Originally Posted by
pat mccarthy
you may see a gain in the bigger intake i built many bbc 396 both with bigger valve s as far as rust on seats you can cut the heads for bigger valves just to clean up the rust or like you said cut the head for a seat for the stock valve or but a bigger seat for the bigger EX this is your call as the builder. when i get this far in a bbc head most times i go to a 11/32 stem stain less steel valve helps abit on flow . there is many ways to go on the heads.pistons but i would look at the KB icons pistons. need to check the dome shape it can hit on some heads do you have the casting number of your heads ? i can under stand wanting to build something your self or having a machine shop that you trust start a build for you and watch grow to finsh. But i have a very nice 396 .030 =402 fully hyd roller engine that would save you $$. using a flat lifter cam is something i do not do much any more on the older bbc .i still do some solid flat lifter cams in bbc with hi lube lifters . i started using Roller cams in most all my BBC builds over 15 years ago just not worth the price of ripping it apart if break in fails to save a buck on a flat lifter cam some guys will say it,s not worth the added cost and some of them guys are happy building a engine as good to what Gm built it. they may not want to spend the time or money or do not have the tools and machines or knowledge to build them better then GM .. thats what i do every day . if needed i can help you build what ever you would need in a bbc have many as this is what i do every day at my machine shop been building bbc for over 25 years ,this is some of the BBC engines. there is many 454s in there and a 632 big chief . 568. 402. that just went out my shop doors all machine work done in my shop .