Weak Big Block Chev • Wrong Parts + Poor Assembly = No Power!

[@poptartmcjelly7054]

I love seeing badly built engines tested, taken apart and the mistakes explained. There's always that factor of surprise.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Feel badly for the customer though...

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

I call that educational process when they don’t pay attention to the how to build engines in the manual

me to

[@lskiller1903]

When I purchase engines from anyone in the private sector, I use a cheap bore scope that hooks to my phone. It will tell you if a engine has flat tops, you can easily look at the valve train, you can check to see the bottom end, or see if a engine has four bolt mains (if that's the claim). It's quick and easy, and if the seller doesn't want to let you investigate well that tells the whole story anyway. Another great video Nick thanks.

[@michaelwilkening8542]

You can get one for under $20 and I agree with you 100%.

[@lskiller1903]

@@michaelwilkening8542 👍

[@erickroberts5172]

What motor are you using?',; calling yoself the LS killer???????

[@erickroberts5172]

What motor is you using calling yoself a LS killer',?; lol another GM Hater man smh The kings of HP still running things lol

[@javonsumpter9678]

From the moment nick said flat tapped cam, that's a big problem out the gate, plus rust that's literally blocking air too go into the rectangular ports, another problem,then them pistons 😳,if you planning on drag racing with that current set up your losing every last race ,period‼ even against some one on a skateboard

[@whitelightining7125]

Whoever built that motor just threw it together for a quick flip.Knowing they would have no trouble selling a BBC if it looked the part.They never expected anyone to put it on a dyno before they installed it.

[@modelnutty6503]

yup.

[@terryschnereger8531]

We need to call these guys out!!

[@whitelightining7125]

@@terryschnereger8531 I would be going back to who I got that motor from and giving them two options either 1) giving me all my money back and they keep the motor . Or 2) give me back at least half if not more of the money I paid and I keep the motor. Then you tell everyone you know not to do business with them. I'm a Mopar guy but this is the kind of stuff we all need to watch each others back and expose the scumbags who try to screw us over. No matter what you drive.

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

@@whitelightining7125 agreed. Nick should tear it down and do a full race rebuild if the owner expects to get 600 HP out of the big block. Those heads are excellent,but who installed the pistons 180• wrong ? Needs a better cam,too.

[@andrewh9613]

You’d be crazy not to, paying big block dollars for an engine that’s claimed to be 600 hp,forget it.too many shysters out there

[@chubbychicken5585]

It is a 600hp* BBC. The seller just forgot to tell the buyer that it requires a 300 shot of NOS ( not included )

[@DOWNEY770]

😂😂😂😂

[@nitroustommy]

"600 hp capable..."

[@HammerHeadGarage]

There is always a reason an engine is sitting. If it was healthy and made big power it would be in a car. People don't let too many high-performance engines sit around guys. Great video Nick!

[@SophiaAphrodite]

I disagree. Most budget builders will do their builds in stages. They either build the engine first or build the car. Life happens, things change, health fails. This is even more so for people on a strict budget. That window gets bigger because vudgets are smaller and is more prone to life disruptions. Mistakes are made from ignorance and not doing homework and desperation to complete the job. A flipper sellsa fresh engine with cheap parts. Not an engine just sitting for awhile.

[@caclark7600]

That's not always the case I have a new Ls 7 454 still in crate that I bought in the 70s to install in my Ls 5 corvette still have both 55k on vette

[@kramnull8962]

@@caclark7600 Damn you don't go to the garage and just day dream about what that thing sounds like?

[@lucascb750]

ahh I love "those engine builders", the ones that calculate hp based on adding up the box tops...

[@7REDDRACO7]

iguess they figured it was half way there, lol. well some smaller chambers or reverse dome pistons would do the trick along with a bigger cam and 175 to 190 ish psi. oh and port matching and head work. etc. etc. the list goes on and on don't it.

[@iambrandon7280]

That's why I put stickers on my cars ... +5 hp per sticker.

[@7REDDRACO7]

@Jason Davis why?

[@kittty2005]

@Jason Davis As a young man I had a friend who was a retired Air Force engineer who was in on the testing of F-4 phantom engines for the Black bird project,he said the standard phantom engine produced 30,000 horse power with different fuel they could achieve 175,000 hp. Now the fuel he told me was good for extremely high altitude flight,the three key components: first was a thing I think he was mumbling to protect secrecy it sounded stupid furfall alcohol,second hydrazine, third aniline oil to control burn-rate,he was retired and had 2 hobbies fishing and flying his P-51 Mustang,he was a great man loved to listen to his stories.

[@kittty2005]

One thing I left out the whatever alcohol and hydrazine would detonate when in contact with each other so the need for the aniline oil.

