RARE ENGINE Forgotten Under A House?! - Who Would Do Something Like This?

A pile of once good parts forgotten under the front porch?
Many many years ago my old man collected a pretty hot little small block Chevy with hopes of finding a project for it. Well time went on and motor sunk deeper and deeper into the earth. At one point it was a high compression, 4 bolt main 370 horse LT1. Today, it's a bunch of possible scrap metal.
I'm looking to add a little more power to my 1955 Chevy Nomad. It currently has a fairly tame small block and I would like to go from MILD to WILD. This standard bore 4 bolt main, forged crank should be the perfect starting point!
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[@Ricks408]

I personally love engine building content, cant imagine an enthusiast who isnt at some level, its the heart and soul of what keeps our passions and dreams of helping rotate the earth and turnin rubber into smoke alive!

[@Riverrockphotos]

I do as well. I have built a few motors over the years but I'm never doing it again.

[@steveduggins2063]

That's a rare and hard to find motor, built one year, solid lifter cam, factory, good find Dan

[@BeatniksVids]

My 71 Z28 had double hump angle plug heads. I heard someone mention shifter parts, is there an M22 under there somewhere ??

[@timshamblin1223]

LTl had 11:1 pistons and a solid cam. If those pistons are forged, they can be saved!

[@angrybill]

As I recall they were rated at 370HP. I had one in stock trim in a 70 Chevelle. It was definitely s ripper.

[@c.n.9074]

Saved for what???? what's the trick to getting off the pins???

[@theprairietinkerer]

Holy crap. So that's your Dad? He was my power mechanics teacher in high school. As I recall, he stuffed a Chevy V8 in a Volvo wagon at the time. What ever happened to that?

[@patcaza6166]

that would make a great video

[@theprairietinkerer]

@@patcaza6166 I agree. Guessing from the plate that was in the garage it was a 1972. I also remember that it had no exhaust, open heads/manifolds. It got everyone's attention when it was brought into the shop at the end of the day.

[@DDSpeedShop]

I drove it for a bit but it was completely rotten. I kept all the mounts to redo at some point

[@mediumjumbo7484]

Koool 👍👍

[@stevenmcinnis8105]

Nice dad BTW.

[@keithroute8906]

You have the best dad, a free motor under the house, now that is cool. Excellent pack rat instincts, I see where you get it. I have had motors in the house and motor cycles in the house years ago but not a motor under a house. Enjoy him while he is here, I miss my dad every day.

[@nonamo9348]

Dan try soaking the pistons and rods in a plastic pail filled with cleaning vinegar and Dawn dish soap. A couple of days soaking should remove the corrosion without damaging the aluminum pistons.

[@coyboybc]

That’s my thoughts too

[@allankwiatkowski9086]

i did that did not like how the pistons came out

[@dougsmaintenanceshop5868]

Careful with vinegar. You gotta monitor the soak---I destroyed a set of heads soaking them for 3 days. They were bubbling away. I thought it was getting good and clean, lol. It was getting eaten! Now I check the vinegar bath and rinse and see how things are going. No more than 12 hours is my rule.

[@tomhutchins1046]

Boil them the aluminum will expand faster then the steel pins

[@stevenbelue5496]

Can't use then anyway, the block will not stay standard unless it had really low use and the cylinders are barely flash rusted. The rods look stock, which all sbc rods were forged. Even if they are the pink rods you can buy decent aftermarket 4340 rods for a few hundred bucks.

[@tonypatrick9362]

Great time with your dad not replaceable very cool you should spend time with parents will miss them some day

[@47kb8]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but soda blasting can get the corrosion off aluminum without putting it more. Just a thought.

[@wingerfan1]

How to get your son to clean out from underneath your deck 101: Mur: I'm pretty sure there's an Isky cam shaft and built camel hump heads under there. Dan: * Shakes head and goes treasure hunting* Mur: "pretty sure I have some Wiseco pistons in the attic too" Lol this should be a pretty fun build. Thanks for the content Dan.

[@DDSpeedShop]

He got me good....

