Your big block engine rebuild video series

Hey Joe!

Thanks so much for watching the series and I am so happy it is helping you pursue your hobby. Please let us know how it goes! I would love to see pictures and read all about it.

It is kind of funny you golf for a living and wrench for fun. I wrench for a living and golf for fun. Too funny!

Yeah there is no way I could let my family's legacy of building big blocks just be forgotten to the past. I had to build one last one and film it to be preserved forever. I am not sure my kids would be interested in it so I really wanted to put it on YouTube for all to enjoy and to be passed down through other people.

Thank you again for watching!

Best Regards,
Ryan

Hi Ryan,

Couple questions:
1. Do you have a whole parts list of everything you bought for your build? I would like to put it all together in place if possible.
2. My 454 is from my '75 C10 2wd. My plan is to restore the truck with some additional power and some modern upgrades. I will still use it as a truck when needed sometimes so. want the engine build to be appropriate for that. It has a TH400 and a 12 bolt rear end. Perhaps a different cam and heads than what you used would be better for this build or maybe not? Just want your take on that.
3. I think I want to use a throttle body EFI like FiTech or Holly Sniper for convenience and reliability. Any recommendation with regard to that and ignition to use with it?
4. And just one last one.. Any reason Gen IV are called Mark IV and no others are?

Thanks!!

Hello, I'm Danny.

Just here to add my two cents. Adding a bigger cam, Higher compression, And better flowing heads always helps to make more power. Everything however needs to be synced to work together efficiently. When choosing these things everything must be planned for streetability and reliability. When you choose to build this motor everything must be taken into consideration like transmission torque converter size, Camshaft grind, Rear differential gear size, Compression ratio, Cylinder heads, and the list goes on. If you want to keep the engine carbureted like your Mark series you can switch to GM HEI electronic ignition to eliminate a points type ignition system like you have for better reliability. The 1960's, 70's, and 80's engines are denoted as the Mark series. If you want to switch from carbureted to fuel injection the FiTech and Holley Sniper are both good choices. Just remember you will to convert from a mechanical to electrical fuel pump due to higher fuel pressures. The Gen series came out in the 2000's. Gen 3 ran until 2007, The Gen 4 for you asked about started around 2005-2007 and included the 4.8, 5.3, 5.7, 6.0, 6.2, and 7.0 liters. Gen 5 was around 2014-15. These motors no longer use a distributor and are using coil on plug systems as well as fuel injection. You would have to add a PCM- powertrain control module or a stand alone system to make all the sensors work on your truck to make an old body style truck work with a late model engine. Let me know if you need any more information because this is a huge question with many options available. Building a motor is a big job that takes a lot of information.

Here is a cool Summit YouTube video to watch:

https://youtu.be/1T5ruycaD4M

Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

Hi Danny, Thanks for your input here. So, my confusion between Gen IV and Mark IV is solved. Ryan was calling the engine he rebuilt a Gen IV but in fact it was a Mark IV right? Mine is definitely a Mark IV that came stock in my 1975 C10 and going back in it. My truck is an F44 Big 10. It has the stock TH400 transmission and 12 bolt rear end.
So, I guess a simple version of my initial question is: if I use the exact same Heads, Cam etc. that he used and have the bore done to the same specs, is this a good set up for a truck?

Thanks

Hey Joe,

I believe Ford and GM has some sort of dispute about using Gen and Mark so after that GM had to call the blocks Gen. So its Mark 1-4 and then Gen 5-7. But I meant Gen and Mark 4 they are the same thing. My block is a Mark 4 but I might have said Gen 4 here and there meaning generation 4 or 4th iteration.

Yeah I would put it in a truck. But you might want to lower the compression with less domed pistons so you can run 87 if this is going to be a work truck or something you haul with. Unless you are okay with putting 91 in it.

Best,
Ryan

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for clarifying the Gens and the Marks! Ultimately I knew both of ours are Mark 4s.
So this truck will not be a work truck and I’m fine putting 91 in it. So if you do have a full parts list for your build, I’d love to have that.

Thanks!

Hello again.

The rule of thumb is to keep the compression ratio no more than 9:5-1 to keep the use of pump gas. When you start going 10.0-1 compression or higher you will start having to use additives when filling up. Ask your machine shop how much the engine block and cylinder heads have to be machined to take away any irregularities. When the block and heads are machined that way it increases the compression ratio by machining off material. If you purchase 9.0-1 compression pistons when rebuilding the engine having the block and head machined heavily can increase the ratio becoming 9:5-1. These are all things I mentioned that will have to be factored in when building an engine. A lot of decisions will have to be made. There are a lot of videos out there to guide you as well as questions you can ask with the companies where you will be purchasing the parts. Let us know if you have any further questions as we're always here to help. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-

Hey Joe,

Okay, I will put together a build sheet for you. I will post it here when it is done! Thanks for watching!

Best,
Ryan

Hey Joe,

Finally got around to making that list for you. Here is the link https://www.2carpros.com/articles/big-block-build-sheet

Thanks for watching!

Best,
Ryan