E128 SBC Chevy Refresh - Head Porting, Modern Gaskets! 1956 Chevy Bel Air Restoration

In Episode 128, after disassembling our small block Chevy and discovering that it was a 307, we contemplate whether to refresh it, build a new 350, switch to a Vortec, swap out heads, and a number of other possibilities to power our 56 Bel Air.
How about a new set of Chevy 416 HO 305 heads for our project from J&C Enterprises? A little bit of inlet runner porting and pocket blending will help air and fuel flow and hopefully make a little bit more power!
Bill Thomassie
"Christine" 1956 Chevy Bel Air
2-door Sedan Restoration
Music Credits:
All KZbin Standard License
"Greaser" by TrackTribe
• TrackTribe - "Greaser"...
"Double Agent" by Everet Almond
• Double Agent - Everet ...

[@johncox9876]

Bill it's your car and your money. You put what ever engine you want in you car. I just sit here and enjoy the videos. Thank you.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

YES!

[@dylanheyl]

Great video, Bill! That orange is going to look great when it's all together.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Orange and black without much chrome and no billet!

[@dylanheyl]

@@RestoringChristine1956 that’s going to look awesome. With how long my painter is taking, Christine might be finished before the lightning.

[@rustyrodgarage2686]

Nice job Bill.that little engine will be just fine for this car

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Exactly! I'm not taking it to the track! It's just as fast as any other in the cruise-night parking lot!

[@DavidMueller-kp7sy]

Beautiful job. I have built multiple small block chevys and you just took me through a journey of my past. Thank you sir.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It's just like riding a bike!

[@johnwerner7194]

Me too

[@route66restoration]

Kudos Bill Old oval track racers think alike. Had them on my 377 with 202s they rocked!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Since I searched for 305 heads online, my KZbin feed has had a LOT of videos with other guys putting those same heads on a 307. Seems like a good logical choice.

[@johnwerner7194]

You have put together a great engine. Great on pump gas too. Awesome job

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It's still too big on the cam, but in addition to upgrading the heads, I've also invested in a much smaller Holley. It was a 750 and choking! Can't wait to see how it behaves with the new set up!

[@MagaRickn]

That was fun! Happy for you! Can't wait until I can put my engine back in my car! :)

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Can't wait!

[@dave3156]

Well I beat on you about a big block--agree with the direction you went 100%. Nice job looking forward to the next installment!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I'll say this... It's going to be just as fast as any other car in the parking lot at cruise night! LOL!

[@waygonner]

I like that you stuck with the 307. It’ll run great with those 416 heads. I’m still a fan of the less popular small blocks like the Chevy 283 and the ford 289. Cool stuff!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Between the heads and a MUCH smaller carburetor (stand by for THAT nonsense!) it should be a LOT better!

[@greggonzalez7396]

Great video on the assembly and build of a motor.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks! I didn't have to get into the rotating assembly, but "rebuilds" were often not much more than what I did here!

[@jamesglass367]

Loved the show keep this going

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@W4UWC]

Excellent video!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@lzipmann]

Way to go. You accomplished in two days what I've only been able to accomplish in two weeks. And, your only extra trip to the parts store was for a thermostat. I always need three or four trips! I also learned that you've got to find "that guy" at the parts store who listens to you, has "been there", and doesn't immediately go to the computer to look up make, model, year, color, serial number, etc. before trying to find the part. "That guy" will even let you walk back into the parts racks with him to help research and then keep you back there for a half hour talking 265 vs 283 vs 301 vs 307 vs 327 vs 350 and even vs 400!! 18436572 forever.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Everyone at the parts stores around here are nothing more than cashiers that understand how to interface with a computer. I used to have a young guy at the local AutoZone that had a 68 Cougar as his daily driver - totally old school. But, no more.

[@MagaRickn]

@@RestoringChristine1956 Amen! I spent 15 years behind the parts counter! Happy Days! :) We got computers at the end, but I still had a catalog rack that was 30' long!! ;)

[@oacumulador]

Great episode 😊

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks, as always!

[@markfurry2807]

Great video! 100% on board with the 307. It’s already proven. PLUS someone already has punched it out and put flat tops it! So I stand corrected on my suggestion of the Trick Flows on the vortec. I forgot about the cruise the coast deadline and the fact that this engine already has been gone through. I can’t wait for the manual trans video you mentioned! That’s one thing I’ve never had to do. I’m hoping you do one on the carb rebuild too? Till next time “Same Christine time same Christine channel” (sorry little Batman humor from my childhood 😄)

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Wait until I go over the carburetor... My double pumper was a 750 CFM air hog! No wonder the tops of the pistons were loaded with carbon! I've since bought a 600 CFM to replace it and will be doing an unboxing soon!

[@joewolf4483]

Well to start with ... you now have a 311cubic inch ... the bad part about the old 307 was the cams they had in them ... when I port match my heads and intake I use the intake gasket to size them up ... match it to the intake and then to the head for no interferance ... theres no reason that is not going to be a great little engine for street use ... just don't flood gas into it and it should work fine ... give er' hell ...

[@RestoringChristine1956]

"...just don't flood gas into it..." Well, guess what? Did you see how polluted with carbon the tops of those pistons were? And, way back when, the exhaust was so eaten up with fumes that I put an MSD box to clean it up, which helped. But the culprit was lying on top of that manifold. I went to buy a rebuild kit and discovered that that Holley was a 750! WAAAAYYY too much carburetor for this little motor. I've since bought a 600 cfm that I'm going to do an unboxing on sometime soon.

