Chevy Big Blocks. David Vizard

Dome Development

Gas Ports

Piston Rings

Connecting Rods

Crankshafts

Crank Dampeners

Chapter 3: Lubrication Systems

Oil Pump

       Block Modifications

       Crankcase Vacuum

       Oil Pans

       Chapter 4: Cylinder Heads

       Port Shape and Volume

       Flow Curves

       Production Heads

       Aftermarket Iron Heads

       Aluminum Head Sources

       Chapter 5: Intake Manifolds

       Single- and Dual-Plane Intakes

       Rectangular-Port 4150 Intakes

       Dominator Intakes

       Options by Manufacturer

       Chapter 6: Single-Carb Induction

       Brake Specific Air Consumption

       True Street Carburation

       Using What You Have

       Mechanical or Vacuum?

       High-Flow 4150-Style Carbs

       Carb Flow Capability

       Spacers

       Holley Dominator Tips

       Chapter 7: Tunnel Ram Intake Manifolds

       Power Attributes

       Dyno Test

       Race-Only Applications

       Chapter 8: Electronic Fuel Injection

       Carbs versus EFI

       EFI System Variations

       Port Injection

       Chapter 9: Camshafts and Valvetrain Events

       A Few Basics

       The Importance of Overlap

       LCA Selection

       Flow Figures

       LCA Compression Correction

       Optimal LCA

       Wide LCA Syndrome

       Cam Timing Precision

       Chapter 10: Valvetrain Optimization

       Cam and Valve Lift

       Cam Factors

       Rockers and Ratios

       Ratio Analysis

       Pushrods

       Stud Girdles or Shaft Rockers

       Rocker Arms

       Valvesprings

       Retainers

       Valve Weight

       Cam Master Program

       Chapter 11: Ignition Systems

       Advance Curve

       Spark Power

       Plasma Ignition

       Crank Triggers

       Chapter 12: Exhaust Systems

       Primary Lengths

       Collectors

       Evacupan Fittings

       Chapter 13: Chevy Big-Block Builds

       Build 1: 468 with Edelbrock E-Street Heads

       Build 2: Entry-Level 496

       Build 3: 482 Revisited

       Build 4: UNO 525

       Build 5: AFR 510

       Build 6: AFR 572

       Build 7: 496 EFI

       Build 8: Pro-Filer Oval-Port 87-Octane

       Build 9: 712 with Pro-Filer 12-Degree Heads

       Source Guide

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      My thanks go to the following for their valuable help toward producing this book:

      Craig Schenasi of Scat enterprises, Dick Maskin and Tony McAfee at Dart, Tony Mammo and Rick Sperling at AFR, John Verburg and Zeke Urrutia at Ferrea, Norris Marshal and Drew Freese at Blueprint Engines, Mike Green at Pro-Filer Performance, Smitty Smith and Eric Blakely at Edelbrock, Chad Speier of Speier Racing Heads, Dave Fussner at Wiseco Pistons, Scooter Brothers, Billy Godbold and Trent Goodwin of Comp Cams. My longtime friend Chase Knight at Crane Cams. My friend of 43 years, the late Harvey Crane. Mike McClelland late of Professional Products, Bryce Cegielski at Professional Products, Zac Collins from Scorpion Performance, Kevin McClelland of K&N, Matt Hartford, Keith Jones and Kevin Studebaker of Total Seal, Jack McInnis at EPW and Erson Cams, Jerid Suchy at PRW, Mike Jones of Jones Ams, Mike Downs at TFS, Scott Clark (my freelance fuel injection programmer), Paul Yaw of Injector Dynamics, Bill Tichenor and Blane Burnett of Holley, Jeff Harris of AED, Mike Laws of BLP, Mark Dalquist of Throttle’s Performance, Jim Wright of Motorhead Engines, Clint Gray of TFX, Randy Lucius of the University of Northwestern Ohio, Chris Osborn of PAC Springs, JC Beattie Jr. at ATI, Chris Quellette at BHJ, Eric Haugland of Engine Quest, Manny Grijalva and Silver Gomez of MSD, Steve Davis of Performance Distributors, Dan Jesel and Dave Grob at Jesel, and Nick Filippides of American Racing Headers who carried the day for the exhaust chapter. Last, my editor at CarTech Books, Paul Johnson, whose thoughtful coaching is always such a help toward reaching the final goal.

      There may be more who should be on this list. If I missed you, I apologize; you also get my thanks and apologies.

      Prime Movers

      Any book that receives as much effort as this one received is usually brought about by a few individuals who act as “prime movers.” Although everyone in the preceding list played a role, there are those who gave plentiful and generous assistance. If that assistance had not been given, this book would not have come into existence. First on this short list is Dusty Kennett, whose inspiration and assistance has been invaluable. Although more in the background now, he continues to inspire and physically help make things happen.

      David McCoig has been instrumental and his face is seen throughout this book. David builds his engines in my shop and helps out with the photography and whatever else I have needed with my work for the past five years.

      Then there is Tom Lieb. Tom has been in my life for more than four decades. Every time I have a major project he is there to support my efforts. Without Tom’s support, at least half of the thousands of hours of research dyno testing I have done simply would