[@John900C]

These insights into your shop are a valuable source of knowledge as well as great entertainment for us Tubers. Thank you for being so free with your experience and showing how working life can be a gas with the right attitude. Like others say, take care of yourselves and work safely. You would be missed by many if you were injured. Good to see Vacily wearing gloves when handing oily parts.

[@jimmyraythomason1]

It's like my electronics instructor told us at the beginning. "You will spend more time fixing what others have messed up than fixing the original problem". After 40 years in automotive maintenance he was proven right over and over. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Can't stand when someone monkeyed with float level because it's not running right , and you end up finding the real problem , and then have to fix the float level. Keep the paws off the float level!

[@killsalltires156]

Right. He come fix this job some fawked. Up. Ok. That gonna cost you double. I have to undo someone else fawk up and do over again.

[@vhp454]

Gear drives on a bbc is a no no. There only good to 6000rpm, a double roller chain or belt drive is much better ! Check the cam also , some people have no clue about engines or BBC. A 427 L-88 revved easily to 7200 and had 7/16 pushrods not 3/8. And GM bbc square port heads can build 600 hp very easy. A Edelbrock dual plane rpm intake works well. 850 cfm holley is also a good choice. Try using a first design L-88 solid lifter cam. Get compression up to atleast 11.0 valve springs need updated also.most of this and good machine work should wake the dead out of it, but you are the man Nick. Love your channel Nick

[@RunesHytte]

obviously he had the engine laying next to the car for so long, all the horses ran away

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Runes. LOL.

[@johnsheetz6639]

Con job,the car community is ate up with it . Do your own work If you can

[@trentdawg2832]

Good one!!!!

[@NoName-tz5ji]

Lol

[@jakefromstatefarm13]

That happened to me once

[@C.S.Sensei]

"Headers, High rise intake, 4 barrel Carb, a new mild cam, one see through distributor cap and new plugs.."" "6 new parts × 100hp = 600hp"" 👏😕😂

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Anyone who knows anything knows the clear caps are junk....thats the sign of a noob

[@andrewjenkins879]

8.0:1 CR lol

[@ToxicMisfitsYt]

Notime ForFakeNews don’t forget 4 bolts main you have to add it by that

[@C.S.Sensei]

@@ToxicMisfitsYt + 400 = 1000hp 😮 😄😂

[@mikewillett5076]

@@andrewjenkins879. Probably not even 8:1. I was guessing low 7s compression.

[@knunyabeasewhacks8744]

I became a mechanic in 1998. This man is living my dream.

[@stlchucko]

I guess this shows that it’s really hard to not make some power with a BBC. Low compression, tiny cam, big rectangle port open chamber heads, and a single plane and it still made 366hp. It literally had everything working against it. A set of closed chamber oval ports and dual plane and it’d be a nice torquey motor. Dome pistons and a bigger cam and it’d be a fire breather. Either way and perform way better than when it arrived.

[@im1sinfulman]

THANK YOU NICK, I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW, I WAS TAUGHT BY MY FATHER, KNOW I KNOW HE DID A MICKEY MOUSE REPAIR, BUT WATCHING YOU, HAS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AGAIN, "THANK YOU".

[@lindasmith614]

Reminiscent of the 1980s.Every 350 chevy made 400 horse even when it was a 305 from a 1978 Caprice.

[@grabasandwich]

And they were all "Corvette LT1's" with a rock-crusher M22 🙄 glad the LS has taken over. It's crazy what power guys are making on junkyard 4.8s with a turbo lol

[@troydietrich5233]

The typical backyard Chevy boy from the 90s.

[@kingsamson9146]

This is how it is in Germany. Dude drives a pos 1980 Parisienne Wagon with high jackers and a 350HP 350 - I mean, it has a Holley carb and cherry bombs! smh

[@kanethompson708]

Lmao

[@jasonconklin8172]

Was not 1 400 factory hp 350. in early 80s not 1

[@mikeakerman768]

I did a 454 for a farmer's truck one time, it came in with a very slight rod ticking. So o tore it down resized the rods at machine shop. When installing them one piston was on rod backwards. Had to take it back to be pressed off and turned around. If I wouldn't have caught it . It probably wouldn't make 100 miles without ruining crank and who knows what else. You have to stay focused. Not everyone can throw it together. Good job Nick.

[@CheezyDee]

At least it was actually rebuilt... could have been an old motorhome engine with 100K on it and the only thing keeping the rods from knocking is the 10 pounds of sludge in the crankcase.

[@TheMEXICANBEEF]

That was my thought too. A set of dome pistons should bring that engine to life. Annoying to have to tear down the engine again but not a huge deal with it being out of the car when bought.

