I just wanted to get you guys' opinions on the engine parts I put together for a little '65 Chevy II I'm putting together. The parts are already bought but I'd appreciate any advice for what I can do better, specifically with cam selection.

355
Flat-top pistons (~9.5:1 w/ steel shim gasket)

Ported Sportsman II heads
@28" Intake Exhaust
.100 62.6 64.6
.200 134.1 118.1
.300 193.5 158.5
.400 239.2 198.6
.500 263.2 214.6
.600 268.2 223.7

Isky 274-Mega Cam Link (http://www.iskycams.com/timingchart.php?product_number=201274)
226@.050"
.523" lift w/ 1.6 rockers
108 lobe centerline

Performer RPM intake
750cfm Edelbrock carb
1 3/4" headers
Proform electric waterpump
Mallory HyFire 685, Mallory Promaster E coil, MSD 8.5mm wires, MSD distributor

I'm running the stock 8.2" rearend which probably has 3.08 or 3.36 gears. I'm running a TH350 with a 3200-3500rpm stall. The car will be used mostly for street with the occasional excursion to the track.

I'd trash the electric waterpump they Proform unit does not move anywhere near enough volume for street use. Milodon offers a cheap aluminum short waterpump (which someone else makes but I am spacing on who right now) that will work much better.

Other than that it looks like a pretty solid combo.
Make sure you run subframe connectors

An easy 13 sec. ride, and probably 12's with gears and traction. I managed high 13's with less cubes (327) and ported stock heads in my 65 II. Most of the Chevy II's seemed to come with 3.08 gears and no posi - Likely you'll want to change those out, but frankly the cars are light enough that they run decent without steep gears.

I'd trash the electric waterpump they Proform unit does not move anywhere near enough volume for street use. Milodon offers a cheap aluminum short waterpump (which someone else makes but I am spacing on who right now) that will work much better.

Other than that it looks like a pretty solid combo.
Make sure you run subframe connectors

I debated on the Proform pump for awhile and looking back (bought most of the parts ~1yr ago) I should have gone with something else. Oh well, live and learn. If it gives me any trouble I'll switch to an aluminum mechanical like you suggest.


An easy 13 sec. ride, and probably 12's with gears and traction. I managed high 13's with less cubes (327) and ported stock heads in my 65 II. Most of the Chevy II's seemed to come with 3.08 gears and no posi - Likely you'll want to change those out, but frankly the cars are light enough that they run decent without steep gears.

I was hoping for solid 12's with a posi swap, but maybe I should revise my expectations.

I was hoping for solid 12's with a posi swap, but maybe I should revise my expectations.

Well you should definitely be on your way there. I was running less cubes, less stall, less head, and no posi. I was still able to pull off a 13.85 @ 101 (2.25 short time) - certainly you should be faster than that - how much I wouldn't be able to guess.

should go 12.5 with tunning

Go find "Marv D" he hangs out in the Competition forum and has a 9 second smallblock 64 (?) Nova

should go 12.5 with tunning

That would be great. My aim is 14-16mpg and decent track times. I'd be really happy with mid 12's.

What do you guys think of the cam? It's a little short on the duration side but I'm only planning on hitting 6800-7000rpm max.


Go find "Marv D" he hangs out in the Competition forum and has a 9 second smallblock 64 (?) Nova

Ya, Marv's car is insane. He's the one that sold me my headers. Really nice guy.

That cam is going to be DONE at 6000RPM don't bother spinning it to 7K you'll go faster if you shift ~6200.
If you really want to spin it to 7K you want to have the duration @ 050 closer to 245@050, but than again you would need more like 3.73 or 4.11 gears to make that work.

Imho, you need right at 10.25 to 1 CR. for that cam to make it run like it was meant to.

I suggest no bigger than a 270 and then a 264 is probably better at 9.5 to 1...

Isky's 264/270 Mega will probably do you fine... Should be real powerful in the midrange........................... Especially w/ 3.08's or 3.36's!!!

Again, jmho..

pdq67

That would be great. My aim is 14-16mpg and decent track times. I'd be really happy with mid 12's.

What do you guys think of the cam? It's a little short on the duration side but I'm only planning on hitting 6800-7000rpm max.




Ya, Marv's car is insane. He's the one that sold me my headers. Really nice guy.


