New old guy.
 

New here today, first thread after checking it out for weeks. I'm in Kennewick Wa. Just found great deal on short 78 C-15. Needs a lot but I"m finally gonna get my Hot Rod. I'm stoked. 61 yr old wanna be mechanic so we'll see how it goes. Local machinist has put together 2pc 4 bolt w 5.7in Scat rotating assembly. With my budget he recommended finding Vortec heads for good price. I did, $180, so hes preparing them for more than .470 lift. How much more will I need? I dont know yet. He hopes I can afford hyd roller set up. I'll listen to all opinions re: cam, lifters, intake and carb, ANYTHING re this type truck build. I'll be thrilled w 375HP+. Sooner than later I hope I will do 4-5 front rear drop. Body, paint and will be last. I plan on doing the whole build picture thing, why not huh? I guess Im committed, For Sale sign will come out. I thought 2,800 was a good price for me and buyer.

Re: New old guy.
 

If it is as solid as it looks 2800 is a great deal.

Is your block a late model block? If not it will have to be retrofitted to a roller cam (more cost) Howard Cams has decent prices on retro kits.

375hp at the crank or wheel?

Re: New old guy.
 

Good looking truck. It does look rather solid. Keep us updated.

Re: New old guy.
 

sweet ride! looks like a nice solid truck .is that the scat 383 kit you are talking about?

Re: New old guy.
 

Scat, could it have been speed pro? He ordered it, I just give him dollars. 5.7 rods, hyper whatever pistons. All looks good but its in a plastic bag andnot in my truck

Re: New old guy.
 

great looking truck, and awesome quote!!

Re: New old guy.
 

Nice truck! Welcome to the forum.

Re: New old guy.
 

Nice solid truck!

Re: New old guy.
 

yes

Re: New old guy.
 

Thank you.

Re: New old guy.
 

thank you

Re: New old guy.
 

yes its a 4 bolt, 2 pc rear seal Chevy pickup block. Ive ordered Howards 110255-12 Roller with Pro Form narrow, self aligining rockers. Machinist will work the Vortecs for the .533 lift. thanks for replying.

Re: New old guy.
 

I gotta watch this- it's one of the 2 powerplant avenues for LBT.

Re: New old guy.
 

Attachment 1186045New parts arriving. Jegs own valve covers were cheapest, tall, center bolt I could find. Pretty thick cast alum, I like em! Mr Gasket breathers, $7 at local parts store. Fingers crossed the 750 Summit carb will be as GREAT as the salesman said it is. My engine builder shakes his head at it but the $787 Holley will have to wait. Weiand Air Gap type High Rise is $125 less than Edelbrock. Sent 110245-10 Howards cam back for higher lift 110255-12. And......returned roller rockers when I discovered they werent narrow body, sself aligning. (Vortec heads) Going w Pro Form 66915 rockers..Studs will be pinned. The Vortecs are going to do the job, got them for nothing so could affor to put $500? into them, but it sure would have been easier to start with regular heads. Ive replace water pumps, starters etc in my life but nothing more technical so this has BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR SURE!

Re: New old guy.
 

Are you stroking the engine? 3.48 or 3.75 stroke crank? That is a pretty healthy cam for a heavy truck. What axle ratio do you have?

Re: New old guy.
 

Yes, .030 over, Scat 3.75 crank w 5.7 rods. Yeah, the cam is healthy huh, plus the 1.6 rockers BUT! Im not changing now. I got n a little over my head w this engine build and any more part numbers or money or reordering and I think I'll go crazy. Rear end seeeeems low, I bet its factory, I can probably look it up. But no posi anyway so I guess that'll be next, (after all the other nexts) Dont think budget will let me start w anything but existing th350 and no stall so we'll see. Winter is low income time for me, so come spring summer I'll be able to fine tune. After dirving long beds all my life this shorty sems like a go cart, but it does have weight to it huh. existing 350 wont start when its warm 190-210, starts in morn at 6deg but acts like the bateries low after driving across town. Idiot light doesnt wk so yesterday I put in thermo and mech temp ga, no overheating. Today new starter, SAME THING!, so tomorrow I'll inspect all cables and wires. I put old starter back in and will use this new one for 383. Think hi-tork starter is necessayr? My 12 bolt, what do u suggest, order some kind of posi or limited slp with 370-411 gears? (im just learning all this man)

Re: New old guy.
 

I paid 1,200 for the truck, thought id wash it and flip for about 28- $3000. Glad I didnt now.

Re: New old guy.
 

Do you know which piston was ordered in the kit? Flat or Dish?

Hopefully a dish of about 12cc.

An engine needs careful planning before parts are ordered. Compression ratio, cam timing, vehicle weight, axle ratio, intended usage, transmission, stall(if auto), exhaust, etc to work well together.

1.6 rockers will increase lift at the valve to .544/.564 with that cam. Checking for spring coil bind and geometry is critical.

I would have used no bigger than this with 1.5 rockers for a strong, dependable, daily driven street truck.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hr...make/chevrolet

Re: New old guy.
 

If id quit over analizing everything and quit looking up every little thing on the internet id prob be fine. My machinist is a very well know, respected guy here locally. I need to have faith and let him do it. Ive know ive complicated the whole thing by putting my 2 cents worth of nothing in and really restricting his budget. Now ive just read about beehives and OMG. Hes old school race engine builder whos about retired. its gonna be fine. like i said ill fine tune and upgrade/change when the time comes. I APPRECIATE your replys and knowledge. computer friend will be here in a min to help me navigate these page and a lot of other problems im having w computer.

Re: New old guy.
 

dished but dont know cc's

Re: New old guy.
 

I don't mean to complicate things. Your engine should run fine, even if at a higher rpm band than optimal. I am sure your builder knows what he is doing as far as clearance checks, rocker geometry, etc.

I have been doing this a long time and see a lot of people over cam their engines or get the CR wrong or get the wrong spring, yada,yada,yada.

You seem like my kinda guy and just wanted to give you some info so you can have a nice matched power plant for the money you will spend.

Keep us posted!

Re: New old guy.
 

On the starting deal, go to Tractor Supply and get 4-0 welding cable and 3/8 ends. Make up a new main cable to the starter, and a new cable from the block to the frame. It'll light right off, not a lot of bucks, either. Had the same problem with a 72 Monte, fixed the hell out of it!

Re: New old guy.
 

:welcome2:

Sweet looking truck!!

Re: New old guy.
 

I thanked you.....somewhere? Man, Im bad on comp but this site is killing me. (did u get a thanks and pic somewhere? when i reply id think it would show up under your post)

Re: New old guy.
 

Looks good. Are you running an auto trans? I don't remember seeing that. If you are with that much cam, it may have to be more of a toy than a daily driver. You'll probably need a decent stall converter, which may kill any mileage. Fun for Friday and Saturday nights though!