Help with a 454 swap
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
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From: Raleigh NC
Help with a 454 swap
I can get a 454 + th400 from a 1-ton dually, I was wondering how difficult this would be to cram into the 'vette. I know some modification will be needed to get the tranny to fit, but how about the driveshaft? (Also, anybody know where the computer is on a 1983 dually?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 575
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From: Nice Lake Ontario
The 454, while out of a truck is not a "Tall deck" or "truck" engine.
Yes it will come with peanut heads but still, with a simple cam swap will make good hp & huge torque numbers! That's the kind of stuff that makes cars fun to drive. It will make as much hp (350-450) as a mild SB build at 1000-1500rpm less
& down the road another simple head & intake swap can put you into the 500hp range easy.
Swapping into a the corvette is easy, the 400 tranny will bolt up to stock mounts in the stock position, the motor will bolt up to existing motor mounts. You will need the engine accesory brackets of a BB Vette or BB Camaro & likely a rad improvement. You will also need some exhaust, a set of cheapy headers or the stock truck log style exhaust manifolds might fit??
Yes it will come with peanut heads but still, with a simple cam swap will make good hp & huge torque numbers! That's the kind of stuff that makes cars fun to drive. It will make as much hp (350-450) as a mild SB build at 1000-1500rpm less
& down the road another simple head & intake swap can put you into the 500hp range easy.Swapping into a the corvette is easy, the 400 tranny will bolt up to stock mounts in the stock position, the motor will bolt up to existing motor mounts. You will need the engine accesory brackets of a BB Vette or BB Camaro & likely a rad improvement. You will also need some exhaust, a set of cheapy headers or the stock truck log style exhaust manifolds might fit??
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Corvette M40s used the short tailshaft. As long as your truck tranny has the short shaft, it should bolt up.
Early AT cars also had some extra space in the tranny tunnel. AIM shows where the tunnel was cut for clearance and and a fiberglass cover bonded in. As long as you're swapping to an AT car you ought to be okay.
You will want BB front springs.
Early AT cars also had some extra space in the tranny tunnel. AIM shows where the tunnel was cut for clearance and and a fiberglass cover bonded in. As long as you're swapping to an AT car you ought to be okay.
You will want BB front springs.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 59
From: FL
You didn't say what year the 454 was from, but the late 80s up used very little intake ports and produce really pitiful power with 7.8:1 compression. Chevy should be shot!
The cam on some of these was the same as the 390hp 427 and 454, though, so with good heads, you have potential for a very decent street engine.
The cam on some of these was the same as the 390hp 427 and 454, though, so with good heads, you have potential for a very decent street engine.