[@sparksandgritgarage555]

Hopefully no brown recluse spider bites from under the deck and crawl space but a 4 bolt stock bore block might be worth some rotting flesh lol.

[@ryno6101]

Lol ❤❤ I laughed so hard during this😂😂😂 At 14 years old my best friends dad had a junk yard that I bought a 283 and power glide from for my first project. At one time in my first garage I had 13 small blocks , cranks and heads , would have guys over looking for parts all the time. Also many transmissions, manual and auto and rear ends , I learned to build them all , making my own fixtures and tools along the way. My dad wouldn’t allow anything at home.

[@jasonbose3507]

Man, your Dad's house 🏡 is cool, you grew up lucky!!! Thanks for the video Dan & Dan's Dad!!!

[@dend.6523]

Those engine parts looked "Mint"! lol That was a fun video. Thanks Dan and Danni, oh and Murr!

[@jeffallen5387]

I love how the time lapse of the bobcat shows a bicycle passing you! Good stuff.

[@Wooley689]

Your best bet for those valve covers and the intake is to get them vapor honed, that way they won't be ruined as happens with sand blasting.

[@papilloncycles3463]

LOL I love it guys! Last time I went over to my Dad's I was in the old shed and found all sorts of things of mine I'd forgotten about! And it was all well cared for by the mice, spiders and other caretakers LOL!

[@Biokemist-o3k]

Thanks for taking us on this adventure!!

[@jessieharris1676]

Be sure all the oil passages and gallies are derusted very well.

[@rodneybrown1696]

I’ve built a few motors, and hope to do more soon. But they do create good content. It’s all in the presenter! You got this.

[@kevinl.2291]

Definitely worth checking it out to see what’s good. Could make a good engine out of it. 👍😎✌️

[@dannylovitt-hh4nw]

GREAT CONTENT!! PORCH FINDS LOL!!! BRING THAT CHEVY BACK TO LIFE BROTHER ✌️

[@randylear8264]

3/4 race cam😂. I haven’t heard that in many years. Thanks for the video.

[@HeadFlowInc]

If the block and crank are good build it with aftermarket 6.00” connecting rods and forged pistons; add a spin balance. Remember when you cam the engine to actually make power at 7000 rpms it’s going to be more challenging to drive for normal street use.

[@eduardoreyes4958]

That guy never stopped talking, amazing ...

[@BudFranks-fu9ye]

Yes, build more motors👍good content💯

[@majorpayne5289]

👍My Dads place in PA is almost same thing. Old GOOD stuff stored everywhere. Tons of NOS everything. Mostly wrapped up in protective blankets & thick furniture moving pads. From switches, relays, engines to NOS 1955 Chevy, OLDS, Ford & NASH stuff. Along w/ the covered cars. He won’t sell a thing & I don’t blame him. He’s 82 now & time is catching up w/ him. I’m not looking forward to the day I’m forced to go through it all but lots of folks out there in the Hot Rod world are gonna have fits over it. 👍

[@rodneybrown1696]

Another Dan original catch phrase. “Good as used “. ❤

[@glennmiller9031]

I hope you can save it. It is a good find..

[@anthonyshelton6786]

always nice to see stuff hidden away getting it's chance to shine hopefully it's a great foundation with it's 4 bolt mains

[@jaymac2184]

Murs magical treasure hunt! Never know what amazing parts and surprises you will find!

[@armondoborjas4362]

Mur has a lot of space to store project cars 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎

[@shartne]

I sure hope you find the heads man. I am thinking that block is good. Your dad is cool.

[@ZacLocke]

Lucky guy, having a Dad like that.

[@tdhyig5045]

I hope you keep on growing Hit 1 million ++ soon. You got great content. Thank you

[@DDSpeedShop]

Thanks so much!

[@rpeek]

It'll be interesting to see what comes next.

[@linnc7591]

so cool your dad gave you your inheritance early, my dad is leaving me golf clubs, I don't do golf, hurray,

[@jfv65]

Little fun factoid: In the 1980's BMW sourced and used old RUSTY M10 shortblocks for building their F1 racing engines: 1.5Liter, inline4 16valve, huge turbo, 1200hp in qualifying trim. Those old rusted M10 blocks were said to have no residual stress in the castings and that's why they were supposed to be better as a basis for building a new engine. Or so the old lore goes. Moral of the story: if that block is not cracked it might still make a great engine.

