Want to build a 496 Stroker, looking for guidance

[techweenie]

If you've been following my top end rebuild thread you know the 454 in my K3500 is ruined from neglect. I've been thinking about what I'm gonna do about it, and I think stroking it is the answer. The truck is gonna be a mud bogger, so I need as much torque as I can get. I've already got the heads reworked, and from what I can tell they'll flow plenty good enough. It also seems the Vortec intake and injectors flow good enough with a tune. There's a wide array of stroker kits available for this motor, and I'm not sure which one to get. Based on bits and pieces I've put together, a cast crank with forged pistons is sufficient. Flat top pistons should yield ~9:1 compression which will be fine on pump gas. However, some kits have a balanced crank and some don't. Will there be problems using a balanced crank in an externally balanced engine? Also, the coolant passages around the cylinders were packed solid with rust, so do you guys think it's still safe to bore .060 over?

I'm planning to go with suggestions from Comp Cams for the top end. They recommended #11-235-3 for the stock rotating assembly. Haven't gone back for a new recommendation yet.

 

[michael hurd]

If you are building a motor for a toy, the sky is the limit. Set your budget, but figure you will spend 1.5 x that amount in the end. It may be cheaper to buy an engine already set up for what you want to do.

 

[techweenie]

I've looked a few times for crate motors, but I haven't found any geared for what I want. The prices are also more than I want to spend. I can get the stroker kit for around $1500, cam kit for $400, and all that's left is block machining and a tune.

 

[Chewy1576]

Have you thought about a Vortec 8.1L (496 cu in) swap? Basically a big block with LS style injection and ignition. It will bolt directly to the big block mounts you already have and the ECM can be programmed to run standalone just like all the LS motors.

 

[sewlow]

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/pts/4454663762.html

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/pts/4415134770.html

Shipping would probably be horrendous, though!

 

[techweenie]

I'm still thinking I want to stroke the 454. I also learned it's pretty easy to convert to a coil near plug setup, so I want to do that also. Comp cams recommended a different cam kit that costs around a grand, so I'm estimating the project will cost around $5000 and produce pretty close to 600 ft/lbs of torque.

 

[techweenie]

I am slowly getting this project off the ground. I finished pulling the motor yesterday, now I just have to get some parts ordered and take it to a machine shop. During the pull I discovered all three motor mount to block bolts on the passenger side were broken. The engine was just resting on it with its own weight. At this point nothing surprises me. Every bolt I remove uncovers just the worst neglect you could ever imagine. I still need to drain the oil and I'm pretty sure it'll be sludgy. Gonna drain the coolant in the block and flush the rust particles out today. The water jackets are packed full of rust so my driveway is going to turn red.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Have you thought about a Vortec 8.1L (496 cu in) swap? Basically a big block with LS style injection and ignition. It will bolt directly to the big block mounts you already have and the ECM can be programmed to run standalone just like all the LS motors.

Or you can swap the older top end onto it, they are dirt cheap affordable

 

[techweenie]

I appreciate the suggestions but I really want to stick with what I have and build something unique. The parts to do what I want are readily available and not prohibitively expensive.

 

[454cid]

Or you can swap the older top end onto it, they are dirt cheap affordable

I don't beleive that works.