What would happen if...

[Guest Anonymous]

Boredom has led a L24 guy that thinks far outside of his budget to wonder what would happen if a person were to short stroke a 502. I think I know that the 502 (bore is 4.466 in.) with the shortest production (I think) crank (stroke is 3.76 in.) would be 471 (471.1998578) cubic inches.

 

Questions

Would a 471 use 6.135 or 6.375 inch rods? Or is engine math not my thing?

Are big blocks internaly or externaly balanced? If sometimes would this setup be internaly or externaly balanced?

Can a 454 be bored out to a 502 bore? Doubt it.

About what would a 471 cost to build?

Has anyone done this?

Do I have to much time?

Should I seek help?

[grumpyvette]

first, this is a very common combo. and you can use either size rod but the 6.385 rod is the prefered length. the 3.76" stroke big block engines(366,396,402,427) are INTERNALLY ballanced and the 4" stroke engines(454,502) is EXTERNALLY ballanced. NO a 454 cannot be safely bored to 4.44"-4.5" like the 502 engines can , the max dia. on most 454 engines is 4.31-4.34 and that is risky on most blocks (some early 454 blocks would bore to 4.375" but most newer blocks wont get to this size without sleeveing the block) yes I have built this size engine. but overall the best idea is to take a 4.5" bore block , add a 4.25" stroke and build a 540 cid engine. while its true the 478"(4.5" x 3.76") will produce more power per cubic inch the 540" engine will produce far more total power!!

btw heres some good deals on allready built engines,

http://www.gochampion.com/bbcengine.htm

 

http://www.theengineshop.com/engine6.shtml

 

http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/ChevyBigBlockV8s/Ultimate_502.html

 

or if your useing a 4.310 bore useing the same 4.25 stroke crank will build you a 496 engine.look here

http://www.skunk.net/boatengines-496.htm