[Laneco]

You can do a splayed 4 bolt main on a 2 bolt main block.

The big thing is that you are starting out with a turd. A 79-81 is a real low performance engine and the heads are lousy. You're looking at 170 to 175 hp in stock form in a 3600 pound car.

An under powered porker with marginal suspension and brakes. If everyone has the same vehicle, then it's a fun race, and I do understand that. I would just look into the possibility of a backdated engine (e.g. pre-smog small block). If you could do that and wrap your little hands around an old high nickel big journal block with a set of 2.02's on top for your build, well, then you'd be cookin' with gas. It would cost you more to start with because the 79-81 engines are sold by the pound. But you'd make it up in power and longevity over the 79-81 engine.

Oh, and every 79-81 I've fiddled with was drum in the back including the so-called performance models.

angela