[Greg Hogue]

Ever since I sold my 1971 Big Block roadster I have had an empty place in my heart and garage. Last week I was on Facebook and a picture of a corvette popped up on the marketplace. It was a nice red 1980 L48. The motor had stuck rings and smoked like a freight train. The interior needed workover, and the Red paint has a normal amount of clear coat peel.
I race on a fringe level and I'm around some killer engine combos. Everyone in the shop just assumed I would be putting an LS7 motor in it. I have access to some of the warrantee ones from years past. We get 900 hp from one of those on kill without any power adders. I just looked at the very wonderfully illustrated thread on here and an LS swap was just what everyone else's does, and I just couldn't bring myself to be normal.
Well in one corner of the shop a 454 HP block was setting very neglected just rusting up and a set of Dart oval port 310 cc iron heads were under the porting bench. I started out thinking a simple 454 builds until I started talking to my engine builder. He has provided me with 10,000 rpms small blocks other cool motors over the years and he is now in retirement mode. He does a lot of cool restoration engine builds as well as one-off Bonneville engines. He just finished a Big block build for an early Camaro. He then spent the next few hours planing out this build, informing me that by the time I bought pistons and worked a set of rods, plus turning the crank a 496 rotating assembly would be far more economical.

So here is the plan
A 496 big block, mild cam 10.2 to 1 compression, and a good set of Dart 310 cc oval port heads
I need a manifold that will fit under the hood. I think the 390 hp 454 aluminum anyone knows what will fit

I'm thinking a T56 not sure how long the rear will last with 550 hp and 650 lb-feet of torque

So here I go. Thoughts? The last pictures are what I would like it to appear under the hood

 

[Greg Hogue]

Need help on intake manifold , who has done this before , what fits

 

[grumpyvette]

what FITS depends on the hood used, if its the stock hood your choices are very limited
the torquer II is rather popular mostly because it fits under a stock hood

Edelbrock 5061: Torker II 2-0 Intake Manifold Big Block Chevy 396-502ci - Oval Port | JEGS

Buy Edelbrock 5061 at JEGS: Edelbrock Torker II 2-0 Intake Manifold Big Block Chevy 396-502ci - Oval Port. Guaranteed lowest price!

www.jegs.com

there are L88 style hoods that give you a couple more inches of clearance

C3 Corvette 1968-1982 ACI L88 Design Hood | Corvette Mods

the
1970 - 1971 Chevelle Intake Manifold, Big Block, Aluminum, GM 3963569
ORIGINAL1970 70 CHEVELLE LS-6 LS6 INTAKE MANIFOLD 3963569
clears

 

[Greg Hogue]

The L88 hood is just too tall and not keeping in stock appearing. Wished I could get a standard Big Block hood. I used the LS6 manifold on a 1963 BB car that was my first venture in to Corvettes. This was in the early 1980s a crate LS6 with a Doug Nash 5 speed in a 63 roadster, that years later we found the original Fuel Injection Motor.
The heads I have in hand now are cast iron Dart oval port with big valves. 2.250 1,88. I hate the weight of these heads, but there are just setting in the shop collecting dust or in this care rust. Thanks for the help, I see your contributions on so many threads
The Torker 2 is a great manifold and would literally give a 50 hp bump over the LS6 manifold. I am also looking at the WEIAND STREET WARRIOR INTAKE MANIFOLD P/N’s 8123,
I am considering going to a pair of Aluminum heads

I have a T56 transmission that just wants to go in, but This went from a mild cruiser to getting to be a seriously fast car, and not sure how long the aluminum rear will last,

 

[Greg Hogue]

well, the motor is about ready to go on the dyno, I'm considering a few transmissions not one is a 200 4r. I still want a manual, but reality is the Dana 44 will never survive with a clutch