BBC oil press sending unit and perf questions

[vincef]

I know little about BBC engines.... paid someone thousands to build one and got nothing in return.... diff story and being handled accordingly.

I am now doing what I can to get my car going with what I have - a stock 1978, 2 bolt, 454 from a truck. Couple of questions....

1. Is the electronic oil pressure sending unit on the driver's side, towards the front, bottom corner? Going to a mechanical guage so thinking I remove this electronic sending unit and simply plumb the feed line for my mechanical gauge in - anything else needed?

2. Again this is a 100% stock motor - what are the best performance mods for the buck, based upon the stock set-up I have. I think the compression is 8.8:1? Assuming a head swap might help to raise compression and flow, unless the heads I have are worth keeping?

I assume the rochester carb and intake are junk? just not sure where to start to free up the HP "cheaply".

Any help is appreciated!

[bjuice]

when you say "MODS"...do you mean bolt on stuff etc..i noticed you mentioned taking off the heads etc....if you start doing this then the game plan changes......Yes heads will make a Big Difference for the street..
i recommend the Oval part smaller head for your application if you want to go that route....other wise i would just do the basic Mods as we did back in the late 70's early 80's on our rides in H.S.

1- Good carb..( NOT TOO BIG)...if anything smaller for that motor. 650 holley double pumper is a good choice.Good wires and many extra plugs to keep to keep them fresh..street motors will gas foul every now and then when stop and go in traffic.
2- Good hi-performance HEI ingition..or the 8551 billet MSD dristbuter with 6al box..i personally think the HEI will be good enough.
3- Good set of Hooker 'TUNED" HEADERS with flow master exhaust tied in toward the back side of exhaust...3 inch exhaust pipes minimum.

4- a hydraulic roller camshaft with roller rockers..IF you change heads get the cam package to match....if you do not change cam then roller rockers by themselves will still be a HUGE HELP..in freeing up friction

5- Good aluminum intake desined for the street. if you change heads and cam the will recommend a certain style intake..but the intake alone will help over a cast iron.


we got our stock Motors to run pretty good by goiong what i mentioned above back in the late 70's early 80's...we could squeeze all a small block could give back then with stocks parts...you could also find a pair of double hump 300 horse heads anywhere back then..i can remember paying $20.00 a set for them.

leaving the bottom end alone and replacing the top end with what i mentioned can really wake up your stock BIG block.....i would say $2500 and you could have a pretty nice street Big Block.


thanks

[vincef]

Thanks - hopefully I can find some oval port heads, intake, and cam package on a budget.

Just did not know if there were "simple" things other then part swaps to help bump up the HP without not much work. Porting, rocker swap...etc... that realy woke up a stock big block?

I have a MSD digital 6 and will use the stock HEI distributor. My headers are OVER KILL big time.... I bought them with the intent of having a 540 BBC and they were big for that motor. Now with a 454 not sure if they will help or hurt over cast manifolds......2 1/8 or 1/4 primary and 4.5" collector. Cannons man, but I went with them think I will lose some torque down low but gain HP up high - what the stock BBC lacks. Think the motor is rated at 250 hp.

Also any one know if the front left sending unit near the pin is oil pressure? and can that be taken out for a mechanical guage hookup without needing anything else?

[cepx111]

It might be a knock sensor if its a blind hole, most all the big blocks I've had the oil sending unit plug was right above the oil filter near the back of the block which is whereve always plumbed my oil gauge.
Oh and I'd put a 150 nitrous plate on it : ) best bang for your buck and when you didnt want all that power you could just putt around on those puny quadrajet primaries.
Zoom Zoom. Charles

[alscoupe]

we got our stock Motors to run pretty good by goiong what i mentioned above back in the late 70's early 80's...we could squeeze all a small block could give back then with stocks parts...you could also find a pair of double hump 300 horse heads anywhere back then..i can remember paying $20.00 a set for them.


thanks

Damn Brain, That makes me feel OLD! You're absolutely right, back then tire smokin' SBC's for a buck or two per horse. And, your advise is spot on. Good set flowing heads, cam & valvetrain, ignition, headers, and intake and carb; MATCHED is best "bang for the buck" for a street performer with a stock block.

P.S. Remember 101Sunoco or Amoco "White Gas" at the pump for around 50cents!