[@deanrayne7302]

It was like watching Indiana Jones looking for the Chevy cylinder head artifact

[@TheBBodyBuilder]

Dan I applaud your love for old school tech and hot rods…but if you want more jam…6L LS, cam/springs, gap the rings and slap on a turbo…you will love it and will never look back.

[@gregpiecuch3802]

The Nomad is done! Build it for the Camaro!

[@kevinwright1551]

Vary awesome indeed. I hope you can rebuild it. Keep up the great work.

[@DooDeeDew]

That engine would be better suited for one of the Camaro's that you have been neglecting.

[@DDSpeedShop]

U wanna buy em and save em?

[@gregpiecuch3802]

If they were 69's I'd buy them!

[@stevenimeson902]

Reminds me of my uncle storing all kinds of old car parts “ stuff they don’t make anymore” as he would say

[@Tim-57]

Hey All Fun family adventure. 🙂 Take care😊

[@Smrtazu]

"I want more jam!" Now, if that isn't a DD Speed Shop t-shirt, I don't know what is.

[@111000100101001]

Send that power saw to Buckin Billy Ray!

[@matttaylor373]

that block is seasoned my friend!! people pay good money for that stuff!!!thanks for the videos!

[@piranha79velasq62]

Those from stock from factory had 350 to 370hp good motor to build 👍

[@joeroad6618]

Let the build begin for the "Porch Motor"! driving down the road with the skid loader and engine block....priceless!

[@edwardberwind8544]

Dan if that block is good you have scoured a diamond in the rough. A std. bore 4 bolt 350 with a steel crank. Most people would say junk ....but no "Old School Gold." If it was mine I would put that sucker back together with new Aluminum heads. And make a killer street engine.

[@srtautoworkz]

Loved this episode, your a legend in my book

[@gordonstroup882]

Find yourself a large journal 66 327 engine. You know, the ones that came with flat top 10½to1 comp. Put yourself a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads on there. Port match the heads to your intake of choosing, run a 780 cfm Holley carb, get a cam with 495 lift and a 292 duration. On your headers, run a 12 to 14 inch collector extensions and a 3 inch exhaust with free flow mufflers. Oh, if you remember, get a 2 inch carb spacer. New, heavy duty valve springs, because y'all want a high reving engine, make sure to balance everything that bolts to the crankshaft, even the flywheel. If you want even higher revs, roller tip rockers-1.5 ratio AWW, SCREW IT! Get a 6.0 LS and stick a cam in it!😮😂😅

[@steveragan6643]

Murr! The Man, the Myth, the Legend

[@marksanders1942]

That was a good engine back in the day. You can save it

[@hydroy1]

The block & rods yes (if the block is not cracked, remember we are talking Canada winters.)

[@bigdaveonbass]

If that is a true LT-1 350, you need to find those heads! I had a 70 Chevelle Malibu back in 1980-81 that I dropped a legit 350/370HP Corvette motor in. Factory specifications were steel crank, 11 to 1 pistons, four bolt main, 2.02/1.60 heads with screw in studs and guide plates and the camshaft from the factory was about a .465 lift solid lifter. The motor was wore out when I got it, but it ran. I just had to keep some extra spark plugs as the number one cylinder would occasionally oil fail the plug. Good luck! If nothing else, research the casting number, and if the serial number is still stamped on the block, it might be worth something to a restoration expert.

[@ladonnaghareeb4609]

Love dad's Von Dutch shirt! Memories.

[@corydriver7634]

I like how dad kept mentioning the wrecked LeMans. 😂 Did you wreck a car Dan?

[@Clappedoutgarbage]

Mur is the type of guy that every hotrodder wants to find... just has good shit hidden all over the place in plain sight.... now that is mint! Edit if a feller was closer I'd make them valve covers look real nice with one of them fancy powder coat jobs

[@mikemallory8892]

I got a 1971 LT1 350 four-bolt main sitting in my garage short block with crank!

