Editor’s Note: EngineLabs has launched a new feature titled Homegrown Horsepower, and we’re looking for all types of engine projects based in your garage. More details on this sweet Rat motor follow, and engine builder even has his daughter involved in his shop projects. If you want to see your engine featured in this new series, email a few quality digital photos, background information on your project and list of the engine’s components to enginelabs@powerautomedia.com. We can also include YouTube videos of the engine on the dyno or test stand. So, don’t be afraid to show off your engine. Send us the details!!

In the newest installment of EngineLabs‘ Home Grown Horsepower series, the focus is upon Nick Visciani’s sweet 496ci big-block Chevrolet build, which found a home in his Pro Touring ’69 Camaro street car. In lieu of using a preferred lightweight Dart aluminum block, Visciani sourced a Gen IV 4-bolt-main big-block casting from eBay, of all places. As the engine is destined for mainly street use, parts selection is tailored around smooth drivability with plenty of low-rpm torque.

An Ebay-sourced engine block holds a SCAT forged rotating assembly.

Glenn Behrens of Glenn’s Machine performed the machine work on the block, which uses a .060-inch overbore to net a 4.310-inch cylinder, and the 4.25-inch stroke puts the engine at 496 cubes. The forged-steel crankshaft and I-beam connecting rods are from SCAT Enterprises, while the pistons come from Probe Industries. Mike Lewis Racing Engines spec’d out all of the components, and Visciani bolted the beast together in the garage – the Broken Bolt Garage.

The pistons combined with the Edelbrock Performer RPM oval-port cylinder head castings puts the compression ratio at 11.0:1 – about the limit for pump gas, and perfect for this combination. The 292H hydraulic flat-tappet camshaft is from COMP Cams, and carries 244I/244E at .050-inch duration figures along with .550-inch lift on both intake and exhaust sides, actuated by Pro Comp 1.7:1 aluminum rocker arms. An Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold sits on top fed by a Quick Fuel Technology 850 CFM carburetor. 1 7/8-inch Hedman headers and Flowmaster mufflers complete the package of homegrown horsepower. ARP hardware and Fel-Pro gaskets are used throughout, and other components to finish the engine off, like the MSD ignition, came from the Summit Racing catalog.

The engine rests inside his 14-year-project Camaro, which is designed to be enjoyable to drive without wrecking the budget. The rest of the car has been upgraded with a mix of parts from companies like QA1, SPEC Clutch, and Speedtech Performance allowed him to upgrade the underside of the car and the driveline with parts that follow the theme of drivability and fun-factor performance. The end goal was a car he could drive and thrash on without fear of wrecking a $20,000 paintjob.

“The 496 was a budget build I did after the old 454 was done – I ran the old 454 since 1985. I reused the heads, carb and intake I had from that engine. It made 500/500 at the wheels with only 25 degrees total timing. I’ve made a few changes since the dyno run and haven’t had time to get it back on the dyno,” says Visciani.

It appears that Visciani has achieved his goal of a fun-to-drive car without setting his wallet on fire. Budget-built engines (and cars) for the win!

Check out Nick’s car on the Elite Racing Development dyno!

In an interesting side note, Nick shared a few photos of his daughter, Jenna, assisting him in assembling a 9.0:1 489-cube engine for another project that will be hers when she’s old enough to drive.

“We used the old 2-bolt main 454 from my Camaro that was .030 and added a SCAT crank and rods along with JE pistons. It also has Edelbrock heads and intake manifold. She did everything except the heavy lifting and torquing all the bolts,” he says.