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Got a question about tall deck blocks. Do I need custom headers ? or can i reuse the stand height block headers ? Before you ask I've got a 1968 Camaro thats been converted to right hand drive ( I live in Australia) its mark IV 454 and has hooker 2 inch headers (that I modified for the steering) and a 2 inch cowl hood. i've been thinking about buying one of them 572 crate motors.
Manky, as I recall, the tall deck block is only about 1/2" taller than your Mark IV, so look at your headers now and see if there's room for them to move up that 1/2" and still clear the starter & steering without additional modifications. Just my $0.02 without too much thought.
Have you ever posted pictures of your Camaro? We'd really like to see pictures of the steering conversion, along with some of the whole car in scenic Australia, too!!
Thanks I have posted photo's. i'm not sure how to make a link. There's not much to see as far as the conversion goes. It's just a mirror image of factory with a steering box from an australian Ford that just happened to be the right shape.
That's a clean little Camaro! Gotta love the Ford box in a Camaro, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by manky
So I've decided that I'm going with the 572 from Blueprint seems the best deal to me. If it doesn't fit I'll just make it fit.
Sounding like it'll be a kick-ass ride.. of course without a picture (or two) ......
(hint, hint....) :LOL::LOL:
The pictures are above. Haven't got the motor yet. Should be here next week
The position of the exhaust ports on aftermarket heads is more of a problem than the block height. The block will move the exhaust up and out at a 45* angle .400 of an inch. Don't know what your standard of measurement is down there, but you can take a 3/8 allen wrench and use it to determine any place that it might be tight---------
See, there's the hot rodder's axiom. Nothing is sacred. With a welder, cutting torch, Sawzall, good hand grinder and a set of quality files, anything can be made to fit anything and look good doin' it. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by manky
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six or seven hammers---------- Back before I got my 40 ton hydraulic press I had 14 hammers--------
Currently, I count 11....Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry clayton
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Got an update for those of you playing along at home. The issues so far had to move the brake booster 3/4 of an inch to the right and remove the wiper motor so the valve covers would fit. The wiper motor fits back in place but may be a pain if I need to remove the valve cover. I'm looking into a similar year local wiper motor that I can adapt. Got the left side headers in had to heat and beat on one of the pipes,it was fouling on the upper control A arm bolt.
Can you reverse that bolt for clearance? And from the looks of it-with the steering box, master AND starter all on the right side---------??? Have you been running this car or is this still in the build stages-seems you posted only about 3 weeks ago and already you have purchased a high deck engine and installed it? or is this pic of the standard block?
Nice Camaro and sweet new power plant! I'm sure it'll move out pretty decent. But, I'm betting you may need some traction aiding devices soon. Then a stronger rear end or components. :LOL:
Jerry, aren't those bolts on the upper control arms similar to a carriage bolt and they have a square shoulder to retain them selves in the slot?
This is the new tall deck motor. I may have been able to turn the bolt around but the header already has been modified. The Camaro has been on the road for about 25 years as a right hand drive. Ive only had it about 5 of those. The previous owner got a custom 31 spline 9 inch rear end with disc brakes made. I've also fitted cal track split rear springs and traction rods. And when I go to the track I use Mickey Thompson et street Tyers
Got both sides of the header in now. It's a bit close to the steering box:eek:
Consulting history, we find that Henry Ford's bid for a win at Indianapolis was interrupted by an overheated steering box due to a close exhaust pipe.
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I hope that box will be easy to change .
That plastic ring is doomed.
I love the smell of fried steering box, and A-arm bushings in the morning. NOT!!!~
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I was thinking about converting it to rack and pinion. Or I might rework the pipe. I'll get it going and decide from there.
Manky, I ran across this video where the guys from Hot Rod did a controlled experiment to show the impacts of bashing in tubes on a set of headers for clearances. The result was surprising - BangShift.com Does Bashing In Your Headers Really Hurt Power? Engine Masters Tests Out The Theory! - BangShift.com
"Just do it, it doesn't matter"
Cool video
That's a cool video. I like how it made more power after the first beating. I'll only rework the pipes if I have trouble with the steering box.
Yeah, I wasn't suggesting anything by posting the video, but your shoehorning the 572 into the Camaro with the swapped side steering was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the bashed headers and they mentioned steering box clearances. And it was a hoot that their power went up initially, which I'd say is likely because the bashing broke the boundary layer and reduced fluid friction just a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by manky
This is what happens with the headers when you have a x pipe.
The other side is bolted up. Lucky I've got a welder and a grinder.
Yep----both sides need to be angled up/outward at 45 degree angle .4000 and the remainder rearward will line up and stay flat to ground(frame?)
I bet its tight around the steering gear and starter?????
It sure is I had to beat the pipes to fit the starter.
are you using a stock GM starter ? there is some verynice small starters from Powermaster that are gear/reduction and work on big engines better than stock plus give more exhaust room.
We used to (70s) adapt a chrysler gear reduction starter to the pro stock engines-worked better and lots lighter
now Tilton, etc and others sell them by the thosands, works so good GM even did it
I've got an MSD starter. I thought it would be ok but the way the pipes are modified for the right hand steering box it didn't quite work.
Ya gotta love it. Reminds me of the T-Shirt.......Quote:
Originally Posted by manky
https://www.spreadshirt.com/the-beat...0129001245%3As
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Well it's alive. I've had it running. I had to make a new alternator bracket, not to hard. Now there's this little problem with the air filter. 14 inch drop base won't fit dominator carb and 16 inch won't fit the cowl hood. So I'm back too making something fit.
So I've found the answer to my last worry. The air filter, the gap between the hood and the carb is about 2 inches from the top of the carb. This will have to do for now, once I've put some miles on the motor I'll be off to the track. And I'll just have to take the air filter off.
SHe looks right to home in there! WHOA... that hood hinge needs a spot of paint now!:eek::eek::eek::HMMM::D:):p
Looks good, Manky! It'll be interesting to see what she'll turn with the big boy BBC!
You and me bothQuote:
Originally Posted by rspears