[@kittty2005]

@TheMEXICANBEEF Avoid the hassle set the timing 42 btdc buy some MOROSO octane booster if you can still find it if not go to your chemical supply house and get some aniline oil just don't get it on you,you'll get dizzy fall down and die of respiratory arrest,mix that one quart to 10 gallons of 93 octane,hell throw a gallon of toluene with that too,you may even want to try different mixes with e-85 get that virtual compression ratio up and then you'll have a rompin stompin wamma jamma untill it goes bye bye,poof!

[@michaelstrafello8025]

At least it wasn't a krylon rebuild with it paint it ship it lol

[@OldGriz708]

I prefer the 454's out of motorhomes. I build them for demolition derbies. Even the hated peanut port heads work great for a torque build.

[@1967lathrop]

Nick is a great example of a guy who loves what he does so work is enjoyable. Thank you sir for the great content.

[@bigmikeh]

Glad to hear you didn't get hurt too bad Nick - everyone would really miss your videos. Good thing us old time hot rod guys are tough! Keep the faith and keep building good lumps!!!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks Nick and of course George the Super Camera Guy...WOW how good is he..... For the...update video...!

[@davidingling9791]

That guy got ripped off! Man I like that roadrunner

[@cactuscanuck6802]

105 psi compression? I've had farts with more pressure than that

[@spankthemonkey3437]

badcactus72 taco Bell helps get you to 120psi

[@cactuscanuck6802]

@@spankthemonkey3437 lmao! I'll take that under advisement, but I'm scared to blow out an o-ring!

[@spankthemonkey3437]

badcactus72 yea that rear main seal is important you don't want to slip and fall

[@Backyardmech1]

I’ve had coffee give me a higher compression than that.

[@williamescolantejr5871]

use a jalepeno spray injector to get to 170psi with them tacos

[@murrayandru7527]

V is for valiant, the way you approach life! A is for accountable, someone to be counted on S is for serene, your calm time. I is for inventor, how many things will you create? L is for little, the little things you do. L is for laughter, you spread wherever you go. E is for enthusiasm, in even the most dire circumstances

[@djmech3871]

What I like about Nick is that he works on everything. Ford, Chevy or Chrysler all cool muscle Cars.

[@NicksGarage]

Right on!

[@coreyslusher740]

They got my sub!! Definitely seem like awesome people.

[@tres2112]

I love watching videos like these. They're mesmerizing because I don't understand one thing Nick is trying to explain but just the same, "oddly satisfying".

[@herman452]

Couple decades ago, I bought a Mopar 383 engine that had been bored .040 and stroked with a 440 crank that had its mains turned down to 383 size. Made it 434 cubic inches. Complete engine, supposedly ready to go. I put it in my car and fired it up. Ran OK at first. Added coolant to the radiator, then had to again, and had to again, then the engine seized. Suspicious of having to add so much coolant, I pulled the oil pan drain plug. Bunch of coolant ran out. OK, pulled the motor, took it completely apart. Found out that the 440 crank's counterweights (bigger than 383 counterweights) had hit the block and the builder (who shall remain nameless) had ground the block for clearance and gone into the water jacket, then tried to plug the leak. Obviously he didn't pressure check the attempted repair. Fortunately the seller (he wasn't the engine builder) agreed to pay for the machine work on an extra 383 block and 440 crank I had in my parts stash (the proper way to make it fit was to cut the 440 counterweights to 383 size). Then I assembled the motor myself. Still running today after almost 20 years.

[@nickpanaritis4122]

herman. That is the way to do it.

[@Kraals]

That 70 Road Runner brings back a lot of memories. I bought one when I returned from Southeast Asia in 1970.

[@williamnewman962]

Love it..You are a model for all shops...No B.S. Down to earth facts....No large Ego that I can see! just know your business! Wish you were closer!

[@nunyabizznizz7326]

love watching people who know what they are doing....

[@mpccenturion]

A 427 chev. My dad had a 65 Strata Chief. That was the name I recall. 4 sp. Some fella bought it new and drag-raced at a local track in New Brunswick. Dad redid the engine and a decal remove. When done, it never looked like the tiger it was. The 3 pedals and the Hurst button for the brakes was the only give-away. Cheers! and Thank You.

[@mikepotter5071]

We used to have a standard rotating engine and a counter rotating engine in boats. The screws have to turn outboard of each other or the boat will run terrible. Chrysler got out of Marine. GM and Ford stopped building counter turning engines. Marine gear builders picked up the counter turning screw in the gear. Chris Craft used gear to gear with their counter turning chevys. The lobes on the cam were ground to provide 12756348 firing order. The pistons in small blocks were put on the rods backwards to compensate for the outboard piston skirt beating on the walls. Big blocks could not do that because the valves hit the pistons. Closed chamber heads were used. Breathing is not the thing in Marine. Long stroke low rpm is. Other differences included reverse ribbing on front and rear main seals. Standard ribbing on a reverse engine will suck the oil right out. Chrysler used slashes on the rear seal surface for the cranks. That had to be machines backwards too. Starter drives engaged backwards. Their drive teeth were machined backwards. Fields wound to spin backwards. I was there, that’s how it was, that’s what I got to say about that.

