Let me know what you think, if I NEED to upgrade anything...

All the top end I have...just going to put together a new budget short block.

0.030 roller block prepped
windage tray
stock crank 3.48
reconditioned stock rods
Cast iron Federal Mogul Pistons flat tops
Surface decked flat
0.040 quench
083 head castings ported/polished w/ approx. 220/180 cfm flow (flow results coming to verify)
67 cc combustion chamber after surface mill
LPE 219 cam 1.6 rockers for .560/.560 lift. Might try some 1.5s also.
Accel base port matched
Accel runners port matched and siamesed at top ~2-3 inches
Ported plenum
stock throttle body
MAF

 

i bet the pistons aren't really cast iron. i get a M55 oil pump and mr gasket #26 spring. i'dreplace the rod bolts with arp pieces. get rid of the pull out rocker studs and open up the spring pockets.

 

I agree w/ ede on everything said. As for the pistons, might as well go ahead and get either KB hypers, or a set of TRW forged. You can get a set of .030" over TRW (Speed-Pro) pistons for like $220 shipped from Summit, so no reason not to get better than cast...

 

Heads taken care of. I'll be sure and use ARP pieces in rods. Do I NEED their bolts for anything else?

The only reason I will upgrade parts (Hyper, Forged) is if the power levels produced by this combo warrant them. Key words in my 1st post being NEED, & Budget.

 

i'd buy a solid oil pump drive shaft from arp but you wouldn't really need any other bolts unless you wanted. i usually replace the crank bolt and flywheel/flex plate and torque converter bolts with arp pieces.