ls6 454

 

327, small journal, Quadrajet.

 

427 L88 just like I had in This 55 in 1974 although the 540 Merlin currently in it I'm sure is way faster one day he's going to have take me for a ride probably scare me to death.

 

I think this would have been a decent choice.
327, 11-1, ported 2.02 dbl hump heads, 280 Isky, forged, balanced, etc. The carbs I have on here are newer but the older carbs would work fine too. We dynoed it; 419 hp and 408 tq. The hp was still climbing at 6000 but I chickened out for the higher rpm pulls. I plan on putting it in a 30's 'something'.

 

LS-6 or maybe a LT-1 my taste is not all that changed today. I have an early 60s 327 and a 65 396 in 55&56 today.

 

In 74, not a lot of aftermarket available back in those days in regards to cylinder heads and such. The factory had some serious stuff available to the NASCAR crowd and quite a bit of Pre Smog (1970 and earlier) stuff for the big 3. I was a Big Block guy back then and had my low flash casting square port Iron Heads on a LS5 454 Block, tunnel ram and some 750 Holleys. I did have a Mallory Unilite electronic distributor and some Hooker Fender well Headers. Crane sold me a solid lifter cam and stock screw in studs and factory guide plates. Never had it on a Dyno, (Never even seen a dyno except in magazines) I am sure that motor was a monster, but it was probably putting out less HP then a stock LS 3 makes today.

 

LS6 454, Just like the one in my Nomad now.

 

I think the 327 engine was the motor of choice in the 70s. I had a 69 Camaro with a 350. As soon as I blew it up I installed a rebuilt 327. What a screamer.

 

I run a 327 now but in the 70s I had no interest in a 327, in my mind it was all 350.

 

my 55 I had yrs ago had a 283, .060 over 327 crank and 307 pistons with a light RV cam in it. PG with 3:55 gears. Had a lot of low end torque but fizzled out after that but I drove the eyeballs out of it. My buddy who was the shop foreman at the Chevy dealership talked me into doing it and helped me. He had one in a 67 Chevy pickup but had a little more cam in it than I wanted.

 

L88 427 would be my ultimate engine.

 

Built a 57 in 78' 327 bored .0030
2.02 heads , solid lifter 508 crane cam and backed it with a muncie M22 and 4.10 gears.
Somewhere I have an old time slip in the mid 8s in the 1/8th. 4-5 mpg downhill with the wind behind me. I probably would not do all that again. Too many other options nowadays .

 

The 70s was a much better time for hot rodding.

 

.. I agree, but the reason we think that is because we were 50 yrs younger then...

 

I'd agree with the fact that not much was out there for cylinder heads other than if you had stock heads ported and polished and it would be my guess that the old saying "no substitute for cubic inches" may have started back then... 454.

 

I worked in a garage business in early seventies and the owner was a ‘57 hot rod owner. We put a 427 with a blower and two Holley dbl pumpers in it. Crazy power and sound. Never ridden in any other street car that had that much instant power, was a 4spd. Post Belair with 12 bolt posi and We built and swapped engines for many others. We were early proponents of 400 sbc with good crank, 5.7 rods, forged pistons and performance heads. Passed many of them off as 327 or 350s.

 

Hemi, Ford 429 or the the ls6

 

I believe it was about 1971-72 When HOTROD had an article explaining and demonstrating how and what to do to a SB400 to significantly upgrade a 400 for excellent power and performance. Since then, I have been a big fan of SB400s and over the years, I have built about 25 400s. So far, all of them are still ticking, including the 5 in my family.
For a Trifive, a healthy built SB400 is just too natural. EVERYTHING that was bolted to a 265 or 283 is an excellent bolt-on fit. And generally, more economical to build.
There is no question, I DO NOT dispute that power from a well built, big cube, BB is nearly impossible to beat.
Here are are 4 of the 5 SB400s in my family.
All of them are built from GM blocks, heads and GM cast cranks.

 

327 Chevy and a offy mid rise dual quad was the dream for a lot of the guys I grew up with.

 

Not much earlier, maybe 1972 I built my '55 150 Business coupe as a 1/4 mile gasser. I had a 1967 Chevelle 283 I had bought back from the insurance company after it got totaled by some clown who turned left in front of me.
With the help of an experienced engine builder we went through the 283 to make it as fast and healthy as a 283 could be, but not bore or stroke it. Started out with a 4 bolt main cap assembly to convert the lower end. Put a set of H beam rods and a set of Jahns 12:1 pistons on the rods. Then my friend who was one of the finest engine builders I ever knew took a pair of 59cc camel hump 1.94 heads and worked over the runners, and combustion chambers to make them flow great.
I originally put on an old corvette dual quad intake with AFB carbs, but the car never ran at it's full potential. He suggested I switch to a Weiand single carb hi rise, and install a 750 Holley double pumper on it.
The '55's best time in the 1/4 mile was a high 11.90's time, and I shifted it at 7500 rpm's. I ended up replacing the rear gears that were 3.90's with 4.56 gears to eventually get it down to low 11.90's. Best SBC engine I ever owned. It was a fun car until it got stolen, and never found.

 

I've had 3 big blocks in my life--68 Chevelle with a 396 and Ford with a 428 and a Ford with a 390. Prefer small blocks

 

GM crate 350 LT1. I presume they were still available at that time.

 

1969 427 motor 2 bolt main, non Corvette motor would be fine

 

Those 390hp or 400hp with tri power 427s ran really good with the addition of the solid lifter 435 hp cam. Had a couple back in late 60s early 70s.

 

My 65 396 in my 55 has been punched .060 had forged pistons and stainless steel undercut valves added with that cam and two 600 Holleys on a Wieand tunnel ram. I like it.

 

I know it's blasphemous; but a dual plug super stock hemi stuffed into a 57 would be awesome.

A blown 409 would work too though.

 

I do like the Blasphemi owned and built by MIke Finnigan
You can put a hemi in anything and be okay in my book

 

That poor car is cursed with being perpetually broke. Still love it though.

Dave Newburn has some cool Tri Fives on his channel.