Donovan SBC question for Bob

[Art Bee]

Hello Bob.

Question for you: A customer of mine has an aluminum Donovan SBC short block that he wants me to build for his 63 Corvette. What we are wondering is, how street able would the block be and if so, what oiling mods would you recommend for using a roller cam. I can't find much information online about it, other than ones that are for sale and I haven't tried contacting Donovan either. It's a fresh short block that is .040 over that I'd pull apart and check over before using and also has 1978 cast into it at the front. The owner would plan to use the car no differently than any other restored car, so like a few thousand miles per year and few hundred mile trips here and there.

Thanking you in advance for your opinion
Art Beaumont
Arrow Creek, BC

 

[Challenger340]

I am probably not the best resource off the top of my melon on these Blocks ?
the limited experience I have with them being the full water jacketed/raised Cam version for a Drag application many years ago, and it was pretty straight forward..other than the Cylinder Liners wanted to pop up when decking the Block for some reason ? Never did figure that out..just pressed them back down and carried on ?
Apologies here,
but I think the best resource would be to call Donovan for any reccomendations on the PARTICULAR Block you have, because there are DIFFERENT VERSIONS available, especially regarding cooling capacities(Water jackets) and Oil Filter provisions.
The Roller Cam should not be a problem so long as the Lifter galleries are drilled, or Bushed & DRILLED, a pressure fed Lifter Trunion for street use is a good idea, and just me personally, depending upon driving styles for the street..I prefer lower Valve Spring Rate Roller Cams for REAL street useage.

Another stupid preference I used to have with ANY Aluminum Block, was to HOT HONE the Final Cylinder Sizings with a Torque Plate.
YES,
I still have my heater, but it is a P.I.T.A. dealing with 140-150* Honing Oil flowing in a Block while Honing, and the fumes are just disgusting so I shitcanned that foolishness as I got older. LOL !

Maybe try Louie at AMS in Edmonton..they play with those fairly regularily I think ?

 

[Art Bee]

Hello Bob.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I will try contacting Donovan and see what they have to say as well as AMS in Chuk-Town too. If this thing is a go then I'm sure we will talk again ... sometimes those fumes from the past can bring back some good memories too. Again, thanks for your input ... I owe you a beer!

Regards
Art