[@donaldwilliams2270]

Looks like Marv is an organic gardener , nice piece of city real estate !!!

[@jamiemoen-bi3gd]

Looking forward to seeing this block built up!! Nomad!!! 🇨🇦🇺🇲💯🇨🇦

[@JamesBrown-cx3xf]

Is there anyway we can hear more about the lemans you wrecked , would be great if mer could tell it 😅 please

[@imheretolearn770]

I love engine build videos

[@robertbisson9499]

I heard a story about a 70 or 71 Hemi Challenger that was wrecked in the 70s & sat in a backyard in western Washington until it was a completely rusted out pile of junk. The drivetrain was pulled shortly after the accident & the complete low mile 426 Hemi engine was dunked in a 55 gallon barrel of oil. Legend is its still out there somewhere inside that barrel, in perfect condition.

[@robertbisson9499]

Or was it a 'Cuda? Can't remember...

[@ThomasSmith-hh8fp]

it HAS to be " urban legend..Theres NO WAY- A 426 HEMI, would fit in a 55 gallon barrel...

[@subcooled1109]

All the way in Florida, I can relate we have already been here for the wheel's!😂 Love the DD Speed Shop!

[@dylanbarnes9191]

7:25 thought a copperhead tail started rattling 😂

[@russellfuchs7903]

Boy you sure must have got some looks hauling it on the Bobcat.

[@pontiac411]

Now all you need is a set of trick flow aluminum double hump heads.

[@kevinhumphrey932]

When you said squirrel I lost it lol my thought reflected back when you tore your pants at your dad's place I thought maybe that squirrel was collecting nuts for winter storage 😂

[@thomudCJ]

I saw you get passed by that bicycle. Nicely😅

[@r1learner178]

Same pistons in my car- pings a bit but once it gets past that it gets along pretty well.

[@ANOCKS]

Dan no no no ! Sure you can add a little something to the nomad motor but don't spend too much. Your focus on going fast now should be the Nova, yes the Nova! Come on Dan a high horsepower small block with a gearstar transmission behind it and let's have some real fun. 😀👍👍👍🙋

[@dondavis6997]

Shopping at dad's house. Yup, those are the days.❤😂😂😂😂

[@duckscustomgarage9239]

LOL those are Chevy Forged TRW 11 to 1 TRW 1970 LT-1 rated at 360 horsepower: Factory Dome Pistons . I need 2 of those to make a complete set for my motor lol

[@jeffschanick9394]

To KEEP A DAMN GOOD MOTOR GOOD AND DRY!

[@backtoobasics]

Hopes and dreams is all a car fellers got!!!

[@johnchambers12]

I noticed dad put on glasses while son was working a piston on the wire wheel

[@shawnl8567]

Dan just hacked his 47 out of the amazon jungle in his backyard, but he's giving Mur grief about his storage methods. Love it.

[@NH1969GOAT]

"C'mon Mer...." 😆

[@garyjacques5982]

Dan your dad's got a really cool looking Garden. And a nice Volkswagen Golf GTI it looks like. I take it your tow truck down that's why you using the bobcat

[@Butchsiek]

Back in my youth days. I could pick up a small block 327, stripped down and carry it. They arent that heavy..

[@ericdrinnan5814]

Ol skool Manitoba hot rod’n, 2 block heaters. 😂

[@catman19]

Hey Dan,,i had a new 1970 Z28, on the air cleaner top it had 350ci --370hp. It has all the Good stuff GM had back in the day. 11.5 to one compression & i ran it on reg gas, if it pinged i just set the timing back a little, didnt seem to hurt it cause i had it for 6yrs & foolishly sold it running & driving. Maybe reg gas was better back then?

[@hydroy1]

Gas back then had lead in it, try that on today sh*t gas and you will bust a piston skirt in veery short order even with the timing backed way down. I still got my LT-1 and run it on low lead 101 octain Avgas with zero issues. (smells nice to !)

[@kenanger6877]

You and pops needs to build something!

