Motor to build & install in 68 Lemans??

J

j5ball

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Car: 1968 Pontiac Lemans / 350 CI - original motor / upgraded to 4 barrel edelbrock intake with 4 barrel Holley carb sitting on 1" riser.

I am looking to build a new motor for the car (the current motor runs just fine but I want a bigger bite in the car and I want to chirp the wheels) and I was thinking about a 455, bored, new pistons, performance cam, etc.

I would also like to move from an automatic to a manual transmission.

Thoughts and ideas ??? I could buy a crate engine but whats the fun in that. I am on the look for a 455 block with crankshaft.

Thanks . . . JIMB
 
The old saying nothing beats cubic inches in a naturally aspirated engine still holds true. Your current manifold and carburetor will work and depending on your budget a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads would be the way to go. Just remember cam choice is dictated to some extent by your rear end ratio. Competition cams has downloadable software which acts as a wizard, you input engine make/size/intake, etc. and it comes up with recommend cam choices.
 
Update. I bought a 1969 400 WT block / came with crankshaft . . but that will be replaced with a stroker kit. FYI. Costing around $300 for all the machine work on the block (cleaned, bored, planned, magnu-flux, freezer plugs installed.) Seems like I am missing something - oh well.. Installation of stroker kit (pistons, rings, crank shaft) for $200. Balanced for $200. All returned to me - total of $700 for work. I will install 87CC heads . . performance camshaft with roller rockers . . Sound like a winner ?? I am thinking installed in car sometime this fall.
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j5ball, thats awesome. Is it a 461 stroker kit? You should also think about having them zero deck the block. Also, there is a threaded plug at the end of an oil passage at the rear of the block. I've read that its a good idea to have this removed before the block is cleaned. This will allow all the gunky build up to get washed out. And before that plug is put back in, some guys have a .030" hole drilled in it. This will get a small stream of oil to the distributor cam driven gear.
 
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