1969 Chevy Camaro Small Block Engine Buildup - Thrasher Camaro Part II

I like broad powerbands because there is nothing better for street driving or endurance racing, which is what I like to do. For killer performance, you need a thumper engine. While work on the Thrasher continues, we assembled a 406ci small-block that was tasked to deliver both killer power and acceptable street manners.

Pro Touring is about power, but with its own definition. While horsepower is cool and will impress the locals at the burger stand, we were looking for a combination of strong torque and good horsepower. We wanted the best of both worlds. The easiest way to get there was with displacement, but a big-block puts too much weight on the nose of the car. We elected to stick with a 406ci small-block but build it the right way with quality parts.

Follow along as we assemble an engine that will impress anyone you take for a romp in your hot rod. This engine is designed to provide strong power over a wide powerband using only off-the-shelf components and run trouble-free for thousands of miles.

Power to Go
For simplicity, all the components for this 406ci were ordered through Summit Racing Equipment, in Akron, Ohio. They offer very competitive prices and usually have the product in stock, ready to ship, which makes it easy to get to work assembling the engine. All the components were ordered from Summit, but some machining was still required (like the dipstick tube hole needed to be drilled in the Bow Tie block). Victory Engines, in Cleveland, Ohio, did all the detail machining and assembly while Westech Preformance, in Mira Loma, California, performed the dyno testing and assisted with the tuning.