[@darrelkinney9856]

Hey Dan- 70 /half z-28 some wagons could have those engines, steel crank 11.1 flat tops . Killer video in making.

[@jimgummere5561]

Interesting video. Kinda fun and enjoyed it.

[@builtbybo22]

LOL! Mur might of have had this stuff stashed for 40 Years, But he knows where it all might be! LOL #BuiltByBo

[@levanblevins573]

Lots of people complain about piston slap after installing forged pistons . You'll notice looking at the wrist pen bosses are center of the piston ,cast pistons are off center to eliminate piston slap. Cast piston cause drag in the cylinder.

[@brianbloom1799]

What is the Block casting # 4 inch bore you can bore it 40 over scat crank, you said 64 cc heads, port them, it could turn out 500hp, or more

[@matthewschneider2089]

Dude!! It probably has the legendary PINK forged rods!!! High revs!!! 302 crank!!! Need the double hump heads!!! 6800 RPM's!!! All you need is a 67 Camaro!!! Or two!!! Lol!!!✌️

[@MiguelMartinez-gd1sv]

That kind of reminds me of my hoarding engine block I have maybe 50 or more. Small block Chevys and big block Chevys from 283 all the way up to 454 and everything in between. Sometimes I surprise myself when I find one I'm doing one now I stashed away years ago a stroker 383. LOL

[@kennethkoontz5036]

He's got a good-looking yard. We'll taken care of....

[@blownmouse]

These old parts are like gold to us hot rodders. As long as the block isn't cracked that's golden and if those are "X" or pink rods as we used to call them definitely try and reuse them. Have them bushed for floating pins with new forged dome pistons. Add a big cam and a set of aluminum cylinder heads and a tunnel ram with twin holleys. Oh my!!

[@tomhutchins1046]

What will he use for gas?

[@blownmouse]

@@tomhutchins1046 I had a 78 Camaro with a built engine just like described and ran it on 93 octane with no issues providing they have 93 octane in Canada. With the right ignition system and timing it shouldn't be a problem.

[@tomhutchins1046]

@@blownmouse I call those Billy bob story's. me and uncle bob built a 283 chevy in the barn out of john deer tractor parts drunk on moon shine its a running 10,000 RPM all day long it was a running son of a bitch. Those pistons with a 64cc on a 350 is about 12.5 to one. Your dreaming. Oh and pre ignition has nothing to do with timing. Its the fuel going off all by itself before the spark.. See diesel. Higher octane fuels actually have less BTU's than lower octane fuels the higher octane fuel is just more stable. If you are really getting away with it it means you dont know how to calculate compression ratio's or your ring seal is terrible, Or you have leaky valves, or you have a large overlap cam that is bleeding compression off at lower rpms. Higher overlap cams will eventually build volumetric efficiency at higher RPMs and then the engine will grenade due to Pre ignition. Of coarse if you like most you have a great big cam and a poor combination of other factors so you never do get the cylinder pressures at high RPM so you just make noise. The comment on timing gave you away from the start. If you can run 12 -12.5 on 93 octane Detroit car makers want to talk to you your special

[@tomhutchins1046]

@@blownmouse Google pre ignition and detonation

[@johnelliott7375]

I was waiting for you to say something about blowing dirt all over you and clouding up the underground air your having to breathe in. 😮 Wow what was the guy thinking.

[@punkbomb1]

Get in there all nice and deep like. Lols.

[@michaelwigley8856]

You should look up the block numbers to find out what year and what size the engine is.

[@carlstephens-tm7zj]

Those are 69 302 Z28 valve covers. They should clean up pretty decent

[@bachtomin213]

Sounds like you need a collab with Thunderhead289 - they rebuilt Richard's from Deboss Garage's Pontiac Gto motor in a hotel room at Drag week with Derek from Vice Grip Garage and Junk Yard digs.

[@wolley2012]

Luv all the 80s hi-po jargan.

[@ceegee3664]

Awesome Automotive Archeology

[@ceegee3664]

Farrah drove a convertible merc in 6 million dollar man, it was great product placement and a cool car

[@kristopherboice197]

This week on Canadian Pickers!!