opinions on block wanted

[68scott385]

My buddy Al's wife had a nice 1979 98 coupe with a 403 ...intended application -old lady

But they put 403s in the Trans Am from between '77 & '79.

[68scott385]

yup there are also cheaper ones that just tie the main caps. not as pricey but also not as strong but they are mainly for the older blocks to help prevent cap walk at high RPM

I talked to a guy at Drag Week running a 455 in a '68-'72 Cutlass, he said he just had a halo girdle and shifted at 5800rpm without any problems. I plan on using a halo girdle when I go through my 455 but I don't plan on racing it but that doesn't mean it won't get run hard once or twice on the street, just not racing. If it gets raced it'll be on a track.

[SpiderGearsMan]

My buddy Al's wife had a nice 1979 98 coupe with a 403 ...intended application -old lady

[Mater]

yup there are also cheaper ones that just tie the main caps. not as pricey but also not as strong but they are mainly for the older blocks to help prevent cap walk at high RPM

[68scott385]

you think a 307 is bad the 403 will give you nightmares

Maybe that's why there are at least two sources for lower girdles that attach to the pan rails, the center three mains, and cost $2500.

[Mater]

you think a 307 is bad the 403 will give you nightmares

[68scott385]

if it was a tach i would pf kept it. it was only a clock being a diesel they never had tachs even with the rally gauges

here are the silver face gauges

The diesels I've seen that did have tachs redlined at like 3500rpm and 4000rpm was the maximum reading on the tach, not good for conversion even if you didn't pay attention to the colored area(s).

[68scott385]

RPM is still RPM, even in metric. lol.
How'd we get on manual transmissions? Is there a man pedal and 4 speed going behind the BBO? That'd RULE!

I think SPG did it and sorry, while that would be cool as shit to have a 5-6 speed, the knee won't handle that action.

those windowed olds motors are frightening

That's why I went to a windowless 455. Looking at the 3ow7 I was wondering how the thing stayed together anyway, there jusrt isn't a whole lot there holding things in place.


On the subject of engines and builds, I talked to Bill Trovato (the modern day east coast Mondello) on Sunday of LS Fest while he was packing up a Camaro, I think it was. Super nice guy, took time to talk to me (I guess it helped that I told him I had read his book) about my plans for my low-budget 455. I walked away from that comfortable that what I wanted to do would live and the next weekend the 455 was in the Turd(le).

[Mater]

RPM is still RPM, even in metric. lol.

My weird band director had a 305 / 4speed 1979 Monte Carlo. I had a 231 / 3 on the tree 79 El Camino for a while. How'd we get on manual transmissions? Is there a man pedal and 4 speed going behind the BBO? That'd RULE!

if it was a tach i would pf kept it. it was only a clock being a diesel they never had tachs even with the rally gauges

here are the silver face gauges

[SpiderGearsMan]

those windowed olds motors are frightening

[Beagle]

yup the mexicans got some wacky stuff from the factory that '82 had a 78-80 silver gauges

sadly i had to swap them out so i could drive it as they where only in metric with no MPH at all

RPM is still RPM, even in metric. lol.

My weird band director had a 305 / 4speed 1979 Monte Carlo. I had a 231 / 3 on the tree 79 El Camino for a while. How'd we get on manual transmissions? Is there a man pedal and 4 speed going behind the BBO? That'd RULE!

[Mater]

tHE ONLY monte SS's to get a 4spd stick went to mexico.. and only in '84 WTF Thanks EPA

yup the mexicans got some wacky stuff from the factory that '82 had a 78-80 silver gauges

sadly i had to swap them out so i could drive it as they where only in metric with no MPH at all

[68scott385]

8.5 rears came in buick and olds V8 wagons too 78-87

My '88 B-body wagon has an 8.5" rear but it's a total bastard. It takes a large bearing like a 1/2 ton truck but has 28 spline axles like a car and uses 1/2"x20 studs.

[NewEnglandRaceFan]

the car was a 1982 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ Brougham Mexico export (it was not meant for sale int he US) it was an interesting car as it was ordered with the diesel but also with the F41 perfomance handling suspension and 3.73 posi rear. people say the GPs never had the same 8" rear as the GNs but this car did form the factory not sure about eh US sold cars but this mexican sold car did. it also had the checkerboard monte rims form the factory but with a pontiac center cap. but being a brougham it had every luxo options GM had, slow fade interior lights, power driver passenger pillow 40/60 bench, rear coat hangers, premium sound system, antenna in the windshield, and factory dark tint



and no i do not have a new car to put it yet it's one of those "someday" builds

tHE ONLY monte SS's to get a 4spd stick went to mexico.. and only in '84 WTF Thanks EPA

[SpiderGearsMan]

8.5 rears came in buick and olds V8 wagons too 78-87