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Mike. So one of two marine engines is all backwards. Interesting. Thanks for the info Mike.

[@MrAntoniocain]

You guys are a joy to watch. To the point and simple language. A lot of these videos are more talk than do. Glad I found you guys. Keep up the great show.....

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Mr. Thank you.

[@twinturbocoyoteftw]

Back in the day I've turned some 4 valve relief 302 pistons backwards. Since most don't know if it has an offset wristpin instead of centered it will pull the piston further and hang at tdc longer. Worked flawlessly for years! This was not the case for this 454!!!! The 302 had 200lbs compression and made around 400hp with junky iron heads lol!!!!

[@Shamilt3]

Dodge engines like the piston flip too

[@brunotulliani]

Used engines are like a box of chocolates, you just don't know what your're going to get. Great episode and take care. Didn't forget the cannoli and espresso.

[@dino.jay2007]

And remember ... I don't want to see Pauley anymore either! 😉😀

[@wallacegrommet9343]

One espresso and cannoli for me, please

[@brunotulliani]

@@wallacegrommet9343 No problem Sir! I will even throw in a Toscano cigar with a single malt. If you are ever in the Great White North!

[@datasailor8132]

A friend of mine had a BB Chevy custom built for his street racer '70 Camaro. Took the engine straight to a dyno man like Nick's customer did and it too didn't make horsepower. Turns out the engine builder was doing two BBs at the same time. The other one was for a truck to haul the customer's boat requiring a completely different engine. In the build process some parts got mixed and neither guy got what he wanted. The builder made things right on his dime so everything turned out OK in the end. As President Reagan used to say, "Trust but verify."

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

didnt happen...

[@ernestdougherty3162]

If you want to know the truth bring it to Nick's garage. If you want it to run right and make the right horsepower bring it to Nick He's the man. when it comes old school Great job, Nick, and that's a beautiful Road Runner. I can't. Going down the road. Be safe.

[@iamnoone.]

Nick shall bring the power forth. Nick bumped his head and made the flux capacitor.

[@michaelstansfield319]

But not with those pistons, maybe not the cam either. I dunno, this engine build looks more like lipstick on a pig rather than a serious build.

[@OldManRoo]

So good to see that you're training the next generation of classic muscle car mechanics like Vassily. I'd also love an update on Vassily's girlfriend's race car performances.

[@ajw6715]

Back when I was in the Air force I ran into a similar deal. A man had a 396 SS chevelle. He rebuild it and it would not turn completely over. He thought about towing it and decided to ask my opinion. Well I went to his home and we removed the heads. The pistons were 12.5 to 1 and were installed wrong and we also found a rag left in under the intake. He reinstalled the pistons correctly and removed the rag put it all back together and it run fine. No one is perfect and hast makes waste. When the work is hard and the wages are low take you time and go quite slow. Lol.

[@johnnyzonta5173]

Nick's garage.........episode uploaded Monday has 109,880 views, great job to Nick and George. .....CONGRATS

[@paintnamer6403]

Take the little stainless rectangular cap off the door and or trunk lock and you will see the spring loaded brass pins that are different lengths. These are what the key pushes up to make the lock able to turn. I had extra Mopar locks from junkers and swapped around the pins so I had a one key Fury.

[@darylnicklen3685]

Being such a perfectionist Nick is why your cars come out so Brilliantly. You and your team turn out perfect product. Little Aussie Follower ....

[@graymodeler]

If I remember correctly the base 427 in 1967 was 390 hp. This was a mild street able engine used in Impalas, Corvettes etc. it used hi test leaded gas. Using the flat top Pistons would allow today's regular pump gas. I think the geared cam may also be ground to turn the other way unless it has idlers like the old Jackson setup. This engine is a mess of incompatible parts.

[@dondagy9109]

Its details like the same coded cylinders that people either overlook, or dont care. On some cars ive had, or other people, they got a wad of keys because the ign., trunk, and doors all have seperate keys.

[@highlysuggestible861]

I never fail to learn something important with every episode. Cheers, Nick!

[@brenthill3241]

Those heads are made for a radical cam, high lift rockers and 12 to 1 compression with a short block capable of turning at least 7500 rpm. This is not for a stock BB short block with those tight main bearing clearances. Cheapest is to put some good cleaned up stock oval port heads with a good valve job, a good aftermarket chain and sprocket and a more realistic manifold that will give more low lift flow.

