Chassis Dyno Results
from January 12, 2002
I bought my 1971 Chevelle Malibu (my first Chevelle) from my best friends' dad on Dec. 12th, 1995
(click to see a pic of taking my brother for a ride the first day I bought the car). It
was pretty much all original except for the paint. It had 112,500 miles when I bought it.
The engine, trans and rearend numbers all matched the build sheet (which was found in the
rear seat when it was recovered). The engine is the weak 307 (I'll admit it), the trans is
a TH-350, and the rearend is a 10 bolt open w/2.73 highway flyer gears. Nothing
high-performance about this setup. With the performance parts I have put on it so far, the
engine is pretty strong for a 307. I have done most of the engine enhancements myself
(with the help of my buddy Keith and my Uncle Stan). You have to learn from someone and it
might as well be from experienced wrenchers, right? The improvements I have made include:
1998
Due to a broken timing chain and some valves hitting pistons, I have decided to replace
the 307 with a 350. The timing chain broke while I was doing 70 mph on the freeway going
to work July 12th 1998. Here is a list of what's being done and the parts used:
Purchased a complete long block kit from Performance Automotive Warehouse (PAW) which
included:
TRANS:
Apparently the TH-350 trans I have is one that goes behind a six-cylinder engine. The
trans guy said that it only had two, 2-3 shift clutches where V8 TH-350s had four to five.
There were other differences too. Anyway he gave me a V8 TH-350 and put my B&M Tranpak
in it while giving it a little tweaking. So now I have a tougher trans. I also bought a
B&M Holeshot 2000 torque converter.
There's my project in a nutshell. It has become somewhat expensive but I wanted to build a
nice foundation to build on if I ever felt the urge. My weakest link now will be the
rear-end. I'm going to start looking for a good 12-bolt posi. My car should be up and
running sometime in September. My friend Keith is going to help me put it all together.
COST
So, what's the true cost of this project? Well, it has taken me three years to finally tally up the receipts. I had a feeling it probably costed around $5,000, but never added up the receipts. Click here for a rundown of all the expenses and see how close my guesstimate was.
Note: I think the expense list is complete. It includes everything from a .29 cent bolt to the $929 cylinder heads. As with most projects, there's always parts used which you either have laying around or were using on a prior engine. Same was the case with my project, except very minimal. The only parts I can remember using from the 307 was the Holley 600cfm carburetor, Mallory Unilite Distributor, the starter, pulleys, valve covers, and air cleaner. All other parts were either inferior or just wouldn't work with my new combination.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Even though I'm writing this section three years later, I will write this partially as what I thought when I completed the engine build in October 1998 and partially as 'looking back' from present.
I couldn't believe that I had built my first engine. I had dreamed of doing this feat so many times and now my dream was reality.
Even though I tried to plan out a great engine package, I fell short. I began thinking I needed a larger cam, higher stall torque converter, shorter gears. Year 2000 would be a great year in more ways than one.
THANKS
There are a few people I would like to say "Thanks" to. These include (and in no particular order):
My Mom - Without her allowing me to take up the whole garage this project would not have been possible. She put up with parts everywhere that always seemed to jump in her way, a hood that was in her way everytime she got out of her car, grease on the garage floor, greasy sinks in the house, my swearing when things didn't fit right, paint fumes, lacquer thinner fumes, a stereo blasting constantly, me talking about the project, and probably many other inconveniences I don't know or will never know about. She even lent me her charge card for nearly $1,000 in parts (for which I'm almost paid out of). Thanks Mom...I love you.
Keith - without his knowledge and willingness to help build the engine, the price would have been double. This guy spent weekdays driving trucks across California and weekends working on my engine for nearly two+ months. If that isn't a friend, I don't know what is. He felt worse than I did when the engine wouldn't fire for the first time due to what we later diagnosed as misadjusted valves. Failure wasn't in his vocabulary. A true friend in every means. Thanks buddy!
My Brother - he saved me $150 in shipping by driving me down to PAW in his truck to pick up the engine kit. Then I have to use his credit card for some of the engine kit and the transmission rebuild (I paid out of these a month later). He's a great header holder too. I'll never forget when I first fired the engine for him and it caught him off guard. That's when you know you've built a great engine. Thanks bro...maybe one day you'll get an old Camaro again and I'll return the favors (except for the credit card).
Leo - guy comes over to borrow a video and I drag him into the engine install. Anybody need a great power steering pump holder? Thanks man...
Dad - "hey Dad want a 307 to store in your garage?"...and of course the answer was "yes." He now has taken in all my spare parts and parts I've taken off my car and keeping for some reason or other. I got kicked out of my Mom's garage and sought refuge in Dad's. Then I acquire a '80 GMC truck with a 454 and TH-400 trans (more on this later) and dump it in his yard. Once I get that engine in my Chevelle, you get the first ride Dad. Thanks Dad..Love you man.
1999
Not much happened for my car in year 1999. It spent much of the time in my mom's garage while I was away at college. Christmas '99 brought me a new camshaft/lifter kit, which I later added a new manifold to. These didn't go in until 2000.
2000
Another dream realized. Graduate from college and have one month to find a place in the S.F. Bay to live. Well, I'm hanging at my cousin's place that June and he starts telling me about his cousins '80 GMC dually with a 454 in it. Says Mark wants to sell it, probably take about $800 for the truck. I check it out as it's park 100 ft away. I get a woody looking at that bad boy. Looks clean, has a TH-400 backing it and a new 650 DP Holley. Mark shows up and we start shooting the breeze. How much you want, I ask? Mark's like "hell, you're family....$300? What?...$300?...Yeah, I just the damn thing off my hands, he says. Deal. The next week I call AAA to have it towed from Burbank, Ca up to my Dad's place in the High Desert. "Dad, got room for a truck...it has my dream engine?" Of course he says yes. AAA towes it the 95 miles for free since I have the plus towing option. Story goes, the engine was built five years ago and hasn't been started since Sept. 99 due to a bad starter. It's got Hooker headers, 3 1/2" exhaust with Flowmasters, and an interior that's jacked up. The carburetor itself would have cost me nearly $300, so I already got my money's worth. I guess I should reveal that I had to change ownership and put it in my name. Well, DMV charged me $300 because registration was past due. So $600 and I've got the basis for a mad Rat to blow the doors off those Blue Oval cars.
2001
So if you haven't noticed the Rat motor still isn't resting between the fenders of the Chevelle. What's the deal? Money. When is money not a problem? Oh, and I still don't have a damn 12-bolt posi. Why? Money. Disc brakes? Too many choices and not enough time to research. List goes on.
What's next? Hopefully in this order: 1) Front Discs, 2) 12-bolt posi, 3) Rear Discs, 4) Rat Motor, 5) Suspension
Stay tuned to find out what happens....in the meantime check out Team Chevelle.
Here is the best Chevelle Web Page around: Team
Chevelle
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