1981 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC SITE
SUCCESSFUL
HIGH PERFORMANCE
ENGINE COMBINATIONS
(PAGE 2)
Engine Combo #4: 396 Chevrolet "Big Block", +.060
Cylinder Heads: Brodix oval port, 119cc open chamber, 2.25/1.88 valves
Compression Ratio: 10.25 to 1
Camshaft: Competition Cams Street Roller (236/242 duration at .050 and .647/.654 lift with 110 deg. lobe separation angle), 4 degrees retarded
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap
Carburetor: 750 Speed Demon, 76 primary jets, 83 secondaries, 6.5 power valve
Total Timing: 38 degrees
Headers: Hooker 1 3/4
Exhaust:
Real Dyno Performance: 504 hp at 5300rpm, 483 lb-ft of torque at 4750 rpm
NOTES: This is a so called "budget" engine from the February 2001 issue of Super Chevy magazine. It cost approximately $5000 to build. Obviously the term "budget" is subjective but to me $4000 for a big block build up would be more of a realistic "budget" buildup. Never the less this buildup proves the potential of a 396.
Cylinder Heads: GMPP Vortec
Compression Ratio: 9.4 to 1
Camshaft: Competition Cams Xtreme Energy 268 (224/230 duration at .050 and .477/.480 lift, 110 degree lobe separation angle)
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Performer RPM
Carburetor: Holley 0-4779 750 cfm double pumper
Total Timing: 34 degrees
Headers: Hooker 1 3/4
Exhaust: 2 1/4-inch Borla XR-1 stainless steel mufflers (straight-through style)
Real Dyno Performance: 408 hp at 5800 rpm, 430 lb-ft of torque at 3700 rpm
NOTES: This is the combination from the series of articles in Chevy High Performance magazine called "Goodwrench Quest". This was a great series of articles taking a 'plain jane' low performance standard replacement crate motor and building it into a stout street/strip powerplant using basic high performance bolt-ons, most importantly the Vortec heads. These heads are stirring up all kinds of noise. They are probably the hottest selling product in the automotive aftermarket right now.
Cylinder Heads: GMPP Vortec
Compression Ratio: 9.1 to 1
Camshaft: Competition Cams Xtreme Energy 268 (224/230 duration at .050 and .477/.480 lift,
110 degree lobe separtion angle)
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Super Victor Vortec
Carburetor: Speed Demon 750
Total Timing: 32 degrees
Headers: 1 3/4 dyno headers
Exhaust: 3-inch Flowmasters
Real Dyno Performance: 394.6 hp at 5700 rpm, 400 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm
NOTES: This engine was built in a two part article in Hot Rod magazine with the enthusiast's small budget in mind. They pulled the engine from a '76 Impala in the junkyard. They tore it down partially to inspect it and found that everything was in good condition and only replaced the oil pump. It was put together for under $1500!
Cylinder Heads: Dart Iron Eagle 215cc
Compression Ratio: 9.7:1
Camshaft: Comp Cams X-treme Energy 284
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Performer RPM
Carburetor: Holley 750 double pumper
Distributor: GM HEI
Total Timing: 35 degrees
Headers: 1 5/8
Exhaust: 2 1/2 Borla Sportsman stainless mufflers
REAL Dyno Performace: 455 hp at 5500 rpm, 498 lb-ft of torque at 3800 rpm
NOTES: This engine was built in a special issue, two part article in my favorite magazine, Chevy High Performance. They are #1 for engine build-ups. This was sort of a budget build-up in the sense that it produced such good power for about $4000.
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