I have been slowly building my car up and it's not bad for bolt-on only, but I will probably be moving to heads and cam soon... I got a killer deal from a buddy who was building a new motor and cut me a deal on his old stuff.

I have (if I ever get around to paying my buddy that is)
* low milage stock replacement lifters
* 3K mile CC305
* 3K mile ported '93 heads w/ good spings, 7/16 studs, and guideplates that I am having looked over by another buddy who has a race head porting business. He will freshen them up, and add a comp. 5 angle valvejob and blend it a little more.
* 3K mile Comp. hardened pushrods
* 3K mile 30# injectors
* ARP head bolts

Things I need are
* Head gaskets, what is the best recommendation here impala gasket for more CR, but disregard quench, or go with the felpro set and be done with it?
* Rocker Arms, since mine are for 3/8 studs, I guess they will be or sale soon...
* Cloyes Roller Timing setup, unless something has changed in the past few months?
* H/C Gasket set

Am I forgetting anything? Please chime in and give your thoughts...


In the might do at the same time depending on funds category are
* 52MM TB, probably a ported stocker unless I find any aftermarket at a good priice.
* !AC
* !PS, probably looped stock system for now.
* Alt relocation
* !ABS and install line lock

Now I wonder if I can get all that done after my race on 6/16 and have tuned and ready for the next one on 7/28? Yeah, Jack stands here I come...

 

I would just go with a set of Felpro's. A lot of people like the 1074's.. I have ran both the 1074's and I am currently using the Felpro version that schucks sells and they seem to work just as good. I am not sure on the exact model number, but they are different than the 1074's.

IMO, as long as your head surface and block surfaces are clean I would just use what ever Felpro gasket you can get your hands on.

Everything else looks good.

 

I would probably go with some chrome moly pushrods instead. Everything else looks good, get some 7/16" NSA rockers and follow up with a good tune.

 

OK that's 1 for the felpro...

just out of curiosity, how much of a gain if any could be gotten from the impala gasket? if it's is almost nothing then I won't do it but if it is even 5 HP it might be worth it... has anyone ever compared the 2?

 

I would go with the Impy gaskets for bang for the buck hp wise. I am now using Cometic .030 thick for better quench and more HP, on my latest build. Later

 

Thanks Clint,

I was thinking the same thing, and see a lot of guys using it, but was slightly worried about the quench.

Now it's 1:1, but I might be leaning towards the impy gasket...

 

I'm runnin .027 4.01 bore cometics here.

 

Actually after more reading I came to the conclusion to say the hell with it and get the .015 compressed thickness felpro 1094's. Just converting the SBC gasket to work for LT1, for $40 it's worth the compression and quench is pretty good since it's the stock motor...

 

You will need to check piston to valve clearance with that thin of a gasket. Later

 

Gee, that combo looks really familiar I'll bet it ran pretty good on the car it all came off of. Looks to be a low 12/high 11 combination.
If it were a fresh build, I'd suggest Cometic gaskets, but I'd go with the Fel-Pro .038", which is what I had on that combination, on my engine.

You can't go wrong with the COMP 1.6 Pro Magnums that I had on that set up.

Frank
CPT

 

I'd say go with a custom grind cam honestly

 

wonder why it looks soo familiar...

I am hoping for high 11's that I can tweak and tame to run consistantly in the 12.0 index classes, so this should work out perfectly, but don't worry I will run it full out a few times.

Yeah I have to figure out the rockers, and if I find a used pair somewhere I might go for them...

I have read in a lot of applications many people have used the felpro 1094's, so I will try them and check P/V clearance. BTW, Frank what were the valve size on those heads?

 

I used the impala gaskets on my recent head install... no problems yet, and for the extra compression why not..

 

2.00"- 1.56"

Frank
CPT

 

I am running the Felpro .039" gaskets with my curent set up but I had to use them to keep the compression under 12.5:1

Honestly for that set up on a stock short block you might as well take advantage of any extra compression and squeeze you can get. The Impy gaskets will help and they are reliable as well. You will have to (or you should anyways) check PTV clearance with any combo anyways. But if your more comfortable with the felpros then go with it. The difference wont be noticable. You will make less of a change in intake alignment and pushrod length.

Get a decent rocker like the promags and your set. Even with a 1.6 your PTV should be fine but you need to check.

I'm running .686 lift with a 2.08 valve on a domed piston and I still had .120"+ clearance...

Thats a nice set up Frank had there... I drove the car once with that set up and it was a rocket ship with wheels.