The engine upgrade on the 396 was supposed to be a simple cam/head swap. Now I find myself in the middle of a complete rebuild. In fact, the 396 is out, and a completly new (except the block) 427 will be taking up the "go" space. Many, many cool parts here. I'll update on this after the block is done in the machine shop. A couple key points would be, Canfield heads, custom grind Isky mechanical roller cam to match the piston/head/gear/weight combo, new forged rotating assembly

I found a flat cam lobe. What? This will most certainly mean big trouble on the bottom end.

Unloading day. The calm before the storm. After this I get to tell the wife how expensive this is likely to get.

Pulled the rear main...already in big trouble! The other mains and rod bearings were worse. This engine was not going to tolerate many more miles before total meltdown. The crank was already 10/10, so after this mess it was gone. Dad and his buddy Dave save the day with a new top notch forged unit.

Hmmm. Which cylinder wasn't firing right?

Now thats a lobe. The new roller cam. Of course the cardinal rule of modification is starting to come into play. Any time you upgrade one part, you need 5 other upgrades to install it properly. (ie. big brakes=big wheels=big tires, or big cam=piston machining=re-balance, or big cam=new torque converter, and the list goes on.

Here is the new block. This time we are going for a 427. The block has been fully prepped. The forged crank is also a NOS vinyage 427 GM piece.

The new rods are from Scat. The pistons are Speed Pro. Notice the coating? All the bearing surfaces have this coating too. All was balanced after cutting the pistons for clearance.

Time to put the heads on. Small domes to keep the compression low enough for pump fuel. The intake valve reliefs had to be cut down a bit for clearance, but the exhaust were fine.

The new Canfield heads are awsome pieces. Very high quality, and worth every $$. There was some minor pocket porting done after the valve cutting was done.

Just dropped in the lifters. The cam is a small solid roller from Isky. 106 degree lobe center with .620 lift. The lifters and springs are all matched Isky units.

The Comp Cams magnium roller rockers are now in, and the lash has been adjusted. The push rods are custom length one piece Isky's as well.

w Jesel

This is the new Jesel shaft rocker system installed after break-in. The push rods are custiom length units from Smith Brothers.

Buttoned up the intake and valve covers. Time to stab it.

Finished with the suspension, brakes, wheels, and other misc. Bring on the 427!

There was some extra electrical going in too. I added this panel in the fender, behind the battery that holds relays and fuses for the extra lighting up front, the new dual radiator fans, and fuel pump.

The new Be Cool radiator and dual Spal fans. I tucked in dual remote oil filters up there too.

Here are the Morris lights I added to the front valence panel. The fit in the existing blinker holes. This this really light up. I also added the LED light kit from Detroit Speed to the rear lights, but I forgot to take a picture,

7/04/07 Just finished the Jesel shaft rocker install, MSD plug wire/loom, Quick Fuel metering plates, high flow thermastat, and completed the fuel line. I went black on the wires this time to try something new. I think it turned out good, but the wife liked the red better.

My one year old daughter. Oh yeah, she digs hanging in the garage with the boys.

Now at 2....she wants to drive.