Hello fellow members, I had some great news from my engine builder this morning. After many many many setbacks, a cracked 430 block, Covid-19 and so much delays my engine is almost completed and looking just like I expected. Engine was painted plum crazy, please don't throw any rock at me since this is very non-catholic... but I kinda enjoy to put together two things that shouldn't go along. It's a 76' blue block bored 0.038 over with J.E pistons from TA Perf, stock rods, ARP bolts all around (main cap and connecting rod bolts), modified deep sump oil pan, Edlebrock heads, performer intake, proform timing cover, lifter tray baffle, cam is TA 290-08H w/ delphi lifters. Engine is going in a 75' Electra that's going to get a all black treatment just like a Grand National (I always felt like a 75' Electra is looking like a big version of the Regal and I've always been a huge fan of the beloved GN) Differential is going to be replaced with some kind of 8.5 that can handle all this power, with 3.42 gears and TA's rear end girdle. TH400 is going under maintenance this winter as well. This is getting exciting.
Definitely ! The car had a 430 stock engine when I got it. It was a smoke machine since it drank a pint of oil every week.
Looks like it will be a real runner and sharp looking too. Just wonder why, since you bought some T/A Performance products, you decided to use the Edelbrock heads instead of the T/A heads?
I was very pleased working with Sherri at TA Perf, but the shipping and custom fees were kinda high since I live in Quebec. I had a pretty stunning deal on Summit for the EDL heads on Summit and figured out they'd be working just fine for what I was looking for as far as performance and reliability.
Nice looking engine! Is it just me or should that valve cover with the Oil filler and breather grommet be on the other side... ? Bob
Thanks Bob ! You are absolutely right. They are not bolted yet, they have just been put on top of the cylinders heads for the picture
Plum Crazy is my favorite Mopar color. I would have painted the entire engine, heads, valve covers, and all. Then put "Hemi-Killer" somewhere on the valve covers. The Mopar guys would love that! Good luck.
That will work. Seriously though, you should paint the heads, intake and timing cover. If you like the color of aluminum, paint it that color. Paint holds up great on aluminum because it dissipates heat so quickly. Aluminum will eventually look bad especially if it is exposed to the elements and dirt/oil. I painted my entire engine Buick Red.
Looking good . I would have gone for the entire engine painted the factory Powdered Blue but that is just me for the sleepy look. I'm not sure on this but getting some kind of 10 bolt to fit that car is going to be exciting plus it won't be as strong as the current rear. I believe that rear is still the big car rear which if you do some searching you may find an older rear with something like 3.23's in it. May even bolt in. Before I'd go with a cutom 10 bolt install I'd go for a 9" custom setup. Check with the big car guys on what will fit. In '77 or '78 they started to use the 10 bolts when they downsized the cars.
I'll look into that. The rear I have right now is super odd, the cover has 10 bolts, the ring gear has 12, axles have 31 splines, and there's no repro part for that thing. Not sure on which vehicle will be the donor of the new rear end, but I do think that a well built 10 bolts should handle the power just fine. I've looked into Dennis Swarthout's 9" Ford built on his Electra as well, this could be another option... Again, thanks for your input guys !
TDot performance in Toronto sells Edelbrock aluminum heads also. Free shipping and all the customs and fees are included in the pricing already. I'm looking at getting some TA SE aluminum heads but if it's going to cost too much to get them to Wasaga Beach Ontario Canada then I'll probably get the eddys from TDot. Did you have to do any extra work to them before installing? I've read that a few times on here somewhere??
The information that I got today is that the corporate 10 bolt(and as mentioned in the thread Larry posted) came in some 71-76 B bodies(mostly later) but they will only be in the small block cars such as a LeSabre. They would be good to bolt in and should hold up well. However I wouldn't waste time modifing a 10 bolt to fit. At that point go right to the 9". What gears do you have now? Carefull on the torque converter because the heavy weight of the Electra will cause any converter to naturally have more stall. Possibly change the planetary in the T400 to a 2.75 1st gear?
The EDL came with some clean up in the bowls. Of course you could get them ported and all, but I figured this would be enough for what I wanted.
