64con

What would be a short list of things a person would need to change to accommodate a Big Block in a existing small block. I may have a chance to pick up a old 427 BUT I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do for me. I do have a matching 327 300 hp presently and should keep it original but am looking at options. ie get a small block crate motor, or find a SBC 350 block and throw on some vortec heads, or throw on some heads, intake, cam on my existing motor, or go for the Big Block, or just be happy with what I have.

Rad
Front Springs
?

thanks


Warren

62Jeff

Start by notching the front cross member to allow the balancer to clear.

64con

That doesn't sound like fun for a starters. Staying with a small block may be a wiser choice.

thanks Jeff

Warren

62Jeff

Yeah, that's why my post was so minimalist. While I know there's a laundry list of parts to buy to do the swap, the front cross member on a pre-65 car is usually the biggest hurdle for people.

Here's the front cross member of my 65, which has the clearance built-in as did all 65-67 frames (regardless of engine size).

62Jeff

Hopefully someone who has done the swap into a 63/64 can shed some insight into the work required to get the cross member to comply. Perhaps a well-placed BHF would be sufficient to do the trick?

Oaker57

64con,
Sorry, I know this is off topic, but looking at your avitar pix, I was wondering if that color is Daytona Blue by chance??

My 64 was originally D. Blue, but I have never seen the color and was thinking about puting it back to original one day.

If that is D. Blue, do you have any more pix you could post? I would love to see what it looks like.....

Thanks,
Mark

claysmoker

Here's a pic of the mod I did on the '64 to clear the serpentine drive pulley. 1/8" steel plate. It will clear a BB as well.

sting ry

Pull the matching #'s block and store it. Buy or build a screaming small block and dress it up to look like the stock 300 hp!! This is my idea of the perfect sleeper.


Cheers
Steve

64con

Yes it's Daytona Blue. I just finished up a regiment of ziano brothers polishes and took a picture and decided to change my avatar. If you want to see more pics, go to my profile and look at my album, I have a few pics

thanks

Warren

64con

I think your right Steve. If I decide to sell the car , the transition from SBC to SBC would be a wiser choice.
It's just like tv's you know , the bigger the better , and more manly too! I can't help it
thanks

Warren

00fxd

That will do it. Not a problem at all ..... a blue wrench usually helps with that job.

Procrastination Racing

Not necessary. The harmonic damper is well behind the frame. the pulley is what goes over the frame.

I can't find my pictures, but there is enough clearance. The issue is that changing belts becomes a nightmare. If you want to solve the problem, use a 5 inch or 6 inch lower crank pulley. Of course, you may have to resize the other pulleys to keep speed right for water flow and charging, but realistically, you can run the smaller crank pulley and still be good for normal driving.

What you need:

Exhaust change

Pulley set up and belts

Radiator hoses

Need a larger radiator with big block

Alternator is on the wrong side, so wiring for regulator is on the wrong side.

Hood

Springs maybe. Depends on what you have.

Minimum list. Go for it, you will love a big block.

amtronic1

Go with a small block with BB size - 427 using a Donovan block. You get to keep the same accessories, less weight than a BB, no frame butchery, less heat than a BB.

Do realize that with a BB or BB capacity small block, you will be stressing the rest of the drivetrain. There is a reason they upgraded a lot of the components when GM put BB into production. Also those drum brakes may not do the job getting it whoa-ed down.

wow

Warren, don't give up yet. I converted my small block '67 to a period correct 427 big block. Is it cheap and easy? No. But if you are still interested in what it takes, send me a pm. Nick

64con

I think I have given up on thoughts of a Big Block Conversion (Pandora's box as far as keeping originality or restoring back to original after the fact ). I'm going to keep the car stock as possible and maintain what I have. I know that my 1964 Daytona Blue 327 300 HP (according to some people) is the most undesirable of the C2's but you know what, I enjoy it and that's all that matters..and besides that I'm in the middle of a basement reno,,my eaves-troughs need replacing and the list goes on and on.
thanks everyone

Warren

wow

The best thing you said was..."I enjoy it..." that says it all

64 RDSTR

I swapped the 327 out of my 64 for a GM ZZ383 crate motor. Same brackets, etc. Easy swap. I have more HP and TRQ than I could ever use. Put a mid to hvy cam in it. It is certainly not your standard 64, and when it idles, you know it.

64con

Yes I agree. A ZZ383 Crate Motor would be very nice. It's suppose to have big block torque and hp in a small block size and more power than you really need
I recently got a carter afb 3721 rebuilt and it's working great. I also just installed a pertronics kit and flame thrower coil and it's working really well. Now I can get rid of the edlbrock streetmaster intake and install the original cast iron intake that my brother and myself powder coated on and have original equipment for the power train. I've never had the car running so well.
I may have to wait for the crate, thanks again for the input.

cv67

Build yourself a 396 with a 4" bore block or grab a 400 block, internal balance it stick a 3.875 crank for 421 cubes. Dress it up as stock as you can, put the big block hood and a 396 emblem on it then listen to all the know it alls at the next car show when you have th ehood raised.

Or leave the 327 sticker on the air cleaner and have some laughs.
Lotsa ways to skin a cat.

64con

What's everyone think of the Ramjet 350 versus stroker 383