Project Junky Junk

[blykins]

I've always wanted to do one of the builds where you basically take a known running engine and slowly modify it and change parts until you end up with a fully fresh build. 

I recently found a local 1966 352, complete from end to end.  It was a good deal, delivered at $250, out of a running pickup, so I snagged it. 

I think she's beautiful:



It's got a new 2bbl carb and I think the previous owner said it was an 80000 mile motor.   We'll see.

In the next couple of weeks, it's going on the dyno for a baseline.  I'm open to suggestions on the logistical order of changing parts, but in the end I want it to end up as a hydraulic roller, TFS headed engine. 

If it proves to be a somewhat firm foundation for the project, I may get a baseline and immediately slap a 4bbl intake/carb on and see what it nets me. 

[C8OZ]

You doing this project is like Christmas come early for me.   

I threw everything in the shop at a stock 352 in a 64 Galaxie for a couple of years just to see what would happen ahead of a 427 swap.
I can't wait to see some real dyno numbers with your skill and experience at work.

I can say that the untouched bottom end never gave up under 1x4, 3x2, and 2x4 (even a silly cross ram for a time) and it looked dapper with 64 427 manifolds on it.

[drdano]

This sounds like an awesome project.  Assuming the rotating assembly is good and not massive leakdown or worn out problems there, I'd like to see an approach to how most driveway hobbyists would approach upgrading the 352 one step at a time.  Where would the hobbyist see the most bang for the buck, etc. 

0.  Swap that oil bath air cleaner for paper filter, just for grins.
1.  Swap intake (mild port blend), 4 barrel carb, headers, duraspark ignition with recurved dizzy
2.  Cam + valve springs
3.  Rebuilt heads with decent valve job, oversized valves, mild port job, decent rocker assembly
3.  Rebuild bottom end with 390 crank and rods
4.  TFS heads
5.  Bottom end with 4.25 stroker kit

[blykins]

The engine will stay stock stroke for sure and I'll just have to plan logistically around cylinder heads, small bores, and cam swaps.

[64PI]

Does it have to stay naturally aspirated???

[blykins]

Yep.

[FrozenMerc]

This is cool, Brent.

I always been a fan of the 352, and I hope you keep it at that displacement for as long as possible and see what can be wrung out of a short stroke, high rpm, large port motor before giving into the herd mentality and dropping in the long arm crank.

Start with the Intake and Carb
Exhaust
Cam
Compression (pistons first, then heads???)
Save the crank for last, unless the one that is in there is toast.

[GJCAT427]

Brent, I just PM you. I meant 352 in the header. Garry

[mbrunson427]

I think it would be cool just to see the logical horsepower progression of a guy upgrading a pickup truck engine. What do guys typically do with a 70's pickup?
1) recurve distrubutor and try to optimize spark, new wires, new plugs, etc
2) Upgrade intake manifold, likely an edelbrock performer with 650 or 750 carb
3) Headers
4) Cam & lifters w/ rocker arm upgrade
5) Heads

[drdano]

Since we're all spending Brents money here, I vote for having those stock iron heads CNC'd by Blair and see what they do prior to swapping to TFS heads. 

[blykins]

Since we're all spending Brents money here, I vote for having those stock iron heads CNC'd by Blair and see what they do prior to swapping to TFS heads.

Yeah, that's not in the budget  LOL

[gdaddy01]

this is great , will be watching . what rpm will the dyno pulls start , wondering about low end torque .

[MRadke]

Are a set of Blair's 352 pistons in the budget at some point?  I'm with the rest with it being easy to spend your money for you.  I do have a vested interest as I have a set of headers for my 352 (thanks John V.) sitting here in a box waiting for time, and money, and ambition to intersect.

[blykins]

I will be using my own custom 352 pistons and a unique arrangement for the rods.

[TJ]

I find this fun project very interesting, especially since I seriously thought about having the 352 in my old truck updated...right before I said to heck with it and grabbed a bbm block while one was available.  No regrets though I'm still looking for an excuse/opportunity to have my original 352 done up right.

If this 352 responds with updated parts in proportion to the 482 that is currently in my truck, it may very well make more hp and lb/ft while getting more mpg than the stock 390 I had for a while.  Shouldn't be too hard since my 482 got about the same mpg as my 390 did when the truck had the same gearing.  Now my 482 gets better mpg with overdrive than the 390 did without it.