I scored a free 454 bigblock yesterday. It came out of a truck, which had taken the engine from a chevelle. I ran the date code already, and can confirm it's a 70 model engine at least....now before everyone gets too excited here's the flipsides...

It's been sitting outside, with 2 tarps over it (fluids drained) for a while....like along while. Probably ten years at the guess my friend gave me.

The block is definitely intact, no cracks on the heads, engine fully dressed.

It has 72 to 73 Camaro exhaust manifolds on it, and an HEI distributor.

I also scored an absolutely free cherry picker. Which appears to be in great shape. I haven't gotten either home yet, or had them apart.

I'm guessing there's nothing inside this engine worth saving. It's been outside A LONG time. It's seen snows, ices, rains, you name it even if it's been under tarps.

Mileage unknown. I know that it was used to haul a full size camper trailer around for quite a few years. Given that it started life in a Chevelle I'm going to guess someone "enjoyed" it before it found it's way to the truck it wound up in.

How expensive is it to rebuild these engines compared to a small block? Is it worth rebuilding and using in a C3 project down the line? (I'm not going for numbers matching...just a fun toy to compliment my C4) Or am I better off just cleaning it up and using it as a mount for a coffee table if it needs a total rebuild?

 

Pistons and rings are 450, connecting rod rebuilds are 120, turning crank and machining block 650, bearings 150, valve job on heads with new springs 300, exhaust manifolds 300 (china), gaskets 125. If you need a machine shop near Gastonia, try Buddy's. Don't forget the extras-accessory brackets and pulleys, water pump, 621 bellhouse and 11" clutch if going stick.

 

What does the stamp pad on the front of the engine have on it? This will tell you what car it originated in and what type of engine it is. It could be a 200hp slug or an LS-6.

 

I built an 87 - 454 for about $6-7,000 including aluminum heads. Had it in the machine shop and had everything you could do to a block had it balance there and blueprinted myself.

Went from this:



To this:





Read about it here:

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/the...t/index9.shtml

http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/themoneypit/

 

So the one on the front is how you identify which engine it is?
I'll have to spend some time cleaning up the front then. I looked up the rear casting which is so bad that looking at it since I made this thread IDing from that one is damn near impossible.

 

Pull one of the valve covers and check the head casting number. That's more important than the origin of the motor. If you rebuild this engine, you'll replace the cam and lifters. Blocks are essentially the same (unless you need a 4 bolt). With good stock heads you will get a nice street engine without the extra expense of new heads.

 

BBC Totally changes the car, you will be grinning when you drive it
I'm running a 2 bolt block but buttoned it up using ARP main Studs and rod bolts, should be ok for street use


Speedpro pistons, 10.5 compression using Aluminum heads with 119cc chambers

 

Which heads casting #s in particular should I be looking for on this engine? Like what's the desired head for the 454? It'll be Saturday or Sunday before I can really go out to look at it again.

I don't have much knowledge of BBCs. Mostly SBC, and V6s. Wish I had thought to take a magnet with me, to test on the heads with.

 

The list of head numbers is too extensive to post here. Report what you've got, and a huge discussion will follow as to closed/open chambers, oval/rectangular ports, valve diameters and why you should spend $1500 on a set of aluminum heads that create peak power at 6500 rpm in a street engine.