Posting for a friend - can anyone recommend a supplier for a 496 HO long block? Steel crank and better piston options would be a plus.

Thanks.

Where are you located?

Is current engine rebuildable? Lots of Boston area shops and people on this site can point you to somebody who deals with this engine. It is also getting common and cheap in junkyards.

Maine.

We're not sure yet. There's a lot of metal in the oil, almost zero oil pressure and also think there a broken valves. The owner didn't realize it but his Lightning headers were leaking for awhile. We plan to pull the motor in next week or so and thought a long block would be our best route.

ok, there is 1 reman for sale on ebay for 5400 bucks. Michigan. this will be all cast parts. there are whole avalanches for sale for 2500. one 8.1 truck motor in toms river nj for 1200. I am not recommending ANY of these. it is a starting point. if his engine runs, his block is probably good. Get it out. do an autopsy. you want forged crank and pistons start shopping for rotating assemblys. start talking to local shops. start asking local OSO members who to avoid. I don't know if Raylar is still an option or not.

Give Larry @ Raylar a call. Very helpful individual. Many act as if the 496 is rocket science. It's just a better engineered BBC. If the block is useable, then have a local shop redo the shortblock and heads. Raylar can source the forged rotating assy. Or don't mess around and buy one of these........

https://youtu.be/WS51ri1CQvw

Call Diamond Pistons. I had a custom 496 piston made there for a stock bore size. Make sure whatever piston you chose that it uses a standard ring set and not the crappy stock metric rings you find on the 496.

Lots of people act like the 496 is rocket science. It is not. There are a couple unique parts and sizes such as ARP only makes a head stud kit specific for the 496 (no head bolt set available) and the front snout of the crank has a strange size thread (i forget exactly what it is off hand)