[@waynebollentin989]

While it was a 454. It still had the factory heads with hand port job. Motor was rebuilt by DRE with his custom hydraulic roller, flat top piston with 10.1 cp and made 606hp on pumped gas with no timing really in it. Soft tune. You can make power when it's built correctly. This video shows what happens when people don't have a clue. I mean really. The pistons installed upside down is just ridiculous.

[@manuelsilva2746]

I'm from a little town in United States called Taft, California. I love watching your videos. Please keep your videos coming and I will continue to watch them. Have a nice day. Nick

[@xmo552]

I got plowed by CHP there. Plowed with a ticket for vroom vroom.

[@hensleyshobbies-doug7761]

That’s a darn shame about that Big Block Chevy 427, but that just goes to show you some guys are not the mechanic that they think they are! Geez! It’s a good thing that customer brought it to you Nick, I know you’ll get that big Chevy lined out and doing what it’s suppose too! 👍👍

[@Uppercut314]

What amazed me was, hearing that seeing the pistons were installed 180* off! It’s a wonder the valves made it through the combustion process without major damage! WOW 😳

[@danw1955]

Heh heh, engines like this 454 crack me up! I had a customer back in the mid-80's that bought a pretty nice looking '66 Fairlane with a supposedly 'built' 302. Poor guy couldn't seem to get it past 4200 without breaking up, and after changing out the coil, spark plugs, new carburetor, etc., he finally brought it to me to see what was going on. It sounded great at idle. Nice lumpy cam, roller rockers hiding under pretty chrome valve covers... *on top of stock worn out Ford valve springs and retainers!* It had *maybe* 100 lbs. of compression across the board, and I notified the owner, and he said to pull the engine and see how bad off the rest was. The cam and lifters were probably the best part of the whole engine, along with an antiquated Mallory dual-point distributor, and an almost brand-new set of Hedman Headers. The rest of the engine was essentially bone stock, with typical small port 302 heads, and stock pistons. We ended up using it for a core and got a 347c.i. long-block (stroker crate motor), equipped it with late model ECC IV electronic ignition and a high output coil, and turned that sickly Fairlane into a 370 hp. tire melter that still got fairly decent gas mileage. Not too bad for around $2500 back in the day.😉

[@danw1955]

@Paradoxical Nightmare LOL, no doubt!😁

[@billcat1840]

I used to make a killing fixing screw ups like this. Many people don't have an understanding of how the parts must work together and compliment each other. The usual thing was a huge Holley with a adapter on a stock manifold...or the big honking cam with 8.1 compression and 2.73 gears...the single plane intake and stock exhaust system..

[@ebeaulieu813]

One place I worked the boss had a TOP NOTCH ENGINE BUILDER assemble his marine 454 Chevy's. The top notch tech the boss's friend was putting the rod caps on backwards.

[@oo-dd3lk]

Great to listen to Nick, very knowledgable and fascinating to watch,. An education...

[@GeoHvl]

I love 1970 RR&GTX they are the most beautiful cars Plymouth ever made. The trunk wing is a distraction to the beauty of the Hemi Bird. My friend has a 2001 Prowler with a 2005 LS3 it is the sleeper from Hell. Beautiful also.

[@yodaistheone]

I Love how you say fix it right. I Repair tachographs.....and i always have to repair other people's fixes before i can actually repair the original faults that caused the instrument to fail .

[@edvisme]

I pat myself on the back with this one. When you made that dyno pull, knowing it had those big M, big port heads, I knew it had flat tops in it. Upside down none the less lol! I'm a Chevy man through and through and had a few Big Blocks and many, high revving small blocks.. Gear Drive = Valve Train Vibrator.

[@b.g.yodagrow5344]

Tha car that cut Nick's eye AUTOMATICALLY gained 40hp!👍🙏

[@crankysports]

Hope your eye heals quickly! Another great Monday Morning with Nick's garage.

[@markpalio4411]

Just Re-Tumble The Ignition To Match The Door Locks! As Far As The Chevy 427-I'm HOPING For 600HP With Mine And I'm Running ZL-1 .030 Repl Pistons(12.5-1), 074 ZL-1 Heads(Milled .020) W/2.25+1.88 Valves. GM 069 Intake And 850 Holley DP. Cam Set TBD. Think It's Got The Potential!

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Mark. The ignition key did not work with either door. Bought a new ignition cylinder because it did not want to go into accessory position. After that, coded both door locks to the new ignition cylinder.

[@markpalio4411]

@@nickpanaritis4122 Understand What You Had To Do-However Just As Door Locks Can Be Re-Tumbled-So Can The Ignition Switch. Did It On My Chevelle. Found Unused GM Keys That Fit Door/Trunk Cylndrs, But Not Ignition Cyl. Now Have Orig 1968 Keys To My Car!

