Chapter 3: Lubrication Systems
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
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