1979 Big 10 Engine & Transmission Upgrade

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Mark Jones

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2018
Posts
177
Reaction score
493
Location
Horse Shoe Bay Tx/Thousand Oaks Ca
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
327
Ok, the new engine is installed and running, should have some track times soon when the track opens. One thing I noticed is it spins the slicks in high gear from a roll now, it didn't do that before. From my estimation I put 20% more TQ to the rear wheels on this build. Shooting for 11s in street trim with slicks and mid 11s in race trim. My next move is a aluminum drive shaft, then possibly shortening the bed to a short bed, then I'm done. After driving it around yesterday, it drives every bit as good as the 327 did, and its exactly what I was looking for.
 

Matt69olds

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Posts
2,338
Reaction score
3,571
Location
Central Indiana
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
GMC 1/2 ton
Engine Size
455 Olds
What are you doing for rear suspension? Mid 11s with a NA small block in a heavy truck is a lofty goal!!!

If you fall a little short of your goal, there is always nitrous!!! Biggest drawback of nitrous is no matter how quick the vehicle is, it always feels like a dog when the bottle runs out!!
 

Mark Jones

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2018
Posts
177
Reaction score
493
Location
Horse Shoe Bay Tx/Thousand Oaks Ca
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
327
My suspension is stock, my previous 327 ran 11.97 with a 1.63 60 foot. My new 350 has 90 more HP than the 327 and 104 TQ more. We also built a race trans, with a 2.75 low gear, my old trans the high gear was applying while in 1st gear. I now have a 20 % increase of power at the rear wheels, traction could be a problem. Any type of power adder is not a option for me. The track will be open soon and we will see.
 

Mark Jones

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2018
Posts
177
Reaction score
493
Location
Horse Shoe Bay Tx/Thousand Oaks Ca
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
327
What are you doing for rear suspension? Mid 11s with a NA small block in a heavy truck is a lofty goal!!!

If you fall a little short of your goal, there is always nitrous!!! Biggest drawback of nitrous is no matter how quick the vehicle is, it always feels like a dog when the bottle runs out!!
Well I got Shop/Race truck
to the track today. As usual the condition were good not great. I ran the truck as I drive it on the street, power steering and all.

1325 DA
29.52 Barometer
70 GOW

Run 1.

60 foot 1.59
660. 7.28
660 MPH 92.7


Run 2.

60 foot 1.42 rolled the light, foot brake wouldn't hold
660 7.33
660 MPH 93.1

Run 3.

60 foot 1.56
660 7.22
660 MPH 93.15
Damaged the leaf springs which ended my testing.

I will post video and pictures of the testing. If the conditions get real good I will put the truck on kill and get the 7ohs.
 

Matt69olds

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Posts
2,338
Reaction score
3,571
Location
Central Indiana
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
GMC 1/2 ton
Engine Size
455 Olds
A 7.28 1/8 mile is 11:30s in the 1/4, I’d say you hit your mid 11s goal pretty easy.
 

Mark Jones

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2018
Posts
177
Reaction score
493
Location
Horse Shoe Bay Tx/Thousand Oaks Ca
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
327

Attachments

  • IMG_0939.jpg
    IMG_0939.jpg
    140.2 KB · Views: 61
  • IMG_0916.jpg
    IMG_0916.jpg
    141 KB · Views: 63
  • VP shop truck 3.jpg
    VP shop truck 3.jpg
    165.6 KB · Views: 55
  • VP shop truck1.jpg
    VP shop truck1.jpg
    125.7 KB · Views: 59

GXPWeasel

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2019
Posts
573
Reaction score
1,033
Location
Kansas
First Name
Greg
Truck Year
1982 | 2015
Truck Model
Sierra C15 | Silverado Z71
Engine Size
5.0 | 5.3
Damn, that's a true sleeper. Great results, especially since it falls right in line with what you were hoping/expecting.
 

Mark Jones

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2018
Posts
177
Reaction score
493
Location
Horse Shoe Bay Tx/Thousand Oaks Ca
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
327
Ran a new best today:

7.04 @ 94.15 1/8 mile
1.50 60 foot

So close to having a 10 sec truck, its making me want to do just a little more............
 

Craig Nedrow

NADAR UNDER THE RADAR
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2018
Posts
823
Reaction score
1,459
Location
Washington State
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Love what you do Mark. But you got the disease like a bunch of us here....just a lil' bit more...Gonna take mine to the strip when it opens, run the BB K20 probably a 15 sec truck. Have a BW 475 turbo..and also a nice LQ4. Been thinking of an LS swap into the K20 and a 454 swap into the 54 3600.
 

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
3,968
Reaction score
14,481
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
Love these posts!
Those heads are beautiful!
Awesome work sir!
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,857
Posts
903,628
Members
33,370
Latest member
mitchell1128
Top