[@nickpanaritis4122]

@@markpalio4411 . I know.

[@freetdg]

I remember testing the compression on my 1969 BelAir 427, 425HP in early 1970. It blew up my compression tester.

[@thomasjefferson2938]

Thank you for addressing my question from your first live stream in this video. 70 roadrunner only runner up to my favorite the 71.

[@kramnevets8712]

“And see the truth” Realty always bats last. This is good stuff,thanks.

[@dielauwen]

Oh well. I had a man who bought an engine. He got a good deal on it. Triple springs and roller cam , pop up pistons with openchamber rectangular port heads, dual plane manifold . Poor combinations of parts can make a mess of things. Just put a Big shot of Nitrous on it and watch it take off.

[@ozzstars_cars]

It's nice to see people caring about what they do! I subscribed instantly. Keep up the good work. -Glen

[@mackbruce7545]

Not too worry. Here at Nick's Garage /GYM. He will get this BBENGINE pumping out the horse power.again. Good luck thanks for the videos. Watching from Wyoming.

[@clarebutterfield6927]

The Road Runner is gorgeous!

[@stephenmiller7388]

Honestly how hard is itbbto put pistons in the proper way round im, no expet but have put a few donksbtogether all i do isvread and follow all the instructions properlyand thisnnwas b4u tubeb or watever

[@SOU6900]

My C30 dually has a 454 that's supposedly had a cam put in it. Now whether or not it's just a stock replacement or an R/V cam or something with more of a performance grind I have no idea. No one in my area with a chassis dyno or even an engine dyno from what I understand so I'm not sure about the cam and I dont want to tear the entire front off my Rat motor to find out. Had planned on dropping on a set of big block Vortec heads but I've been told they won't work on a Mark IV block so I guess I'll just leave it like I bought it.

[@modelnutty6503]

C30 usually has the RV type cam to begin with

[@SOU6900]

@@modelnutty6503 regardless I don't know for sure what kind of bump stick is in it since I was told it had a cam put in it when I bought the truck. I'm hoping they ment it had a replacement put in it. I've been told the Chevy engines had issues back then knocking lobes off because they weren't hardened or something like that.

[@ajkolodziejski118]

Hello, I am currently restoring/customizing a 1983 Dodge van with a super 6 and an A-833 trans. You talked about re coding the door locks to match the ignition key. Would it be possible to show how that’s done? Love the channel!

[@nickpanaritis4122]

AJ. Take your door locks and ignition key to a locksmith and have them coded to the ignition key. That is what I have done to the RR.

[@ajkolodziejski118]

Thanks Nick 👍

[@knunyabeasewhacks8744]

The small valve springs was a give a way, but the installing the Pistons with the mark "backwards" is a tell tale sign of a unexercised build.

[@91rss]

used to be a mod to stop power valve issues. you gave a passage seat a mark with a phillips screwdriver to put a cross mark in it, then you put a small bearing in over it. apparently if a back fire happens, the ball gets pushed into the seat, but the X mark you made keeps it from sticking in place?

[@jamesrogers5783]

its been a while, but i built a few of these that made 600hp and change with the small 2.19/1.78 valves and a solid flat tappet., we did have some good compression numbers from those 12.5 pistons right out of GMs racing bible of 1980 !!

[@HK-qj4im]

Always fascinating to see a master of his craft at work. The Experience really shows. To often today people never seek to achieve that level of Awesome.

[@TheCrewChief374]

The pistons being installed wrong is what I noticed my late dad used to do when he built an engine. Which he used to tell me when I was a younger person, that is what made more horsepower and torque. Needless to say I found out later on in life that he was full of bovine excrement. Since I had a friend named Bob the Engine Professor who built engines for 40 plus years when I was a younger adult learning about engines, show me on his Dino that it backfires through the carburetor and possibly could bend valves. So in his own way he stated the same thing that Mr Nick the Engine Man is talking about in these videos.

[@michaelstansfield319]

I have heard of this too, but the trade off is pistol stability. Pistons installed 180* rotated will cause piston slap because of the piston pin offset. In this case, installing the pistons rotated 180* was not going to make significantly more power. Flat top piston plus open chamber heads equals low compression. I don't know what the builder was thinking with this one.

[@dukeman7595]

@Camp'n Outdoors Sounds right.

[@dukeman7595]

Right or wrong you don't disrespect your Dad, what's wrong with you? He didn't smack you with a hammer enough times..

[@robh9577]

If you had a stock type/4 valve relief piston back in the day, and were racing it, it was normal to reverse the pistons to increase the dwell at top dead center. The factory engineers offset the piston pin to reduce piston slap (knocking) on cold starts, and to prevent skirt breakage with fragile cast pistons. It WAS hard on pistons, Racers threw them out after a couple of hundreds laps, few weekends at the drags. The more you know the more you grow.

