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Dan Leadbetters 496ci Rat uses oval-port Edelbrock aluminum heads and a torque-enhancing camshaft to move his 3640 pound 66 Chevelle down the quarter-mile in 10.70 seconds at 125 mph. |
No matter how fat the Rat, if it doesnt contain the correct pieces it wont run as strong as the next guys effort. General Motors built three generations of big-block engines with combinations that included everything from mild-mannered hydraulic camshafts and oval-port cylinder heads to monster mechanical flat-tappet camshafts with rectangular-port cylinder heads.
Numerous private engine shops now offer crate engine packages of more than 600 inches and 700 normally aspirated horsepower. GM Performance Parts offers a 454 H.O. capable of making over 500 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm, while the larger ZZ502 punches out 567 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. No matter what big-block combination you call your own, the power relies on the pieces you choose to develop that curve. We have assembled the following list of our favorite big-block parts to provide guidelines to help you make your large-inch engine be all it can be.