Just about everyone recognizes...
Just about everyone recognizes a small-block Chevy, but thanks to carefully chosen bolt-on pieces this one appears to be much earlier than it is.
The trend toward traditional hot rods has prompted a variety of new methods to provide the right vintage look. One of the most popular is to make an engine appear to be something it isn't. There are a number of ploys to accomplish this; swapping rocker covers from another engine and hiding fuel injection under a vintage air cleaner are all common ploys. Another popular ruse is to make a small-block Chevy appear to be earlier than it is.
Recently Jason Scudellari, aka Installation Jason, of Source Interlink's Tech Center was given the assignment to put years on a 350 Chevrolet and make it look like a pre-smog small-block. As he would be starting with a fresh, rebuilt short-block from JR Motorsports. The 355-inch small-block was decked, line-honed, bored, and honed with torque plates then fitted with a balanced rotating assembly. As we were starting with a short-block and there were a variety of parts needed to complete the engine, the deception could be accomplished by simply choosing the right bolt-on accessories. Here we added classic appeal by using the latest in vintage accessories. Here's how to do something that only a street rodder would understand, make something new look old with new old parts.
Jason Scudellari began with...
Jason Scudellari began with a fresh 355-inch Chevy small-block from JR Motorsports. The block has been decked, line-honed, bored 0.030-inch oversize, fitted with flat top hypereutectic pistons, a reground crankshaft, new bearings, and oil pump before being painted in vintage Chevy orange.
The classic vintage performance induction
When it comes to vintage performance parts nothing is as cool as multiple carburetors, and one of the combinations that pegs the wow-meter is three-twos. Triple carbs have that no-nonsense visual appeal, plus when properly tuned and operated with progressive linkage they offer outstanding performance as well and best of all they'll never be confused with something found on gizmo-laden trailer queens.
So, if the question is, "How do I give my small-block that classic hot rod look?", here are two great answers:
For a cam we choose an Isky...
For a cam we choose an Isky hydraulic Supercam (PN 201262) with 0.435-inch lift at the valves, 262 degrees of duration and 108-degree lobe centers. The bumpstick was liberally coated with Isky's cam lube before installation.
The cam was carefully slipped...
The cam was carefully slipped in place, making sure not to drag any of the lobes against the bearings. A couple of long cap screws for handles make a great cam installation tool.
Our cam was installed "straight...
Our cam was installed "straight up" which means it wasn't advanced or retarded but set at 0 degrees on the crank sprocket.
With the timing marks on the...
With the timing marks on the cap and crank sprockets properly aligned the timing set was slipped into place.
Thread-locking compound was...
Thread-locking compound was applied to the cam sprocket cap screws and they were torqued to spec.
Summit Racing now offers new...
Summit Racing now offers new packages that include an aluminum intake, carbs, air cleaner assemblies from O'Brien Truckers, and progressive linkage. An interesting twist is that contemporary, easily tunable Holley 2300-series carbs (a 350-cfm primary and a pair of 325-cfm secondaries) are used rather than Carters, Strombergs, or early Holleys.
Larry Fulton of Automotion...
Larry Fulton of Automotion specializes in custom-built Rochester carburetion systems, including the Tri-power shown here.
Fulton builds these systems...
Fulton builds these systems one at a time using Rochester 2GC carburetors and offers a long list of options, including linkage, fuel lines, air cleaners, and types of finishes (chrome, paint, powdercoat, etc.)
To prevent leaks where the...
To prevent leaks where the pan gaskets and timing cover seal meet, a small dab of silicone is applied.
The stock pan was installed...
The stock pan was installed with hex head fasteners from ARP.
Aerohead supplied the reconditioned...
Aerohead supplied the reconditioned heads that look like new. The deck surfaces are milled, they received a three-angle valve job, stainless steel, high-flow valves, heat-treated and machined steel retainers and valve locks, bronze wall valve guides and valve seals have been installed along with heavy-duty valve springs. Head bolts are from ARP.
The portion of the timing...
The portion of the timing cover that holds the front seal on small-block Chevys interlocks with the pan-the cover can't be removed without dropping the pan. An old trick is to trim the seal retainer so the cover can come off with the pan in place.
A dab of sealer is also used...
A dab of sealer is also used at the rear main cap where the rubber seal and gaskets join.
Included in the Isky cam kit...
Included in the Isky cam kit were new hydraulic lifters and push rods. Again, plenty of pre-lube was applied.
To help the valve system break...
To help the valve system break in, the ends of the steps were coated with cam lube. Note the screw-in rocker studs.
Rocker arms are Isky long-slots....
Rocker arms are Isky long-slots. More lube was applied to the pivot balls as they were put in place.
Adjusting the valves is done...
Adjusting the valves is done by turning the engine over until the exhaust valve just starts to open; the intake valve is then adjusted. Loosen the nut, then while spinning the pushrod with two fingers, tighten the nut until the pushrod stops spinning easily then tighten the nut another three-quarter of a turn. Turn the engine until the intake valve opens then almost closes and adjust the exhaust. Repeat for the rest of the cylinders.
Along with the Felpro gaskets...
Along with the Felpro gaskets a bead of silicone is used to seal the ends of the intake manifold.
A Summit aluminum water pump...
A Summit aluminum water pump was installed-a coat of orange paint could be added to go with the vintage theme.
For the vintage look an Edelbrock...
For the vintage look an Edelbrock intake manifold (PN 2101) with an oil fill tube was installed.
The vibration damper is held...
The vibration damper is held in place by a crank pulley bolt and washer from Specialty Fasteners, the old-school timing tab is from Transdapt.
To help the engine get its...
To help the engine get its first, critical drink of lube the filter was topped off with AMSOIL synthetic before installation.
With the pan full, a drill...
With the pan full, a drill motor was used to spin the oil pump and pressurize the block.
For a hot, contemporary ignition...
For a hot, contemporary ignition system without a big, bulky GM HEI a PerTronix billet Flamethrower distributor got the nod. The small diameter cap looks makes it look like an early points distributor.
The perfect way to cover up...
The perfect way to cover up a small-block Chevy, vintage-style Corvette finned rocker covers.
The carburetor is the venerable...
The carburetor is the venerable Holley 1850, 600-cfm vacuum secondary carburetor with a manual choke. Topping it off is a slick looking OTB aluminum air cleaner.
Another old-school touch,...
Another old-school touch, a new OEM-style fuel pump from Danchuck.
A vintage engine calls for...
A vintage engine calls for old time pulleys, however, these are new and are available from Transdapt.
Transdapt has a variety of...
Transdapt has a variety of modernized vintage-looking components, like this orange Chevy thermostat housing with an O-ring seal.
This engine is destined for...
This engine is destined for a T-bucket, the Lime Fire headers from Sanderson add hot rod appeal.
Jim "Jake" Jacobs has introduced...
Jim "Jake" Jacobs has introduced a line of parts, Jitney: Hop-Up Parts by Jake, includes a variety of alternator (PowerGen) and generator brackets. The Chevy brackets shown here are designed for use with the "short" water pump and bolts on with intake manifold and water pump bolts. It does not require threaded holes in the heads; it works with all early style heads as well as the later threaded style heads.
Jim "Jake" Jacobs has introduced...
Jim "Jake" Jacobs has introduced a line of parts, Jitney: Hop-Up Parts by Jake, includes a variety of alternator (PowerGen) and generator brackets. The Chevy brackets shown here are designed for use with the "short" water pump and bolts on with intake manifold and water pump bolts. It does not require threaded holes in the heads; it works with all early style heads as well as the later threaded style heads.