98vert6spd

i always wondered why people go for the 427 instead of the 454 c3 vettes

i personally like mroe cubes but what can the experts tell me

im from c5 but i really love c3s and want to know mroe before i buy one

Tom73

Maybe they like the years that the 427 was available better than the years that had the 454? Don't really know, but I like my 454

mongo6901

I can only speculate, but once you get into the 70s, there's no legendary battles between, say, a 427 L88 Corvette vs. a 427 Cobra. Or a Copo Camaro. Or a Hemi Roadrunner.

In 1970-71, while the cubes went up, performance may have taken a perceived dip as the smog requirements started to take hold. While Chevy "held the line" with more cubes and slightly less power, Ford and Mopar were rolling out the Boss 429 and Hemi Superbird (o.k., o.k. the Daytona was '69, but a relative unknown at the time).

I think it's purely emotion. And some hype (or lack thereof). Maybe a bit of history.

But all that is speculation.

98vert6spd

could you give me a quick run down on engines offered from 68-72 and what is desirable?

i went to an auction for repos about 4 months ago and there was 1 71 white 454 coupe there

it went for 17.5

whas that about right?

it was decent condtion but had some paint issues and a cracked center console

anyway

whats the ls4 ls5 ls6 lt1 deal all about?

Jughead

At 427 & 454 CI, they are now the runts of the litter. You can get a 502, a 572 or even make a 632.

427's ran in '68 & '69. The 454 ran from 1970-1974. The higher HP versions in 70 & 71.

mongo6901

The LS-4, -5, -6, and LS-7 are all 454s. The LT-1 is the hot small block.

Those are the factory motors (except nobody ordered a LS-7...allegedly).

You can make an argument for any of the big boys being the "fastest" Corvette of the time...depending on which magazine you reference.

But if you want to move into the really BIG boys (ZL1, ZR2, even a L88), if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

Look around, do some research, and find what you like.

79ls1

The reason the 427 is more desirable to some is because they twist so hard. They rev very quick for a BB.

Nowhere Man

the LS# or LT1 is the RPO code for the engine for that year.

The LS4 was available in 73 and 74 as 454/275 and 454/470. the LS5 available in 70, 71, and 72 as 454/390,454/365, and 454/270. The LS6 was available in 71 as 454/425. the LT1 was available in 70,71, and 72 as 350/370 350/330, and 350/330. there are more RPO codes for other engines as well. as for the 427 vs. 454 is more personal choice. I know for some people they like thge 427 cuz it was not used for a lot of years and makes them more rare to say. since the 427 was only available from 66-69 and used in Corvettes exect for some special cases unlilke the 454 which was used in Corvettes from 70-74 but also used in a lot of other chevy cars and trucks.

CGGorman

454 is a stroked 427, so all things being equal a 454 offers more torque but less revs than a 427, so HP remains similar.

I like revs.

L88 and ZL1 were both 427s, but if the LS7 had ever hit the street, we may have been asking instead why people gave up on the 427. As it is, the 454 ismostly regarded as a torquey truck engine and the 427 is mostly regarded as a race-ready spinner. Bottom line? It has more to do with history than science.

Glensgages

The 427 was available during the 'hey-day' of the muscle-car era (late-'60's), and it is 'remembered' better;
if the insurance/emission/mileage problems of the early-'70's hadn't surfaced, and the 454 had been 'glamorized' as-much as the 427, IT would be the more-desirable of the 2.

I'd be looking for a 502-or-bigger version.....

Gordonm

You can't say a bigger motor will not rev. I have seen plenty of 500+ cubic inch motors that will put a 427 to shame in the rev department. If the motor has the cam and heads there is no reason it will not rev. The 427 is a great motor but more cubes will give you more power. 502 is now a small BB. A 427 is a decent sized SB now. I have driven a 421 SB that was not supposed to rev. It will do 7500 all day long and flat pin your eyeballs.

Glensgages

In this day-and-age, the ability of any motor to RPM is based-on 2 things:
the valve-train/induction system's ability to get the incoming charge into/out-of the combustion-chamber.....

..... and the bottom-end's ability to keep the pistons from changing holes.....

