[Mark Yacavone]

Joe (NB) and his buddies take the engine and trans out of the 66 on the weekend.
He's got it in the back of his pickup truck. He brings it over to VR's place and asks him how he should proceed with the tear down and rebuilding.
VR> You've got to have a known Stocker builder do your engine and break it in on his dyno.
NB> But I want to build it myself. Ya, know, for the experience. I only want to run a couple tenths under the index , for now
VR> Look, kid . There are a couple of fast P/SA cars out here. You need to run 6-7 under anyway, if you want to survive a heads up run. If not you're gonna have a bad day.
NB> I want to do this on a budget...So much a week out of my paycheck..Like that.

So NB takes the heads and intake off... I can use these, right?
VR> No. 520 and 896 heads are okay, but you've got to find some 520 T heads. They're better
NB> It's the right intake anyway, right?
VR> Nope. You need the 459 300 horse intake.
NV> How come that's legal?
VR> I don't know.It just is...

NB begins taking the short block apart...
NB> I can use there rods, with some forged TRW approved pistons from Summit, right?
VR> Nope. Throw them away. You've got to find the lightest approved after-market rods so you can get your weights down to the minimum . Then you've got to order some CP or Venolia pistons. You can use any weight pin as long as the total is right, with the rings added in. BTW, you need to run over to Total Seal and order some thin millimeter rings with gas ported spacers, back cut seconds, and low tension oil rings.

NB> I can use this cast crank , can't I?
VR> Well, you can, but by the time we trim the counterweights down , index and offset ground the stroke, re-do the mains, you might as well get an aftermarket crank from somebody that know what he's doing.
VR> BTW, I wouldn't use that block either.You need a Dart approved block.
NB> But I don't see a small bore, small main Dart listed.
VR> That's okay .We'll just have all eight sleeved and use bearing spacers.
NB> Is that legal?
VR> KID, it says they're legal for small block applications. Who cares? There's no tech anyway ;-)
BTW, while you're throwing away the block, heads, intake, crank, might as well throw away the damper, oil pan, oil pump, timing cover , sprockets, chain , cam, lifters, push rod, rockers, springs, retainers, studs, head bolts. You won't be needing any of that junk either..You can keep the valve covers...

TBC