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All hail the BBC...

7705 Views 31 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  five7kid
Here's a forum where we can talk the good ol' Rat, the King of the Track.

While the SBC has the reputation of being the most hot rodded engine, at the 1/4 mile the Rat really shines. At Bandimere Raceway, they noted recently that around half of the cars that race there have a Chevy engine, and over half of those are BBC's. Since the vast majority of those racing there are amateurs who need to watch pennies, that's a significant statistic.

Personally, I've got the baby of the family - 1966 396 of 325 horse variety, minor mods such as .030" over rebuild, forged TRW pistons, stock closed chamber heads treated to home porting and polishing, 2.06/1.72" valves, around 10:1 CR, General Kenetics 270 hydraulic flat tappet cam, Comp Magnum roller tip rockers, Weiand Action+ dual plane intake, Holley double pumper with 750 CFM Proform mainbody, HEI large cap distributor with Accel box, Hedman hedders intended for the Impala chassis the engine/trans came out of. I've never had it dyno'd, but gross crank HP estimate is in the 400 sea level range. I'd like to get a Comp solid cam and RPM Air Gap type intake sometime in the near future to up the grunt a little. Grunt is the word since it's pushing around 3850 pounds down the track. But, it doesn't complain.

Looking forward to sharing info about our fav rodent!
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What do you mean when you say temperamental?

I'm still somewhere between amateur and knowing something as far as real hands on experience is concerned motor building.

I've thrown together a couple mild small block Chevies from short block on up.

But I still see myself as needing some help when I build the 454 I've got laying in the garage.

Hail to the Rat! Have yet to see a big block car that didnt impress...wait a sec..

I once ran into a Pinto in a small town near where I live in FL. This was when my Elky wasnt a basket case and featured a very mild 350. The Pinto had a 429 in it out of a pickup, and featured headers cobbled into 2in cast iron pipe that they used plumbing old houses. A tired looking Holley double pumper sat on top of the stock cast intake.

I ran him from maybe 20 mph, and he had nothing, and I do mean nothing. My Elky ran a lo 15 at the time (one wheel peel) and I pulled busses on him.

Later in the week he ran at the Gainesville Raceway. I can't believe he got past tech. Maybe they just wanted to laugh at him. The car posted 16s.
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The 454/TH400/Ford 9inch is a proven combo. I still need the rear end.
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