[@johncornell3665]

Cant wait to hear it run. Great episode. Thanks Bill!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks! I'm already catching flack on the decision, but it's what makes the most sense given time, money and reason.

[@johncornell3665]

@@RestoringChristine1956 its your car. I dont understand why people need to be negative. Just watch and enjoy. Its not like you have to put content on here, right? I think it will run strong. Doesnt need to smoke the tires for a block!

[@richardsmith-qy6vl]

It looks like a nice clean 56 you said you have never had a big block well im a big block guy i have a 0.60 over 427 big block in my 88 monte carlo ss they are nice engines and it dont take alot to get them to make alot of power they just cost more for parts if you ever build one yall fall in love with it mine is 10.7 to 1 compression afr heads howards hydraulic roller cam and a victor jr. Intake with a atm 950 carb and it made 661 hp and 605 torque. If i build another big block it will be a 496 or a 505 something with more cubic inches. A lil 307 is a good engine i had one in the 70s in a 72 nova it had lee shapard angel plug 202 heads a solid lift flat tappet cam with a 750 holly on a scarpion intake with a vaga torque converter that would stall to about 2800 rpm and that car ran 11.30s every trip it went down the track the most consistent car i ever had. Great video

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Wow! That's a lot of fun! Big block in a G-body and the 307 sounds like it was a screamer!

[@johnwerner7194]

307 was a GREAT ENGINE

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I ran this motor for 10 years without knowing that it wasn't a 350, so I agree!

[@DougScriver]

I like it

[@RestoringChristine1956]

👍

[@flyer615]

Another great episode, Bill. I'm totally with you on keeping the 307. If it's working, don't mess with it. Did you know that 1956 was the only year that Chevrolet painted their engine blocks red? I'm going to go with the red on my '56, even though my current plan is for a 327 (the original 265 is still in my car, currently). I think it will break up the black and white (original colors) like I want. Keeping my fingers crossed that you are able to get ready for Cruisin' the Coast. Endeavor to persevere, buddy. Ken

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks! Everyone is going to have an opinion, but I'm the one in the garage in front of this dilemma. The wallet and calendar do have a say in some things.

[@flyer615]

@@RestoringChristine1956 I'm so sorry, buddy. I didn't mean to sound critical, at all. You are doing an amazing job on Christine. The comment about the '56 engine color was strictly meant as a "fun fact." My decision to talk about my car on your channel was my mistake. I do sincerely apologize for coming across as suggesting how you should build your car. I continue to enjoy your channel and hope to apply the knowledge that I am gaining to my own build. Thanks again for sharing with us.

[@jeffrey4547]

when i was a kid i like sbc's then i grew up and got a bbc just kidding but i do love the 4 inch stroke 454 bbc with either a t-10 or the 02xx 400r turbo . i get the 454 with a 02xx for free i have 3 so far all are the 450 hp 454 from 6,000 to 58,000 miles on them all run perfect. the engine comes with a steel crank heavy rods high flow heads 10.5 to 1 compression so all it needs is to breath. i put one in my 68 pu and put a aftermarket intake and a 850 carb and it came alive. i have a few 350 4 bolt engines but i only run bbc. i have a 427,396 and the 454 for ford i have a 390,428 and a 460 mopars i only have a 440 then a 340 sb all in cars and trucks but i do have few other rigs with sbc and Pontiac but i love the 454 the best way better then a sbc plus they don't leak like a sbc does. if u like the sbc u would fall in love with a bbc

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I'm sure the mechanical side of that motor is virtually the same as the small block, just different sizes. Maybe one day!

[@jonathanharrison1009]

The difference concerning the 307, was it had less nickel in the block than the other engines. The large journal crank shares the same as in the 327 with the large journal crank. In effect, take a 350 block and use the 307 crank, 327 rods and piston....home built 327.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks for the confidence. I've read up on various boards and one thing that they claim is that the 307 had weaker metal in the cams, causing premature lobe wear. Other than that, the common thread was that it was never offered in a performance application.

[@DougScriver]

Good stuff

[@jonathanharrison1009]

@@RestoringChristine1956 I remember this as it was my first engine build. I have preferred function over a a super hot motor. Small cam and 4bbl was all I needed. 307's were pretty decent engines.

[@JP-zc9kw]

They committed blasphemy when they put an electric motor in Project X. Sorry Sir, please continue with another awesome video!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

That car has a really sad story. I don't know what they were thinking when they erased everything that it was.

[@oacumulador]

🎉

[@RestoringChristine1956]

✌

[@reijerlincoln]

Good call! Why get a high powered Fender Twin Deluxe when you can get the sound you want with a Fender Princeton.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

That's a good analogy!

[@rmacriebe]

I love that you didn’t torque the head bolts in the correct sequence. That should ruffle some feathers. Lol

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I did, but what I left in the video was where I was doubling back over them to make sure that I didn't miss any.

[@rmacriebe]

Love everything you’ve done on Christine. She’s going to be awesome. Glad you stayed with the 307

[@richrdwilliams4741]

All the head bolts go into coolant passages, so they need sealant on them, and should have torqued using torque sequence

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I did torque everything in sequence, but I cut to the end when I was just double and triple checking each one from front to back. As for the sealant, I've never had any problems relying on only the bolts without any added sealant.

[@richrdwilliams4741]

@@RestoringChristine1956 good on the torque sequence. I've always added sealant, because i have had to redo some that previous mechanic did not seal. But if you have never had any problems then you are good to go. I hopefully will get to working on my 56 210 soon, after i get further along on the 46 chevy truck I am building. Thanks for the channel.