[@dukeman7595]

@@robh9577 That's a fact..

[@neilmacleod5371]

I had a duster , and the start key did not work in the door , door key was the same as the truck key . The car was bought off the showroom floor brand new .

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Niel. Something wrong there. Never seen or heard of this issue on a Chrysler product.

[@neilmacleod5371]

@@nickpanaritis4122 i also had a valient bought brand new , 273 v-8 ( I think the slant six in the duster was faster ) and it was the same way starter key was the big key , the doors and trunk were the small key , worked good if you want to warm the motor up on a cold day , you could lock the doors and still have the engine running , wasn't a problem , it's the way the cars came in . Both were bought off the showroom floor

[@GeekBoyMN]

The phrase "sold a bill of goods" comes to mind with that 427. Can't wait to see what you guys do with it!

[@SuperJoes70]

I don't guess when it comes to horse power , I ran my 68 super bee with a 440 on a chassis dyno back in 69 with cam headers holly 780 I got 325 hp at the rear wheels never guess that's what Dyno's are for !! Good Job Nick !! another 5 star video

[@paulatkinson4439]

Woof woof

[@fw1421]

I’m seriously in lust with that Road Runner!❤️❤️❤️

[@charger19691]

Looks like that big block Chevrolet needs a PROPER fresh rebuild by Nick and crew from the bottom up. I know you guys can make that engine really sing if the customer asks you to do it. I think 550 horse is a more realistic goal for horsepower on just pump gas, but I’m not an expert. Take care of that bruise above your eye Nick, a couple extra breaks with a nice Chocolate drink should do the trick! Thanks for another great video! Love that beautiful orange Road Runner!

[@permagrin8742]

Good thing that was a small cam with the intake reliefs on the wrong side of the cylinder. Bad juju when pistons kiss valves. Hopefully the 427 owner wants to pony up and have Nick build that 427 right. Be awesome to put those heads to work!

[@sideswiped6874]

some 26 years ago I re-ringed a low mileages 92 Chevy 350 car engine for a boat. it was not bored, it was professionally honed! had the stock pistons and the old 400 heads (professionally rebuild, milled down a bit). cam was a Crower boat cam, lift was around 480. with thin head gasket the compression was calculated at 8.9:1. 7 cylinder's compression was 155 . 1 was 150. sorry for the edits! my eyes are getting old!

[@mariorabottini5687]

Hi Nick and to all! 12.15 am here in Melbourne Australia and the coffee’s hot.....enjoying your channel!

[@NicksGarage]

Good morning! Thanks Mario.

[@TheSleepyMechanic0524]

Good morning sir. Hope you have a good day!

[@marccres6619]

This is where you can buy the best parts but if they do not work together is will not make hp. Had small block chevy had all the goodies, but the heads flowed not so much , put a set that did made 150 hp more, changed the carb to one set up for the heads and cam made 200 overall. That is why you start with a cam and build to that. Thanks for the video Nick it shows what you see maybe not what your going to get.

[@markwallace5274]

Wow that’s hard to watch as an engine builder I just wanna see that Big Block Chevy built correctly with the right combo and back on the dyno 🤦‍♂️

[@shawnewaltonify]

I look forward to these videos every Monday morning. Thank-you very much guys!

[@workingclass6750]

Just found this channel! So glad I did, this is excellent content that is much appreciated! I will like every video I see without a doubt. Great tear down and keep the details and length it is thorough and awesome 👌

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Working Class. Thanks for enjoying our channel.

[@jimjungle1397]

One of the biggest electrical issues with classic Mopars is the ignition power wires, to and from the switch, are very long. The wires increases in resistance over time , the connections get old and develop resistance and the contacts in the switch wear and increase in resistance. This can cause a drop in voltage to the ignition system and throughout the ignition system.

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks Jim. Sounds like you have spent some time in the wires.

[@mcfast52]

You get that with old motorcycle to, see it a lot.

[@jackieliner3812]

You said that with those flat top pistons, it will never make 600 horse power, Because they are in 180* backwards? Is that why the compression is so low.? i always thought that flat tops made more compression,or is the compression low because the heads have a large combustion chamber? I’ve got flat tops in my ford FE and it makes just a tad over 200 psi, thanks

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Jackie. Pistons way below deck and big open chambers.

[@jackieliner3812]

Nick Panaritis got it, didn’t see that, that definitely will do it, thanks for replying

[@twlvhrs]

Very informative and exciting for me to watch, there are so many car guys out there that think they know what they're doing, till something goes wrong, Love these videos, Thanks Nick :-)

[@BigUnk85]

That engine needs domed pistons and a nice solid roller cam to get anywhere close to 600 hp. I'd say at least 11:1 compression. 427s love to rev.

