not really. Especially now since companies like speed-pro will make you a custom set of pistons for not much more than off the shelf ones. price wise, stock for stock, its a tad bit more than rebuilding any other engine, assuming you can re-use things like the cam shaft and valve train. That's where things get really expensive, really quick.
Gary Pravovich is now selling piston kits specifically for the poly. They will be slightly more expensive than a LA 318 or any big block. Probably figure on about 30-35% more in pistons.
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I think the set up to machine the domes is pretty easy now that things are computerised.
yep, the shape and size is actually fairly close to one of the old pontiac motors, so its not much of a step to modify the design a bit.
If one wanted a solid street pounder, I'd bore the thing over a full .090 over bore, which gets you to a 4.0 bore, stuff a 4 inch, 360 stroker crank with some light weight forged pistons, a custom cut cam shaft. Then max port the heads and find a way to free up the exhaust flow while making it fit in the engine bay. Stuff it with an aftermarket, runner-tuneable LS7 intake, keep the EFI and set the engine up with a standalone ECM. You're looking at 3500-4000 in parts and machining, but it'd push 500 HP easily. On low compression
Wow, is that normal to still get that hot this time of year? Highs in mid 60's here, low around 50 for next several days here.Here I thought today was supposed to be the beginning of a cooling trend, close to 100 again. Sunday, may not get out of the 60s
You could! They are cool engines.
the thing with this is though, by the time I'd spend that money on a 500 hp 318 poly, I could build a 650-700 hp 440... and be lighter.
Wow, is that normal to still get that hot this time of year? Highs in mid 60's here, low around 50 for next several days here.
Sunday is my only full day off and it's probably going to rain all day -again...
I used to pick up the walnuts and dump them further down out back. Seems the squirrels are doing a better job cleaning up lately. They got almost every one last year and I saw them working at it yesterday.
Wow, is that normal to still get that hot this time of year? Highs in mid 60's here, low around 50 for next several days here.
Sunday is my only full day off and it's probably going to rain all day -again...
possibly. depends on what she'd need. most anything i could spare is stock 2 barrel stuff.Put the poly in... I'm sure @dukeboy_318 will give you all the parts that you need - for free....
yep, that's what's keeping me from doing it. However, I'm fully set up to setup to a big block pushbutton set up in a matter of hours if I wanted. Personally, I kind of enjoy the WTF is that look I get when people see those scaolloped valve covers.Ya but everybody builds 440's
I don't know about that. It could be made to be efficient. If it is, not by much!
Exactly!
yes, much more. Its very close to an original hemi chamber design. just with canted valves and a single rocker shaft instead of two. In stock, 2 barrel trim, the 318 poly was rated at 230hp vs the lighter, but the same rating as the stock 2 barrel 318 at 230, in 1967 of course. By the early 70s, the LA power had fallen thanks to smog heads to about 150. the big difference is the 4 barrel poly at its peak, with 9:1 compression, made 295 hp and 375 ft lbs. all at mid to low ranges. The LA 318 wasn't near as efficient but it was lighter. The big thing that held the poly back was weight and cost to make. it was much more expensive for the factory to produce that type of head. plus it was so wide, that even in C body cars, they had to sacrifice manifiold flow to make them fit.
