Chevy Big Blocks

The Chevy big-block has been installed in millions of cars and trucks over the past 50 years, including Camaros, Chevelles, Corvettes, Impalas, and a multitude of trucks. And extracting maximum performance has been the goal of many engine builders. In this follow-up to his previous Chevy performance book, master engine builder David Vizard takes big-block Chevy engine building to the next level. But he shows how to build these extreme high-performance engines without breaking the bank. The discussion goes well beyond the basic performance techniques and delves into exceptional detail on critical components of the engine. The Chevy big-block has been substantially undervalued, and the key to getting the best performance from this engine is to effectively deal with its design limitations. Vizard explains how to minimize intake valve shrouding on the block and unlock at least 20 hp. He also reveals how to arrive at the correct valve overlap for maximum volumetric efficiency. Heads must properly flow an enormous amount of air so selecting the best heads for a setup are detailed. Vizard covers the nuances of piston crown shapes, rings, and connecting rods to ensure that the rotating assembly is strong and working optimally. Chapters also include lubrication, fuel injection, single carb and tunnel ram intakes, ignition, and exhaust. A special section presents a number of max-performance big-block sample builds.