[@theravedaddy]

The pistons in it now are doomed.

[@BigUnk85]

@@theravedaddy apparently u didnt watch the video or have lack of knowledge about pistons u and the 3 others who like the comment those are flat tops not Dome!

[@paulcopeland9035]

@@BigUnk85 .... If you can't see the joke, you are doomed!

[@BigUnk85]

@@paulcopeland9035 you trolls are doomed

[@paulcopeland9035]

@@BigUnk85 ...So, how am I a troll?

[@lildudechevman]

I bought a 402 big block once,for a 71 SS El Camino I had,tore it down & found different pistons in it some were used & bout two were replaced, priced a new set & was like shocked at the price,like $500.00 just for pistons,so I put it back together & sold it,used the money to rebuild a small block 350 I had.wish I had kept a 454 I had purchased for a Chevy luv,that ran pretty good, it was just stock but ran ok.just things you run into in life, while your into projects, it’s hard to invest money into projects when your married have kids,bills, & a never ending list of honey doos!!! Not to mention limited time. Then turn wrenches for a living.but it’s always interesting to watch Nicks shows, no b/s & real muscle cars,

[@SealofPerfection]

I would say Merlin heads are probably too big for a street 427 unless it's a high revver. World makes some Merlin oval ports that would easily produce that 600hp number and more torque for the street with the right compression and cam. Edit: Upon watching this again, that's a tall deck block. So someone slapped some big port heads on a tall deck block. Okay, but you have to have the right pistons for it. I wonder if someone put short deck pistons in it as well? They are awfully far down in the hole. STROKER ENGINE TIME!!

[@modelnutty6503]

yup, similar thoughts. its assembled wrong for starters, piston+rings on wrong, wrong intake.. 366 ponies should be a bit higher, but the 125 compression range (lower ratio) could be good for normal driving, spraying when you want big power

[@stanherman5604]

you can make 600Hp with oval port heads. Those heads are way to big as is the intake and carb.

[@Yohann67]

I bet you could wire that Dominators secondaries shut and still make the same HP.

[@WoodedAcres]

@@modelnutty6503 Yeah, you don't know what you're talking about either. Probably, friends with the guy that built that motor. The 125 figure that Nick found was a cranking compression test in POUNDS using a compression tester. Nothing to do with compression ratio. While I would like to see around 140-160+lbs, it's more important that all cylinders are within that 5% number. If there are 7 cylinders showing 150lbs and one cylinder showing 125lbs, there is most likely a problem there.

[@DWBmotorsports]

I love when guys say rectangle ports are not good street heads 😂

[@tomcooper6108]

Thanks Nick! Good video on the Missing HP.

[@niceguy2171]

Wow, the things you find when you dig in an engine, 105 and 115 Cyl. compression, seen old lawnmowers do better than that,lol. Watch the overhead objects Nick, you don't need anymore knocks on the noggin' ;) Hope all is well in the shop on this fine day.

[@spurgear4]

Same as my 69 340 Swinger. 1 key for the ignition. 1 Key for the doors. And a key for the trunk. Someday I will get to it, maybe...

[@smilsmff]

a .030 flat top with 119 cc merlin heads then you are lucky to get 8.00:1 with a thick Composite gasket adding 9 or more cc's, Just switch cam to mechanical roller 220 @ 50 , AND .675 Lift with 106 degrees LSA and advance it !!

[@davidfirth9342]

Your a good man nick

[@charlesaguilar1708]

I Always build my own motors! I build them mecticuously! It may take a long time to finish but,they always perform and last!

[@andyanaoutdoors2487]

Thumbs up! A true professional.

[@gearmeister]

I was even thinking it had flat tops, man, when I was 5 years old I learned that you gotta have pop-ups with open chambers... my grandmother's car had 190 psi & 190k miles! lol 😂

[@paulatkinson4439]

DAMN ! You started young.

[@gearmeister]

@@paulatkinson4439 When I was 3, when I heard a car even on the next street over, I could tell you what engine & transmission was in the car... heck, my dad came home from the Chevy dealership with a 62 Impala SS Convertible, red on red with the top down, my mom said hell no, get a wagon! I was 4 years old & pissed!!

[@paulatkinson4439]

@@gearmeister C'mon man, I'm not buying your crappola. When I was still in the womb, I could tell what engine was on the lawnmower that was running 2 blocks away...... It's your turn to top that.

[@gearmeister]

@@paulatkinson4439 lolololololol 😂

[@xmo552]

@@paulatkinson4439 When I was a sperm in my great great grand father I could tell if he was carrying a revolver or a Henry.