My experience. I found a SD 455 short block in a salvage yard junk pile,1975era.No crank or heads or intake. Just block SR, #5 hole sleeved,8 rods,SD distributor, I took block and rods to Arnold Hines. I bought newSD rod bolts.He said I didnt need them. Engine has many 200+ runs usually shifting at 5400. When I first ran it I was shifting about 5800. John Herslow gave me some pointers. I've hit 6400 in the water a few times. Street car shifting at 5400.i tried 6000,engine didnt pull. I had an SD 455 block that came out of an early 74 4 spd car. That engine was built with roller cam for a street car.Owner lost interest. Sold engine to a stock car guy(old H-O racing newsletter with 2n d gen
Firebird on cover like 1977) The guy wasnt making enough power so he decided to rpm higher,broke one of the SD rods. Bent the thrust main outside short bolt,cracked cap. Block was ok. I ended up with the bottom end block,cam,lifters. Jim Miller built the engine(also thesmall journal RAV dirt GTO). He told me the reason why engine broke.I found the original car tried to buy it,nope. Then by accident a guy called me. Long long story. Here he bought the
car,that block is back in car. I do have 16 nos rods.i was buying all the SD parts I could afford at one time.
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