If you wanted to keep compression down, I have a couple sets of Wiseco MP crate engine pistons I'd sell for dirt cheap.
One set std 426, the other 528 4.500x4.150. Just throwing that out there.

I came very close to doing a 528 with this block and had bought the above pistons + rods to go with, but then later came upon a
Once in a lifetime deal on what I believe to be Indy 572 crate engine pistons. I got pretty excited about the larger CI so I went that way and dove into it. I'm not rushing, though, because I know what can happen + I still want to keep running my wedge engine awhile.

Thanks for the offer Rich, but I hope to keep the standard bore, and I already have my stroker crank and chevy 7.1 rods

Bob, it's all good.

Thought I'd wrap this up since it was the OG thread.

Godzilla lives!

I fired it two days ago (the date was 4/26) and got it running long enough to see how it's going to go.

It didn't fit my usual test dolly (the external oil line interfered, I fixed that and then the headers interfered)
so I improvised with plan C.

It was admittedly rather sketchy, I just grabbed whatever known working ignition and fuel I could find and did it.

Will come up with a better system for the future.

2 days later: I'm still geeked.......

In keeping with the spirit of ugly pictures, here are the last saved shots of the world's trashiest looking test rig,
and the eventual recipient.

Rusted MP chrome box from the '90s (black heat sink, "Made in USA") , spare TFI coil:
Add that to the long list of "never tried that before".
Actually not a bad looking spark.

12 dollar ebay emergency electric fuel pump.

I had to hear it run pretty badly. Mission accomplished.

Well done Rich!

Back on the stand now for cleaning and painting.

Changed my tune on paint, decided to spend extra and go the extra mile
for PPG instead of spray cans. PPG has held up so well on my 451
(it looks literally like new after 19 years), I feel it's the best choice for
a major (for me anyway) build like this one.

Spray cans have been fine for the few casual builds in between,
but anything (like this) that takes a year or more definitely ain't casual!

In the background....the eventual recipient, slowly rotting away, in dire need of some resto work.

I've started on some metal work while waiting for engine parts
to arrive etc, and I want the engine swap to drive a few other changes to the car.

All for now. Thanks for reading and congrats on having a long attention span!

I thought I heard something on Sunday. Congrats!

When do you think you'll be able to drop the Hemi into the GTX?

That dang hemi don't look right without dual quads on it

I dont know if the Jobbers in your area do it, but we sell epoxy primer in a spray can that has an actual hardener on the bottom, also we put DCC in spray cans, again they have the hardener on the bottom so you can activate them , then spray within 24-48 hours. Works really good but no spray gun needed !
Just an option , ask your local paint jobber.

I had some Matrix epoxy primer on hand and shot it last night.

Busted out a touch up/detail gun that I had never used...."brand new in the package from at least 10 years ago" Devilbiss Starting Line kit (two-gun package), bought from Eastwood at a show but I can't even remember if it was at the Mopar Nats or Carlisle.

For a small job like an engine, the detail/touch up gun is a huge improvement over the full size Harbor Freight gun I used on the 451 (which worked well but threw way too much paint, way too quickly/hard to control).
On the detail gun, the fan can be shrunk to the size of a 50 cent piece and you can really control it.
Overspray seems almost non-existent.

Of course I want to throw the engine in the car right away.....but the car could really use some attention.
I think I'll get the Hemi painted, get a couple pieces powder coated, and figure out the dolly situation a little better.

After that I will mothball it, and switch to replacing some metal on the car.

Preliminary plan is replace all bad metal from the windshield forward during the Hemi install,
repair all the holes drilled in the engine bay over the years, and stuff like that.

I would like to have it ready to be primered from the windshield forward before starting to fit the Hemi.

Shouldn't be super difficult to take care of that later. A whole lot later.

In fact, let's go back to the beginning......here is where it all began.

It started with a mockup rolled in front of the car.
I intended it as kind of a joke at first, but it helped me decide if I was just going to dump
all this stuff or use it.

Emailed the pics to several long time friends and influences once I decided what I was going to attempt.
Nobody tried to talk any sense into me! Not one word of discouragement.

I do intend to try the tunnel ram later. The OEM style intake is not a good fit for the build although it looks nice.

I can either throw two freshened Edelbrock 600s on it and straight/simple linkage, or I can buy another 950 QFT Brawler to match the one I already have and do the whole sideways Enderle linkage deal.

I'm leaning towards getting a second QFT, and leaving the edelbrock carbs for the OE manifold (or maybe an edelbrock).

Thanks for the replies and comments. I do appreciate 'em.

I like the Tram I know I am repeating myself

Very nice Rich thanks for sharing the build. I totally understand getting the car ready before the transplant, that is smart.

Looking forward to dragstrip results

I did the thing.

Only used 8 ounces of paint, one tack coat and
2 full wet coats. The Devilbiss really worked nice.

The shade is PPG AMC/Chrysler Mandarin Orange 3116.
I first learned about it from a Steve Dulcich article and used
It on the 451. Then years later when I went to work at the big blue
M, guess what Cummins was using on crate engines? Same code!
So These days I usually just call it “crate motor orange“.

I think I like it. Hopefully it holds up.

I only mixed 8 ounces of paint (+ hardener and reducer),
But after one tack coat and two full wet coats I was done with the engine.

Still had about 2 tablespoons of mixed paint in the cup. What to do?

Rather than throw it out, I fogged most of the wix/carquest oil filter stash real quick to
Use it up on something.

This thing has sure come a long way.
My hat is off to the experts who do this successfully for a living.