Many people are helping put their .02 and that is what this is all about! I will be replacing the rod bolts, i will have pics and a little how to to add to the blog about my adventures in getting the short block ready. After talking to many people the stock cam is going to stay, bang for buck! if this project boneyard engine lets go we will be building an engine to drool on.

Very interested in this. I have a 78 Suburban, drop kit, big in little ralleys and a 5.3 all patiently waiting to all join each other sometime later this year. A little boost would be iceing on the cake.

If everything goes well this weekend i will be putting the new rod bolts, setting the ring gap on the old rings and giving the block a fresh coat of paint. I picked up the heads from the machine shop yesterday. They went throught them and they were good! even the valve guides were good. so they did a valve job put new seals on and the new updated springs and retainers for them.

Good call on the ring gap. I would've never known to do this if it weren't for Project Big Bang Theory.

Looking forward to see how you do the manifolds. I am currently build a junkyard turbo motor, 3800 series II vs. 5.3, but I will have cast iron manifolds to modify, with v-bands, as well. I have done plenty of research on how to do it but more is always helpful.

Good luck with the build.

Even though it may have been done before this should be fun to watch/follow along!

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I always thought it would be cool to just take a regular junkyard engine, boost it until it something breaks. Then, grab another one, upgrade what broke and see what breaks next. Continue until you absolutely hit the limitations of the stock heads/intake, then upgrade those as well. You'd probably burn through a few engines, but it'd be cool.

They actually did that on an Ecotec in one of my turbocharging books. It was pretty interesting what they all did to keep it together. They eventually pulled over 1000 HP, no small feat on a 4 cylinder.

Are you gonna do a cost breakdown as you go?

cam or not. better valve springs are a must.