98vert6spd

thats what i was looking for

ok on to the next issues

I know i want a metal bumper so i guess im looking at 68-72
Id prefer cheaper since i am mechanical and already have a c5 im looking for something i can work on through the years and put together a nice c3

how reliable are these cars?
like if i buya BB and go out and romp on it will it break?
this might be crazy but i was thinking 2 routees

1 is BB i dont give a **** if numbers match or not

other is small block and drop a ls1 in there and do all the conversions so i can have a DD

where am i missing?

norvalwilhelm

two identical built motors, the 454 will put out at least 25 more horse then the identical built 427. The 454 can be reved to 7500 for short bursts. That is more then enough. On the street the 454 will out torque the 427.
Cost of building is identical. Today i wouldn't even bother with a 454. I would go to the 496 with my existing block. Again I pick up at least another 25 horse, other then a crank the cost is the same, All use the same block, rods, heads, cams, Just the crank is different for the 496 and the pistons are about .100 shorter.
If I was using a bigger block I would go 540 and up.
The other alternative is a small 454 with a blower to make the little 460 think it is a tiger

MYBAD79

This may sound harsh but....A C3 is not a DD. You're spoiled with the C5 - you will likely be missing the fuel economy, a working A/C and the reliability ..... I have a '99 Z28 (LS1 engine) Camaro and I can imagine what it would be like having to depend on the '79 Vette as a DD.....
that being said.... a $30000 restored, upgraded and modified C3 may be a good and reliable daily driver....

With a modded 454 you will break stuff, the drivetrain - especially a 30+ year old - will not be able to handle that much HP and torque.

You say that you're mechanical - it's a great hobby to build a C3 over the years.... a chrome bumper BB will never loose value and it's a car to be proud of..... not a DD.......

98vert6spd

you said it quick dirty and to the truth which is what i wanted to hear

ill keep the pickup as a DD i guess

i just thought it would be cool as hell to roll around in a piece of classic art

oh well

I dont really need one thats blazing fast
i know its money every time you floor it and id liek to avoid that

Im torn here

I really like the styling and would love a BB but i wonder if i would ever even floor it to take advantage of all the cubes

hmmmmmm

what kinda price ranges are we talkign here?

say base motor SB and base motor BB

for say a 71 coupe

id love a convertible

what do they cost over and aboce a coupe?

Techno

They built a 427 optimum bore vs stroke, then lost all that power to CR so they stroked it and compromised. The compromise is the designed for B/S ratio. This makes a 427 better at spinning fast, of course this only counts if your spinning it fast.

2 small reasons
Stroking places more wear and stress on the engine
The 454 is also externaly balanced.

1 small reason
gain of 27 cu.in.


If you want big cubes for decently low cash. Buy a 500 caddy engine and put in chevy guts. The crank is larger so you stroke it. You get a minimum of 520? cu in with a lighter engine and better oil galleries. The block is also better metal.
A place in florida sells all the stuff to do it. It wieghs about what a SB chevy weighs.

Or conversly put in a 472 caddy and switch the hood emblem 427-472 its stock!

If you back up 1 year chevy sold a 650 hp BB for racing, I'm sure it was romped on, just not after 30 years of use-a-busa.

MYBAD79

you can get a chrome bumper project car for less than $6000 - just be patient and watch Ebay auctions and Vette traders.... a 454 long block (new parts) is less than $3000 (advertized in the CarCraft magazine) just in case you find a Vette without an engine...
Again, it is great to build a C3... I love mine even though it's only a cheap '79 SB... hey, still a lot cheaper than a Harley ... and it looks awesome
It's a pleasure to drive it and to see so many people staring .... you just gotta be careful not to break stuff when you install a monster engine in a old car a C3 doesn't have to be fast to turn heads....

98vert6spd

i like the 472 idea

cause then you can run with a confused look and act crazy till people look under the hood and actually see a 472
you can bet someone a beer that your corvette hasa 472 and they be certain your just mixing it up

these other 502 monsters and 570s sound damn near enormous

thats a hell of a lot of cubes
whats the litre for a 572?

454 is 7.3?

makes my 346 seam weak and unimpressive

Glensgages

1 litre = (approx ) 61 cubic inches
572 div/by 61 = 9.377 litre