Hi all,
this is my first post and would like to say what an informative site this is. well on with the questions. first off i am trying to make up my mind whether i am going to build a standard deck 540 or tall deck 572. i will be installing it in a
'70 rs/ss with air conditioning. i pulled the 402 and want to go big. any one with experience installing a 572 in a 2nd gen a/c car please advise of any fitment issues or tricks to installation. the two issues that i am wondering about currently are: a/c heater box clearence with a tall deck w/tall valve covers and header fitment as i have called several header manufacturers and none had tall deck specific headers for a 2nd gen.
p.s.
i really want to keep the a/c.

Look's like you want a bigger engine than a 540 so please consider the following engines and stay away from the tall deck fitment issues, imho.


Standard deck height blocks here.........
4.6" b x 4.25" s = 565";

4.56" b x 4.375" s = 571.6"; and the big standard deck height boy,

4.625" b x 4.375" s = 588"..........

And I would use 6.45" long custom rods with the 4.375 crank too..


Look in to what S-O-M has to offer b/c they can furnish about ANYTHING..

http://www.speedomotive.com/

Just make sure you detail EVERYTHING you want is all so it is JUST the way you want it..

pdq67

A tall deck and a raised runner head will cause header isssues with a a/c box.

A 540 and a a stock air box will be an issue. Why? Because the diameter of the header tube to maximize the power potential will be a loosing cause with the stock a/c box.

I eventually gave up and ditched the stock a/c box. I decided if I need the a/c I will go with a vintage air set up.

Build the 565, it's an excellent combo and when built out of a World or Dart block requires no block clearancing. Use the +250 rods and tailor the compression ratio for the intended use.

He, He!!

You mentioned a tall deck 572" so here you go, but in a standard 9.8" deck height block...

4.625" b x 4.25" s = 571.2".....

pdq67

That certainly would work, but it doesn't leave anything for a rebuild down the road, something to think about....

You can gain quite a a bit of room using the stock A/C box by modifying the half that is near the valve cover.
On a short deck BBC using tall valve covers, this part of the box has to be cut back and modified but I have been able to gain plenty of room. A tall deck isn't going to change the valve cover placement too much, about 1/4" out and 1/4" up, shouldn't be an issue.

I don't recall headers being an issue but when you add a tall deck and raised exh port heads it maybe.

I cut a section out of the box, used cardboard and waxpaper as a backing, and then laid fiberglass into the area I cut out. Let it dry, peal the backing off, and paint it. It looks near stock but you gain a bit of room.
You are basically making a "diagonal" portion of the box into a concave rounded area. Hard to describe but easy to figure out if you look at the box and where you will have clearance issues.

Here's a couple of pics of the one I did a couple of years ago.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/jakeshoe/ACbox.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/jakeshoe/DSCF0008b.jpg

Cool Jake!

Me and my Armstrong A/C, he, he!!

pdq67

great info like this is why i joined this board. i kinda figured that the air box would have to be modified. i am leaning towards the 572 because the 540 and 572 short blocks are the same money and more cubes per doller seems like a good thing. i am researching now to make sure that the tall deck doesnt mean alot more headaches and costs to install. i want to stay away from .100 over bores and custom components so it is either short 540 or tall 572. anyone who has shoehorned a 572 into a second gen with a/c please chime in and let me know if this project is going to be a dream come true or a nightmare waiting to happen.
thanks for all the replies.
70ssrat

Just my 2 cents. I have not ran a 572. I did run a tall deck 540. I also ran a short deck 540. I would first ask myself why a 572? To say I have one, to impress at the car show, or to run at full tilt?

To say I have one. By all means go for it. I would cream puff it. Ratty cam and low compression for 87 octane pleaseure.

Car show senario. Same as above.

To maixmize power potential. Big bore, short stroke. Unless you have done a lot to your chassis it wont matter what you build. The car will be on the ragged edge with anything over 500 hp and street tires.

Whats your plan?

well to be honest i think anyone who puts a 572 into a non competition car is going after the WOW! factor just a little bit. but as i said in my earlier post the 572 and the 540 are the same money for the short block and from what i have looked into so far the other engine components arent a great deal more to build a tall deck.to me its like if you are buying a forged crank for your 454 might as well buy a 4.25 stroker and bore it .060 and make it a 496 for the same money(which is what my original plan was). as far as chassis 17x9 rims a complete 2" drop kit with all new bushings and springs front and rear(hopefully moving to air ride in 2 or 3 years). i know it will be a challenge to hook the power to the pavement but working at set up is part of the fun. as far as gears i am going to pull the 3.73 and go higher but dont know how high yet, will need some advice on that.

Whats up? I have a 572 in my 80 z. Ask me any ?'s and i will try to help u.

Whats up? I have a 572 in my 80 z. Ask me any ?'s and i will try to help u.


still waiting on those pics of your headers? (joke)

i would still like to see them when you have time.

getting closer to dropping mine in. i am hoping in a couple of months it will be in.

what hood do you have on yours?
i have the steel cowl hood. i hope it fits under there.

thanks for your time
mike

Whats up? I have a 572 in my 80 z. Ask me any ?'s and i will try to help u.
Wow, I looked at your messages on the board and read that you used Lemons headers. Did those set you back 1,000.00?
I would like to get the same in the future, what oil pan are you running?

The lemons headers were 1500.00 well worth it. I am using the oil pan that came with the motor. we found a little secret for more power from the 572. If you crave more power i will let you know another time.

we found a little secret for more power from the 572. If you crave more power i will let you know another time.

Why not just post what you found right here?

We found more power on the Mustang dyno. But according to some other know it alls on this board we didnt know how to run a dyno. Not to stir things up i will send anyone with a 572 a private message on what was done.

thanks bad ss,
well what do you feel was the biggest challenge of the install? as far as the headers do you have to go with tall deck specific headers or will standard deck headers work. did you build it as a strong street strip or all out race mill. i would like to know your combo as a baseline since you have dynoed it and any secrets you have discovered to tune these engines. to anyone who has run both the 540 and 572 which motor did you prefer for overall power delivery and seat of the pants driving feel.
thanks all,
70ssrat