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A friend is getting ready to build a 496 cubic inch engine and has asked for ideas. I know several of you have experience with these and I would like some opinions for the build. The block is a 1985 454 block and the heads are 1973-781 castings. He plans on going roller but not sure on specs for internals as well as intake and carb etc. It will be going in a 1971 camaro with a 4 speed muncie trans. No plans for the strip just a good sounding and running street car. Currently has 3.08 gears but the rear is non-posi and will be coming apart to add the pos unit so opinions there would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

From what I have read currently stroker kits cost about the same as stock replacements. It's goning to depend on what he plans to replace. I have 3.55's in my Camaro and they seem to be an excellent compromise between performance and mileage with an overdirive trans. I'm very happy with the Edelbrock performer RPM everything.

For what is sounds like he is doing there are a couple of ways to go biggest difference is probably the crank
Solid or hyd roller?
A good milder street deal is a hyd roller RPM Air Gap, HP1000 about 10.0, more if aluminum heads,, well over 500HP on a bad day

While I prefer a forged crank in any performance deal if he is not going to RPM the crap out of it a cast crank will be just fine,
I have done a number of them for folks,, many on Team Chevelle
Last complete mild street hyd roller 496 I did came out pretty fair but it probably had a few parts he is not planning on,,,
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthr ... ost2841007

If he or you email me I will be glad to give you prices & options on a complete balanced rotating assembly
And all of my stroker assemblies are individually internally balanced in house by me they are not the generic production balanced stuff

Like Mike(Wolfplace) said^.You have to struggle to not make 500 hp+ with a hyd roller 496 and those cyl heads.
Is this enough power for your buddy and not tax his drivetrain to the max?As the power and torque goes up,open up the wallet $$$ wise because you will be finding the weakest link in short order.

haha, hopefully the weakest link is the tires!

Also, like Mike said, while we can thank the chinese for bringing everyman an affordable stroker kit, they don't get here perfect out of the box. You still need a skilled machinist to check everything, and adjust as needed. My 383 bottom end, the rods were a mess, the pin bushings needed to be reamed so the pins would float, and there was zero side clearance, also an easy fix thank goodness. And of course I had everything balanced.