72 LS5

If you can swing aluminum heads, it will have some nice weight savings on the nose of that beast. It may even be cheaper than investing all that machine work in the old heads.

Great progress! Usually, the rust is a lot worse than ya think, but you have the opposite situation - I'm sure you're not complaining......

Nice! Should be a Mid-range Monster with that cam. Pretty similar specs as the Lunati. A little more lift on the intake and a smidge tighter lobe separation. Should sound sweet.

Picture Perfect Launch!

With the gauge package, do you have an idiot light with the Temp gauge or just the gauge? If not, adding a light with a seperate sender may be an option. I just replaced my mech gauge, and you are right, you need a big hole in the firewall. Especially sux if you already have wires through the same hole - you can't take all those out, run the sensor through, and re-run the wires. Well, I guess you could if like self-torture. I personally like mech better.

Always news coming from Andy's Auto Brand new SS, eh? Very nice - give us the details. I suspect auto since its gonna see some track duty. How do you fit in that thing, btw? Good luck with the 6.0. Those CTS-Vs are insane stock, forget mod'ed.

Nice!!!!!! That 8.2 on the side says it all. Besides the fuel pump pad, I noticed they added an oil plug in the front above the timing chain. Did you have fun getting that balancer off? Are you keeping it black?

Worth it!

Question: about how much more is a cam from Chris? 1.5 times or 2 times more?

Scott, are you just using the stocker GM lifters? I'm also curious which head gaskets you will be using. Good Luck! I prefer a mechanical pump too, but didn't have a choice.

454 to 502? Hey, this story sounds too familiar! Dave had suggested that cam for me too, but I ran out of money. Are you going to use your AFR heads on this engine? Is this a brand spanking new short block? Does it have the mech fuel pump provision? I'm interested in your times with that cam (its on my list). I have the stock ZZ cam and run street tires most of the time with a 3.31 gear and a 2400 stall - couldn't imagine 3800. Maybe if I break out the slicks I'd be shopping for a similar converter!

Great runs, Dave! Congrats on the new personal best!

Tease! BTW: I've gotten the comment that my valve covers "scream" crate motor. But real gear heads know that anything can be lurking under crate motor valve covers. I say if you like them, then who cares what other people think. I happen to like GM stuff cuz it fits. Plus, the drippers are a bonus.

But seriously, I saw Mr Gasket has a thicker rubber "vibration isolator gasket" that may be worth a try. My base plate may not be laser-straight, but judging from all the leakage I see at car shows, I'm not the only one oozing fluids .

I thought to double them up. This 25 year old swap meet Holley 850 sure looked laser-straight when I put it on....after a few beers....in the dark....with one eye open...

Can anybody recommend a leak free carb to manifold gasket for a Holley? I always get that nasty gas stain oozing from under the carb.

That's a serious powerplant you got there! What cam plans do you have for it? Bummer about that head bolt.........

Andy - you are the horse-trading King! This project should be in Hot Rod magazine - an article about something we can actually afford! What's a ballpark price to get an LS to run with a carb?

WHAT??? Big cam or blown? Them LS motors are brutal.....

Cool!

Hey, let me know how they fit. I installed some from Leo over the summer. The passenger side went in like butter! Not so much with the driver side. Not sure if its my car or the fender. Tip: its easier to loosen the bracket from the firewall, bolt in the fender, then tighten the bracket to the firewall.

Don't shoot me, but if I lived in Nebraska (assuming wide open spaces), and I was leaning more towards pro touring like you said, I would lower the stall converter to like 2400, and put a 3.08 gear in there. 1st gear will still be almost useless, but at least you can enjoy the car on the street and highway. Plus, at higher speeds that Hotchkis suspension will shine. Drag Radials will wear out pretty quickly on the street, it's true. Who wants to have all that power and a cruising speed of 55 mph at 3000 rpms?

Loved the vid, Davey!

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I'm happy with the Performer heads, and I couldn't beat the price . Dan, I think you'd be happy with them too. They are the best bang for the buck. I still haven't had time to get the slicks mounted or the MSD done - super busy lately...no track yet....

Here's an interesting cylinder head shoot-out. At the end of the day, you can save a ton of money getting less expensive heads and not even give up a tenth on a street car. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_0803_big_block_cylinder_heads/viewall.html