So i keep trying to compare it to that and i shouldnt.So maybe i will go with the 3.31's.It wont be a daily driver i use my 96 cobra for that just a nice cruise night car and occasionally to the track for some fun.Thanks for the help.