The Engine Swap 396 (325 HP) to 454 (500+ HP)

This is the Engine that came with My 1968 Chevelle. The previous owner said that he was not sure what it had come from, but was NOT original to the car. Luckily, the only thing the previous owner did have was a complete list of owners dating back to 1972 when the car left the original title holder. Six owners later I discovered that in 1969 My car had some kind of terrible engine problem.    According to the original owner from Forrest Lake, MN, there was a massive leak from the no.7 cylinder and was un-repairable, so the dealership replaced the engine for free. So, my 1968 Chevelle got a new engine in 1969. A 396 (325  HP). When I bought the car in 2002 from the gentleman in Plymouth, MN he had taken great care of this motor, but it unfortunately still had the "Lead Heads" and points distributor it came with.    I decided that since the Engine was NOT original, and was getting tired in its old age, that I would replace it with a more modern version...A Big Bad 454. The 396 now rests comfortably with its new owner, a friend of mine from the Northstar Chevelle Club John Enga (Enganeer)

Here it is....the new kid on the block. This is my Early Christmas present an Mark IV 454. Built by a professional Engine Builder and Bracket Racer Mike Segar of "No Morals Racing" in Bloomington, MN ( 952-854-5786). Mike had come across this block and heads through a buddy of his and thought of me. He did me a real favor by only charging me $3,500.00 for the whole short block assembly.    Keith Black, Lunati, Moroso, Crane Cams, Mallory, Edelbrock and Holley to name a few, are loaded into this 9.5-1 500+Hp Monster Rat. I told Mike that I wanted Maximum Streetability with a mean streak for Chump-Stangs and Ricers, so we decided on the 9.5-1 compression and a little more aggressive 560 deg. Lunati cam.    A Holley Street Avenger 770 Carb. and Edelbrock Performer RPM "Air Gap" Intake finish off the package quite nicely. The Block had to be bored out .70 over because of excessive wear, to make this actually a 469c.i. engine, and the Original Iron Heads were Ported and matched for Maximum Performance. The engine as of today is sitting snugly under my bed and is awaiting All the extra parts from Summit Racing. The Next update to my page will  include the finished job.

Finished Product

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