cheap BBC race block

[prairiehotrodder]

Just throwing this idea out there, Has anyone ever attempted to sleeve a 366 tall deck block to a 4.5" bore? Like wet sleeves like they do with some other blocks?

[engineguyBill]

No. 4.500" is too large bore for OEM BBC block. Not enough room for that large of sleeve in the block and remember that when all eight cylinders are sleeved, there is some reduction in the sturdiness of the block. Aftermarket block is the only way to go for a 4.500" bore BBC application.

[John Ross]

My friend Dick Durant, an amateur SCCA A/SR and Can-Am racer, showed me a ruined standard-deck BBC he tried this with circa 1972 in his Lola T163. He said it cracked through almost immediately but made great power while it lasted.

JR

[cuslog]

I'm using a Gen VI 502 block -- They'll easily go 4.500 and more. Mine took a 4.250 crank with no clearance grinding. They'll go 540 and leave room for several overbores.
Priority mains oiling, tall lifter bores, one piece rear main.
Reher-Morrison used them in their "Super Series" engines for several years, before the Dart blocks.
Mercruiser used lots of them in boats.

[tt 383]

I've heard the new 502 is based off the bow tie case....

[pdq67]

Just throwing this idea out there, Has anyone ever attempted to sleeve a 366 tall deck block to a 4.5" bore? Like wet sleeves like they do with some other blocks?

I am also interested in this too!

Say, offset bore and wet sleeve a BBC block so that I can get a 4.75" bore out of it. Or should the big Packard block be used instead of a BBC block?

Set the bore centerlines at the two middle cylinders on each bank and offset install wet sleeves each way

I am not going to worry about offsetting the crank rod journals and head-bolts, AND this isn't going to be a race block, but rather just a big, medium rpm block. Say, from 750 to 800 rpm to about 5500 to 5750 rpm is all....

pdq67

PS., 4.75" b x 4.375" s = 620.22" engine...

[ProPower engines]

I'm using a Gen VI 502 block -- They'll easily go 4.500 and more. Mine took a 4.250 crank with no clearance grinding. They'll go 540 and leave room for several overbores.
Priority mains oiling, tall lifter bores, one piece rear main.
Reher-Morrison used them in their "Super Series" engines for several years, before the Dart blocks.
Mercruiser used lots of them in boats.

They will also go to 620 ci as well with minimal clearance grinding for the 4.750 crank
I did one for my PU with some extra stuff on the shelf

[DaveMcLain]

I'm using a Gen VI 502 block -- They'll easily go 4.500 and more. Mine took a 4.250 crank with no clearance grinding. They'll go 540 and leave room for several overbores.
Priority mains oiling, tall lifter bores, one piece rear main.
Reher-Morrison used them in their "Super Series" engines for several years, before the Dart blocks.
Mercruiser used lots of them in boats.

They will also go to 620 ci as well with minimal clearance grinding for the 4.750 crank
I did one for my PU with some extra stuff on the shelf

4.750 sounds like a lot of stroke for a block with a standard "car" deck height.

[machinedave]

I am hoping that someday we will have a Dart SHP big block to use.

[desoto30]

me too!! that'd be good

[Racerrick]

"8 sleeves and cheap" one of these words doesn't belong with the other..... $150/hole+ the sleeve $20-40 + decking $200+ .......

[fdicrasto]

"8 sleeves and cheap" one of these words doesn't belong with the other..... $150/hole+ the sleeve $20-40 + decking $200+ .......

Totally agree on costs and with questionable longevity.