johndezman

i'll be replacing the engine soon and have been lusting over some of the aftermarket blocks, especially those with the 9.3**" deck.

anyone with firsthand experience making this work? what problems?

thanks in advance

REDC4CORVETTE

I know with the tall deck motor, the hood clearence is a problem.
This company said the 434 low deck verson will fit under the corvette hood .
Check it out http://www.ultrastreet.net/ultrastreet.asp

kopbet89c4

Holy sh**! 472 SBC?? I'll take off the carb kit and rig in EFI.

CFI-EFI

ANY cubic inch LOW DECK VERSION of the SBC will fit under the hood. Even a 454. The stock engine is a LOW DECK VERSION of the SBC. Unlike the big block, Chevy never made high and low deck small blocks for production.

RACE ON!!!

GeosFun

The only reason I can think of for a tall deck is to install an ultra long rod or an ultra long stroke. I have never seen a "before and after" dyno test between long and short rod engines. But the conventional wisdom is a long rod motor is more detonation resistant and makes more power by virtue of staying at TDC longer. But I have never seen it proven in a dyno test. In a Reher Morrison editorial in Nat. Dragster (maybe a year ago) Buddy said there was no major advantage to the longer rod.

The down-side to a tall deck is a lot of new pricey parts are needed or might even have to be custom made: Timing chains, intake manifolds, exhaust header clearances. Some tall decks also have wider pan rails to accomodate longer strokes. This makes more custom parts like oil pans pretty pricey because the sales volume is low. Keep in mind, in Pro-stock and most big inch drag motors (up to about 555"), the standard deck is preferred by professional builders. Big bores, short strokes and standard decks are hot set up. Monster strokes where you just plain can't get the crank inside a standard deck block are the exception.

johndezman

i know its not a GM block,( i didn't ask if there was one).

hood clearance is a non issue as there are scoops & bubbles, etc to provide that clearance.

i'm familiar with the tech why's and why not's related to the engine itself.

my concerns are in the area of frame clearance for exhaust, rocker cover clearance at the wiper motor and a/c box.

i'll restate my original question....anyone done it? what needs to be done to make it work?

johndezman

ttt

REDC4CORVETTE

Mine hit the wiper motor.
I used a set of moroso alum valve covers with T&D shaft rockers.
I had to cut the back of the valve cover and notch it to clear.
I also had to use a spacer plate with the valve covers.
The A/C box made it harder to get to #8 plug only .
The 1 7/8 Stahl headers hit the floor board on the drivers side.
I a problem with clearencing the carb was ok but not the aircleaner.
Elkerts makes a 3 inch scoop.

johndezman

thanks for the info. that's what i waslooking for!!!