Clifford 6=8 products? Anyone using?

[Tony]

Originally Posted by dirtyjim

there have also been a few people that were splicing sb heads together.

That started in the late 60's by Sissel , Hendricks and a few others. Very expensive purpose build drag engines.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by slomotion

Just to add another thought.; when I built My 292 it wasn't for extreme performance, just a good all-round street driver. To this end I installed Langdon cast iron headers because they were durable, and fit well around the clutch linkage, but best of all they are quite. Sometimes with the tube headers you can get a knocking sound that is none-existant with the cast iron.

Good info. I'm learning more and more each day from yall's advice.

[dirtyjim]

I think Sissel is till doing it or was recently.
I've always wanted to do a 302 gmc with a crossflow head.
there is an algon head on ebay right now but the $12,500 price tag puts it out of range

[CST10]

Originally Posted by dirtyjim

I think Sissel is till doing it or was recently.
I've always wanted to do a 302 gmc with a crossflow head.
there is an algon head on ebay right now but the $12,500 price tag puts it out of range

Way outta my price range. Lol

[Tony]

I built a 302 and it was in a 37 Chevy 1/2 ton for many years . Carefully assembled with Venolia 9.25 actual compression pistons, hotter cam, short tube header, SBC valves and springs fitted into a lightly ported head. It was a lot of expensive machine work to correct the usual GM sloppy factory machine work.
About 220 HP and 300 ft pounds of torque. The flathead Ford V8 guys were scared to of the GMC
Spending 12 grand on the head and another 6 grand for parts might get 300 HP for a streetable engine.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by Tony

I built a 302 and it was in a 37 Chevy 1/2 ton for many years . Carefully assembled with Venolia 9.25 actual compression pistons, hotter cam, short tube header, SBC valves and springs fitted into a lightly ported head. It was a lot of expensive machine work to correct the usual GM sloppy factory machine work.
About 220 HP and 300 ft pounds of torque. The flathead Ford V8 guys were scared to of the GMC
Spending 12 grand on the head and another 6 grand for parts might get 300 HP for a streetable engine.

Wow. Now that's way outta my price range. Looking for mild upgrades that would add power and keep drivability.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by CST10

Wow. Now that's way outta my price range. Looking for mild upgrades that would add power and keep drivability.

My engine build was about 2200 bucks for machine work and another 2 grand for parts.I did all the assembly and fabrication of headers and so on.
6 forged pistons for any 6 cylinder are about 100 each for Venolia, Ross, etc. For a 302 GMC very little is available ready made. There';s a number of cam grinders who will regrind your stock cam for less than 100 bucks. If you need new lifters, that's another hundred bucks. Main and rod bearings are 200 bucks..
You can go the slightly cheaper route with very heavy stock pistons and stock head and valves with more carburetion ,a cam and headers. And that will do if you're happy with 170 HP at 4000 rpm and decent low speed torque.
People talk a lot of crap about these old engines making huge power.They confuse them with hyper expensive highly modified limited duration racing engines ..I've seen "normal" builds on the dyno and on the road and without spending a ton of cash ,the power is ok for vintage engines but that's it.

[CST10]

Now that's pretty affordable. About 4k is my budget.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by CST10

Now that's pretty affordable. About 4k is my budget.

Well, that was in about 10 years ago but I believe the prices are still about the same.
I didn't like the available made in Mexico engine bearings and found older new stock Clevite 77...If you use custom pistons then use SBC rings. Changing over to SBC valves and springs required changes to the rocker arms to keep proper geometry. The stock GMC valves and retainers are not suitable for over 4000 rpm .This is easily done at home as is drilling and tapping the block for a full flow oil filter.Much stronger tubular pushrods are inexpensive.
Old GMC's respond to all the same performance tricks used on a SBC so don't fall into the "they require special treatment" money trap.

[CST10]

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking that the prices may have gone up some but maybe not to much.

[RichardJ]

Tony, 37 1/2 ton, 302, 4 spd sag with Overdrive tail housing, former regular on the Stovebolt? How are you doing?

[Tony]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

Tony, 37 1/2 ton, 302, 4 spd sag with Overdrive tail housing, former regular on the Stovebolt? How are you doing?

Hey Richard, I'm doing good, how about you? I eventually sold the 4 speed OD and put in a T-5 . Then sold the truck to Laroke in Florida about 6 years ago. It's his daily driver and has over 80,000 miles on the engine build....
You have a 292 powered 67?

[RichardJ]

I recall you picked up an El Camino after the '37, but sounds like you've had a few other vehicles since then.
I'm still driving the '67. The only thing I've done to it in recent years is put on the 17" aluminum Hummer wheels.

To keep on topic, the 292 has a Clifford intake with Carter AVS.

[Tony]

The El Camino was a 4 speed V8 so we won't talk about it After that was a strong 261 Chevy 6 in my 50 Chevy PU. Then sold it all and got into old Jeeps...Now they are gone and I'm back in a Chevy with a 6...