What would you build a 3.0 into - street legal
 

I have a warn out 3.0L that I want to rebuild. I am looking for more power, obviously. This motor will be for track use, but I would like to be able to smog it if I need to. I live in LA so it would have to pass the sniff test. I don't mind swapping out the exhaust or a few other "easy" parts if I need to.

Let me know your thoughts.

-P

Since you have a 79 SC (big port) I would just build a 3.2 short stroke, Web 20-21 cams (or DC equivalent 15 or 19) and set it up for an easy SSI /sport muffler exchange.
With smog there is very little else to do except perhaps add a 3.2 Carrera crank for even more size.

Here is a 3.4 we built for a customer about two years ago. He elected to maintain his stock heater boxes and cat then just go for size and cams and sport muffler.
His friends can't believe how fast his smog legal car is.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1377053240.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1377053271.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1377053287.jpg

Geez Henry! That plating is just the cats' arse. Beautiful! Do you guys have a plater nearby, or do you do that in-house?

You should see his teeth!

So what's involved in going to 3.4L? Just pistons and barrels?
Is that as large as we can go with a 3.0L without major machining?

The 3.4 involves a new PC set going from 95mm (stock) to 98mm (oversize). Additionally, you must install the new crank and rods from a 3.2/3.3 engine that gives you the 74.4mm stroke compared to the 70.4mm stroke (stock).

No special machining of the case is required. The heads can be used in stock form, though some will add a chamfer at the outer perimeter of the heads to help with the squish in the outer perimeter.