SB vs BB question
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Orange massachusettes
early shark The '71 LS6 engine weighs but a mere 40 lbs more than the '71 ZQ3 engine (base engine).
I wish I had looked into the actual wieght difference between aluminum head BB and SB engines before purchasing ZZ4. I was about $1800 away from ZZ454, now if I want to swap, I'm out the whole $5800!
If you want a BB, I say just go do it NOW! Dont "small block around" then pay MORE down the road to change/swap. Just my .02
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Massachusetts
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,780
Likes: 1,934
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I was going to blow past this thread, but feel inclined to respond.
You don't really say what you want the car to do. Do you want to drag race? Road race? Cruise? It all depends on how you intend to drive the car. I have a fuel injected small block in mine and am quite happy. It started life as a 250 horse TH400 base car. I have Tuned-Port fuel injection and overdrive transmission. It is faster and gets better mileage than it did new. To me, best of both worlds. I just enjoy cruising around.
If you want to go fast in a straight line, then as they say "there is no replacement for displacement". If you want to road race, then the BB changes the almost 50-50 weight distribution of a SB car and it is heavier than a SB with all the same weight reducing items (heads, intake, etc.). It is harder to cool a BB depending on the area of the country and if you have a/c or not.
If you want the best of both worlds today, I would go to a modern LSx conversion.
You don't really say what you want the car to do. Do you want to drag race? Road race? Cruise? It all depends on how you intend to drive the car. I have a fuel injected small block in mine and am quite happy. It started life as a 250 horse TH400 base car. I have Tuned-Port fuel injection and overdrive transmission. It is faster and gets better mileage than it did new. To me, best of both worlds. I just enjoy cruising around.
If you want to go fast in a straight line, then as they say "there is no replacement for displacement". If you want to road race, then the BB changes the almost 50-50 weight distribution of a SB car and it is heavier than a SB with all the same weight reducing items (heads, intake, etc.). It is harder to cool a BB depending on the area of the country and if you have a/c or not.
If you want the best of both worlds today, I would go to a modern LSx conversion.
