hello, i have to purchase the inner guts to my heads, because the heads on the motor are on the block, but all i need to finish this motor inwhich i bought is put rockers and rods etc. to complete my project. When i take the valve covers off, the the parts are missing, so i have to start from scratch. My motor is a 455. I am new at this sort of a thing and am caught in the dark where to start. how would i know what parts i need? any advice would be great. do I have to know if the block was bored or anything? thank you. mike

 

Is it a close to stockish cam? What kind of heads are they? What kind of springs are on the valves? Can you use stock length pushrods?

All of this comes into play when deciding what rockers you can use.

If it's basically a stock type build, or even a performance one up to about .500 valve lift, then you can use stock rockers (I did on a .504 lift cam). You NEED to confirm what cam is in there before you go any further because this will dictate what length pushrods you will need.

 

As far as I can see, the heads are stock. Whatis th best way to tell? I am not sure how to tell what kind of springs, cam, rockers or rods are on my 455. Shall Ibe looking for any serial numbers or take parts aside and measure them in someway?

Another option:
Can i start from scratch and just buy a new complete kit that includes springs, cam, rockers, rods? If I go that route, what is some vital info I wold need to know before dropping the money on a new kit? Any suggestions? I am new at this stuff and your time is much appeciated

 

There are tools you can use to determine the lift of the cam without completely disassembling the engine, but they are specialised and are not cheap. You can take the engine to a machine shop to have it checked out and cleaned and have them do it for you, but again you're looking at spending some money.
I think, due to your lack of experience, it would most likely be best to take it to a shop and have it gone over to determine the condition of everything and go from there.

I'll give you a personal example.

I purchased a 455 long block (block and heads) for $300 in 1993. It was missing the timing cover, oil pan, intake, carb and distributor. I tossed in a cam that would be considered just over stock and put the engine together on the cheap. I probably had less that $600 in the engine. I dropped it into a 1980 Cutlass and one month later it spun a rod bearing and I ended up having to rebuild it anyway.

Moral of the story: Do it once and do it right. It might take more time and what you might think would be more money, but in the end you will be MUCH happier.