Camshaft
While you might think that this minibeast has a roller cam, the 331 relies instead on a Comp flat-tappet Magnum hydraulic cam spec'ing out at 244/244 degrees at 0.050 with 0.534-inch lift with the bigger rockers. Instead of a chain, Jeff went with a Comp Cams wet-belt system that is hidden behind the aluminum two-piece timing cover. Because this was an early block he had to do some machine work to make the belt work, but it was used to improve valvetrain stability at high rpm.
Heads
Those are AFR 180cc Eliminator aluminum cylinder heads with 2.02/1.60-inch stainless valves. Jeff added a set of Comp Cams beehive PN 26915 springs along with flyweight titanium retainers, using the "soft approach" to valve control, since Jeff knew this short-stroke screamer would spin up to 7,000. For rockers, he chose a set of Comp 1.6:1 rollers along with 71/416-inch ARP studs. Manley supplied the 0.080-wall-thickness pushrods. The valve covers are chromed Z28 pieces with K&N breathers.
Short-Block
"My plan was to build a long-rod, short-stroke motor that would rev to 7,000," Jeff says. That includes a stock factory large-journal 327 crank ground 0.020- and 0.030-under on the mains and rods respectively. Then he used an off-the-shelf JE 6.0-inch-rod 383 piston (1.125-inch compression height) and combined it with a 6.250-inch Eagle I-beam rod. The 11/416-inch ring package on the piston is moved up so that even with the short compression height, the oil rings don't intrude into the wristpin hole. Compression is 10.5:1 with the flat, two-valve relief piston because Jeff pushed them 0.005 inch out of the hole using 0.036-inch-thick Cometic head gaskets.
Induction
That's a Professional Products Hurricane single-plane intake manifold with a 1-inch spacer below that Holley 750-cfm Street HP carburetor. Jeff tried a dual-plane thinking it would improve torque, but this high-rpm package much preferred the single-plane for peak power. Jeff saw a 22hp increase (464 went to 486) when he added the single-plane intake and spacer combo.
Lubrication
While you might expect some exotic oil pan tricks, Jeff says, "All I did was buy a '69 Camaro Z/28 oil pan and windage tray and bolt it on," and he added a Melling oil pump with the trick bolt-on pickup tube. He also ran the same break-in oil for the dyno tests, using Chevron's straight 30W Delo engine oil.
Ignition
That may look like a stock HEI on the outside, but remove the cap and you see that Jeff has updated this stocker with an MSD module, rev limiter, and coil along with MSD wires.
Exhaust
JGM runs all its dyno tests with open exhaust due to space considerations. Those are 131/44-inch dyno headers, so Jeff can expect to lose some peak horsepower to a full exhaust system, but that takes little away from this motor's bragging rights.
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!