[lotsof454sss]

I remember it at $.19 a gallon when the gas war would be on....Back in the good ole days....$15 in groceries would last 2 weeks for 3 people, one a child...Now back to the bbc mods......

[jaykz1000]

whats your email i may have some parts u need

[vincef]

[email protected] - any help on parts is greatly appreciated. Already $5000 in the hole on a $1000 motor.

Little problem for you mathmaticians to figure out. Here is a word problem.....

$4000 (lost and nothing to show for it b/c one engine builder turned con man - and still is listed in the racing directory on this site) +$1000 (stock running BBC) = $5000 motor

Freakin awesome isn't it!!!! LOL I have the worst performing BBC for $5000 I bet! Payback are a beotch as they say - in time things will work out.......

[alscoupe]

OUCH! Sorry vincef, didn't know you were one caught up with the unscrupulous builder. (Bet I can guess which one he is.)

I don't fool with to many Big Blocks, but if I can help out anyway......

P.S. Answer to your math question: (2 times SUX) Squared + infinity!

[cepx111]

Bummer man, I'd say you have some good karma coming to you by the way your handling it.
He ( the builder) has some bad coming, it will all work out in the end.
Goodluck, Charles

[Bart69]

I assume the rochester carb and intake are junk

This is not nessasarily true. The intake yes but I have always liked the quadrajets they can be adjusted to run well with all most any combo of mods. They allow you to retune as you evolve thru your mods. if you are going dump all $2500 right off the bat then a holley is a good choice but if you wanted to just replace the intake and the exhaust and swich to HEI you could wake the motor up for about $1000. You do need to find a good quadrajet guy if tou can't tune them yourself. :wink:

[edvancedengines]

I will slightly disagree with the good advice that has been given. The reason is becuase you are starting out with an engine with low compression ratio as it is. Going to the mentioned Oval Port Open Chamber head which I do love will hurt you more than help.l It is only becuase of your low compressuon I suggest to buy and to use for now the cheapest BB Chevy you will find for sale. It is cheap becuase no one wants it and for most engines is no good. Get a set of the medium performance semi-open chamber oval port heads from a 402 cu in engine. The chamber looks a little strange but it is an open chamber design but is more shallow and a smaller chamber than any other open chamber head. It has the same volume in cc as the early closed chamber of 105-106 cc. and has the oval port intake and the same exhaust port as the bigger 049 and 781 heads. Another alternative which are a dime a dozen almost is the early medium performance 396 cu in closed chamber head with oval port intake.

Get those headers off of that car. Period. Stock exhaust would be better than what you have. I suggest from a 1 7.8 primary tube to a maximum of a 2.00 inch primary tube. 3 inch collectors. Buy the cheapest ones you can get and those will be from either Hedman or from Schoenfeld. At your power range and your application tuned heaaders are a waste of money and are a bear to change plugs with. My suggestion is the Hedmon Street Headers and get the cheapest ones.

Good advice you have been given for carbs. If a Rochector is in good condituon there is nothing wrong with using it. A 600 to 750 Vacuum or AFB/EDlebrock or Rochector would all work good.

Digital 6 is great. Buy the MSD 8.5 mm wires. NOthing wrong with using the factory HEI distributor with a good coil compatable with your Digital 6.

OIl sending unit will be above the filter, only.

A Performer RPM Air Gap Oval will work. Also any of the good lower rpm rated single plane oval port intakes will work.

I prefer the hydraulic roller cams too, but even with a regular cam be sure you don't go over board. Buy a cam that is rated for your compression ratio,k nothing bigger. A variable ratio lifter may help too, like the Rhoades for example.

Compression - cylinder heads - and correct camming are usually what wakes up the average Bb Chevy.

Ed

Ed

[vincef]

Sorry for the late reply - thanks for all the suggestions.

Seems like the compression is just right for a blower...... hmmmm. Then the intake prob is solved and the heads will be forced to flow more : )

So without changing the pistons/ rods the only way to bump the compression is to find a set of 402 heads with small chambers that effectively raises the compression? Any idea what ratio w/ the forementioned heads?

The headers have to stay.... its a BBC in a 64 Chevy II so due to clearance they exit via the fenderwells. The hooker version of the headers I need would be better, but I bought the ones I have thinking I would have a 540 BBC pushing 850 hp. I will have a serious motor one day......