You mean you STILL don't have that thing together yet!!!!!! :o :o

The key here is the parts are already bought, you have everything, put it together and enjoy. If you don't go EASY 12's with traction I'll eat my hat (and it's a nasty sweaty old hat that ain't gonna taste good) If you have traction and a nice loose convertor (fuel milage be damn'd) I can see high 11's with a well tweeked carb and tune and some gears. Remember, were only talking a 3000 pound vehicle w/ driver and fuel

You mean you STILL don't have that thing together yet!!!!!! :o :o

I know, I know. I feel a little sheepish that she isn't together yet but I've been trying to get my graduate work finished up and haven't had much time to do anything.


The key here is the parts are already bought, you have everything, put it together and enjoy. If you don't go EASY 12's with traction I'll eat my hat (and it's a nasty sweaty old hat that ain't gonna taste good) If you have traction and a nice loose convertor (fuel milage be damn'd) I can see high 11's with a well tweeked carb and tune and some gears. Remember, were only talking a 3000 pound vehicle w/ driver and fuel

12's would be awesome. I've been driving a (gulp) 20-sec minivan around since I sold my '73 Camaro and I can hardly remember what something semi-fast feels like anymore. Hopefully this Nova project will remind me.:D

Congrats on the low 9's Marv. Seems like last time I was on the board you were running in the high 9's and you were just getting your 434 together.

Do the flow #'s for the heads look right to you guys? I have some guys on another board saying the exhaust #'s look way too good for Sportman heads with 1.6 exhaust valves. They think the flow bench was faulty or they didn't account for leakage.

I have the flow data from Morris Competition Engines. Link (http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/4961/sportsmanflownumbersqy5.jpg)

Marv I swear you SBC guys will eat anything, no wonder your cars are so slow LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOOOL

OK, SHeldon,, keep it up. You still have to get that pile hooking up and not shread the drive train to get some track numbers to impress us! :)

Yes, something is really screwed in the flow numbers you were given for those heads. I didn't really pay any attention to them, but now that you mention it.... The numbers I have for out of the box sportsman II's is 243/ 156,,, with a little cleanup and exhaust work the same head went 248/179. 200anything out of exhaust is a 'pipe dream' (pun intended).

OK, SHeldon,, keep it up. You still have to get that pile hooking up and not shread the drive train to get some track numbers to impress us! :)

Yes, something is really screwed in the flow numbers you were given for those heads. I didn't really pay any attention to them, but now that you mention it.... The numbers I have for out of the box sportsman II's is 243/ 156,,, with a little cleanup and exhaust work the same head went 248/179. 200anything out of exhaust is a 'pipe dream' (pun intended).


Hmm. The shop that flow tested my Sportsman heads also flowed some GM Fast Burn heads. Here (http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7459/fastburnheadsflownumberbn5.jpg) is the flow sheet for those. They seem to be in line with other data I've seen for FB heads at this (http://www.purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/techinfo/heads1.html#GM%20Fast%20Burn) site and this (http://herningg.com/projects/350heads.html) site.

The guy that sold me the heads said that he was running them on a 13:1 406 with a mild solid lifter cam, Vic. Jr., 850 Holley, Powerglide and 5500rpm converter in a 2900lb car and ran consistent 10.30's@128mph. Don't know if that helps but it seemed like he was eeking pretty good power out of the combo.

those wp heads have potential plus the deck is thick as a concrete slab so it's hard to damage them beyond repair. Do you have the stock shock towers in the nova? Get that thing together those little novas are cool rides.

those wp heads have potential plus the deck is thick as a concrete slab so it's hard to damage them beyond repair. Do you have the stock shock towers in the nova? Get that thing together those little novas are cool rides.

I'm using the stock shock towers and things are a little tight with the fenderwell headers but it should work out okay. I'll post some pics after the project is done if I wouldn't be stepping on any toes posting Nova shots on a Camaro forum :o

Let's see here again!!

68 to 7,000 rpm............................

I would use a solid lifter cam here and be done w/ it!! Say a 290/250 to 295/255 jobber here and right at .450 to .500" NET lift on say, 108 centers installed straight up for starters. Depending on which one you pick..

BUT you'd better have at least 11 to 1 and PREFERABLY 11.5 to 1 CR!!!!!

NOTE!! Nothing fancy at all, but make darn sure that you use good springs like from ISKY b/c the sucker will rpm up past 8,000 EASY!!

pdq67