Advice on what to build for the motor in my pulling truck

I have a pulling truck that i am currently running a pretty nasty 355 in.  The only reason i am running a smallblock is because of the money situation when i built the truck, and a buddy of mine had this motor already together and sold it to me cheap.  I am wanting to go big block.  id like to stay as close to the rules as i can.  The cubic inch limit is 472. have to run factory cast block, and factory cast heads.  No dominator intakes or carbs.  but we are allowed to run aluminum intakes.  the carb has to be a 4150 flange.  Technically were supposed to run pump gas, but there is a rumor that next year we will be allowed to run race fuel.  this is supposed to be a "street stock" class.  i will be running a manual transmission, with most likely 4.10 gears. but i also have 4.56 in the truck that i could run as well. i definitely want something thats gonna run higher rpms, and will hold together.  unlike some of the other guys in the class i dont have $30k to spend on a motor.  i have a good 454 to start out with and it has 781 heads on it  some people say those are the ones to run, just port and polish and put the big valves in and your good to go.  im open to ideas, and i plan on doing all the work minus machine work myself.  any suggestions or advice from someone with experience in this field would be greatly appreciated.  

sparkplugless Welcome to CHP:

Now when you say you have a good 454 and good 781 heads.

Do you mean it has all the good stuff in it. I.E. Cross drilled forged crank,forged pistons, and a forged steel connecting rod.

Or does good mean it can be used as a good foundation?

Post the block number. You are going to need a 4 bolt block. If you want a strong bottom end. Milodon does sell 4 bolt main caps, but you will have to find a reputable machine shop that can do that type work. Then your block will have to be line bored.

Good Luck.....

Bob

The 781 heads are oval port heads, from 1973 to 1985. Thats all I have on them.  

when i say good i mean its a good starting point.  everything is still stock.  it is a 4 bolt main block. out of a 75 1 ton camper special.  

You can purchase a Scat rotating assembly from Jeg's. Make more cubes. Get all the good pieces in one package.Then put a set of Aluminum heads on it and go.

Bob  

rules say i have to run factory cast iron heads.  i was actually considering a 468 rotating assembly because our cid limit is 472.  however i was talking to a buddy today and he mentioned something about machining down the rod journals on the crank to be able to put small block rods in there and it slightly increases the stroke and really lets it up into the higher rpms.  supposedly there is one truck that has that done and well he won the series in points this year.  truck runs like a raped ape.  but my buddy can be full of *** sometimes too.  

sparkplugless:
rules say i have to run factory cast iron heads.  i was actually considering a 468 rotating assembly because our cid limit is 472.  however i was talking to a buddy today and he mentioned something about machining down the rod journals on the crank to be able to put small block rods in there and it slightly increases the stroke and really lets it up into the higher rpms.  supposedly there is one truck that has that done and well he won the series in points this year.  truck runs like a raped ape.  but my buddy can be full of *** sometimes too.

How much RPM are you looking for? Whats your budget? You can make a 454/468 run 7500 rpm easily on a budget. This Chevelle ran a 468 at 8500 so did the Dragster we ran. 8500 rpm cost more to run.  



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLksGVznfws&feature=share&list=UUsf03crrbYYlBHJZZipYOuA

 
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A scat crank is better steel than a Factory offering(stock)If it is a LOW budget use factory dimple rods at least 12:1 pistons EKF likes Probe Pistons don't spend money on porting Factory heads just Good Valves and Springs.Get David Vizards book on BBC,lots of great Info.I can say more but the Dogs want to walk and don't want to wait.  

I would not turn a big block Chevy over 7,000 unless you have all the the forged bottom end pieces. You guys that pull really put a load on the complete drive train. As the skylark said Scat has many different forged parts. Buy one of their assemblies...

Bob