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427 Chevy Big Block - Radical Rat

Shaver builds 700 hp from a pump-gas friendly 427 Chevy big-block.
By Steve Dulcich
Chevy Big Block Engine
Chevy Big Block Engine
Any high-performance engine... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
Any high-performance engine needs a strong foundation, and as power goes up, so does the strength required. The bottom end of the World Merlin big-block is bulletproof. Shaver filled it out with equally stout internals.
Chevy Big Block Engine
Shaver's engine is equipped... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
Shaver's engine is equipped with the ultimate in crankshafts, a beautifully sculpted Bryant billet piece. The main bearing journal diameter is standard. Note the gorgeous pendulum-cut counterweights, and profiled surfaces to minimize windage.
Chevy Big Block Engine
The rod journals are modestly... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
The rod journals are modestly undersized, at 2.100 inches. Some competitors in the Engine Masters Challenge believe that ultra-small Honda journals are the hot tip, but Shaver is the first builder we've talked to who has real testing experience and data. Shaver has found parasitic losses related to journal diameter fairly insignificant at engine speeds between 2,500 and 6,500 rpm.
Chevy Big Block Engine
Some of the most respected... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
Some of the most respected parts in the industry are connected to the crank. Shaver built this engine to live. How? By adding Carrillo rods and Mahle pistons. The pistons are fully phosphated and have an anti-friction coating on the skirt.
Chevy Big Block Engine
The reciprocal of the piston... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
The reciprocal of the piston dome is the chamber. Here's the inside view of the Brodix head. The valves are relatively large, at 2.300 inch diameter on the intake, and 1.860 inch on the exhaust.
Chevy Big Block Engine
Interestingly, a look beneath... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
Interestingly, a look beneath the oil pan of Shaver's big-block reveals the same kind of standard Chevy oil pump and K&N oil filter that any of us might run on our street big-blocks. Shaver states that these parts are more than enough to do the job.
Chevy Big Block Engine
One place this engine is definitely... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
One place this engine is definitely a little more exotic than what's found beneath the average street Chevelle, is the oil pan. The deep and wide Stef's fabricated aluminum sump with a built-in screen excels at oil control. Do a good job here and you stand to gain some serious horsepower by reducing windage.
Chevy Big Block Engine
The intake utilizes a HVH... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
The intake utilizes a HVH 4500-to-4150 adapter for this modest-displacement big-block. Shaver had several styles of spacers from HVH, and found that this configuration made the most overall power with the Carb Shop Holley and HVH-modified Brodix intake.
Chevy Big Block Engine
The lubrication system must... 
   
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Chevy Big Block Engine
The lubrication system must truly be working to perfection, as one look at the perfect condition of the bearings after the Engine Masters contest will attest to. They look like new. Shaver also gives some credit to the Joe Gibbs oil that was used when the engine was run.

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