454 ?????
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
you don't have to make excuses for only having a small block...
My 72 bb got better mileage than any of my small blocks,
when we swapped my 383 for the 454 both cars had hooker side pipes much to my shock the bb headers went back on far easier
Oddly I liked the handling feel of the 454 better than the 383,
I have always ran bb so do not notice the cramped wrenching my 69 had a sb in my 69 and installed a 454 but if you try to buy a chromie with a bb get ready to pay...I guess they are popular.
My 72 bb got better mileage than any of my small blocks,
when we swapped my 383 for the 454 both cars had hooker side pipes much to my shock the bb headers went back on far easier
Oddly I liked the handling feel of the 454 better than the 383,
I have always ran bb so do not notice the cramped wrenching my 69 had a sb in my 69 and installed a 454 but if you try to buy a chromie with a bb get ready to pay...I guess they are popular.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Not necessarily if the buyer is willing to consider a NOM. There are some out there which had their original engines blown, replaced with another, otherwise all other BB upgrades still there. Depends on how important originality is to the buyer, why they want the BB. Judging? Driving? Show? etc..
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 178
Likes: 22
From: Vermont
I have a 71 BB 454 & love it. Front end weight? Who cares? ( or, who even knows ? ) Difficult wrenching ? How many times do you plan to do that ? It's a Chevy & will run a long time with normal service.
Why a Big Block ? Because it's a BIG BLOCK. You don't need to justify anything that you believe is the right choice for YOU. When you arrive at your favorite hang-out, there's no need for stories, explanations or excuses when those 427 or 454 numbers are on the hood. Because it's a BIG BLOCK.
Yours should not be a logical decision. Owning a Corvette is not about common sense. It's about passion, excitement, feeling young and, most importantly, being ALIVE ! Buy the car that makes your heart beat a little faster. Then tell us all about your first drive.
Good luck, Tim
Why a Big Block ? Because it's a BIG BLOCK. You don't need to justify anything that you believe is the right choice for YOU. When you arrive at your favorite hang-out, there's no need for stories, explanations or excuses when those 427 or 454 numbers are on the hood. Because it's a BIG BLOCK.
Yours should not be a logical decision. Owning a Corvette is not about common sense. It's about passion, excitement, feeling young and, most importantly, being ALIVE ! Buy the car that makes your heart beat a little faster. Then tell us all about your first drive.
Good luck, Tim
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Agree!
Not necessarily if the buyer is willing to consider a NOM. There are some out there which had their original engines blown, replaced with another, otherwise all other BB upgrades still there. Depends on how important originality is to the buyer, why they want the BB. Judging? Driving? Show? etc..
Agree!
Do some digging and you can find a NOM BB Corvette needing some odds and ends work for pretty reasonable. To each his own, but I would rather be rumbling down the highway rather than trailering the Corvette and showing off my engine stamp pad. And, when this BB poops out, I can put in another, ha!
Last edited by 20mercury; Jun 27, 2016 at 01:38 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 253
From: Catlett VA
" if the buyer is willing to consider a NOM". Exactly. My 68 convert came with "427" ON the hood and a 454 UNDER the hood. I don't plan on showing the car, so I got a BB non-matching engine car for less $$$. Plus, 454 parts are easy to find.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 54
From: Fayetteville NC
Like someone said, depending on what the buyer wants. It's cheaper to stroke a SB 350. I love mine with no issues once set up correctly. And if you want, put a 454 badge on the hood. Good Luck with your search!! 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I have a 71 BB 454 & love it. Front end weight? Who cares? ( or, who even knows ? ) Difficult wrenching ? How many times do you plan to do that ? It's a Chevy & will run a long time with normal service.
Why a Big Block ? Because it's a BIG BLOCK. You don't need to justify anything that you believe is the right choice for YOU. When you arrive at your favorite hang-out, there's no need for stories, explanations or excuses when those 427 or 454 numbers are on the hood. Because it's a BIG BLOCK.
Yours should not be a logical decision. Owning a Corvette is not about common sense. It's about passion, excitement, feeling young and, most importantly, being ALIVE ! Buy the car that makes your heart beat a little faster. Then tell us all about your first drive.
Good luck, Tim
Why a Big Block ? Because it's a BIG BLOCK. You don't need to justify anything that you believe is the right choice for YOU. When you arrive at your favorite hang-out, there's no need for stories, explanations or excuses when those 427 or 454 numbers are on the hood. Because it's a BIG BLOCK.
Yours should not be a logical decision. Owning a Corvette is not about common sense. It's about passion, excitement, feeling young and, most importantly, being ALIVE ! Buy the car that makes your heart beat a little faster. Then tell us all about your first drive.
Good luck, Tim
NOM BB Corvette are cheaper than a numbers matching purists dream machine which have prices in orbit.
however,
lately I have been seeing a lot of chromies with bb NON engines still in the high teens early 20's are they selling for that?
That isn't cheap to me, I paid 6200.00 for my 69 convertible delivered, it now has a 454 and with all the stuff I had to fix buying a 6200 69 convertible I am at about 12-13K so for me that is still economical....to a degree.
Last edited by The13Bats; Jun 27, 2016 at 07:01 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
I seldom have "planned" to do any wrenching on mine, but it has happened with tremendous frequency. Its not all about how the car runs, but other components are effected by the space taken up by the engine, for example changing the upper control arms. Would have been a breeze on a sbc car.
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Team Owner
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From: S/W ,Fla-Ohio State Football isn't a matter of life or death,Its Much More serious than that
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2015
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Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 178
Likes: 22
From: Vermont
There's a saying: " I didn't pay too much for the car ; I bought it a year too soon. " The prices are only going to continue to rise. That said, wait for the one that is exactly what you've wanted. There's no shortage of classic Corvettes.
Tim
Tim
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 51,040
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From: S/W ,Fla-Ohio State Football isn't a matter of life or death,Its Much More serious than that
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
From what I've seen a buyer should be able to buy a very nice matching numbers BB chrome bumper for $30K to $40K. My guess, a very nice comparable NOM for $20K - $25K. Any chrome bumper selling for less than $20K often needs paint or mechanical work.