When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon. After driving and listening to a big block vette, my other rides are lacking something. Displacement. Always been a fan of small blocks and the way they can interchange. Plentiful and inexpensive to modify. Figured any small block could be modified to the point where it could smoke a BB. That may or may not be true. I am now hopelessly hooked on Rat engines. Started a search on Craigslist for an early bone stock unmolested 454 to modify. Believe it or not that was not easy. 454s are becoming scarce. At least the early blocks, pre 74. Finally found one out of a 74 GM 1 ton. Score, 500$ complete. Gonna start tearing it down this weekend. I hope there are no surprises. So what do you prefer, taste great or less filling.?
I agree with you. I have built a couple of really nice street small blocks and they are great to work with. But just something about that bone crushing torque of a BB that is just hard to describe. In spite of the size of these C3's they really aren't light cars. They need cubes and gearing to wake them up JMO. And you are correct early BBC's are getting very hard to locate.
I agree with you. I have built a couple of really nice street small blocks and they are great to work with. But just something about that bone crushing torque of a BB that is just hard to describe. In spite of the size of these C3's they really aren't light cars. They need cubes and gearing to wake them up JMO. And you are correct early BBC's are getting very hard to locate.
Whats wrong with using a 454 from an <90 (MarkIV) or 96-01 (GenVI) These use all the same parts as an early with the exception of the 96+ being roller cam and not having mechanical pump boss.
Whats wrong with using a 454 from an <90 (MarkIV) or 96-01 (GenVI) These use all the same parts as an early with the exception of the 96+ being roller cam and not having mechanical pump boss.
Nothing wrong with them. I was confirming OP's comment about early blocks. He mentioned they were getting scarce and I was agreeing with him.
Whats wrong with using a 454 from an <90 (MarkIV) or 96-01 (GenVI) These use all the same parts as an early with the exception of the 96+ being roller cam and not having mechanical pump boss.
Nothing wrong with later model 454s. Early blocks were all cast at the Tonawanda plant in NY. It's a fact, they had higher nickel content and were stronger.
Nothing wrong with later model 454s. Early blocks were all cast at the Tonawanda plant in NY. It's a fact, they had higher nickel content and were stronger.
Ray
I scored a 1972 block, casting #3999289 a number of years ago in FL. I have read some info indicating that is supposed to potentially be one of the heavier castings with good nickel content. I am no expert on vintage chevy parts but the machine shop also liked that casting. I did it the hard way and put mine together one piece at a time starting with a bare block. Here's an older photo of mine, after build, also in the back of a truck headed to the shop for install in my '68 coupe.
Here's a pic of the 1970 corvette engine's torque and horsepower curves. Notice the big block torque rpm range that is above the small blocks maximum. the neck snapping torque at 3000 rpm is awesome.
I got my 454 big block out of a 74 motorhome. Only had 72,000 miles on it. from carb to oil pan complete for $600. Tore it down, cleaned it up all new gaskets. changed out the intake, carb and exhaust. Then dropped it in my 76. That was three years ago, still loving every minute of it. I am sure there plenty of small blocks that can run circles around me. I just love the sound of the side pipes, the vibration, and the torque.
nothing like the big part throttle torque of the big blocks...you can almost overcam them run a tallgear and still haul azz.
Try that with a sbc or Lsx not gonna happen
No one mentioned the weight factor . I always thought a big block was the ultimate , and it is , in most categories . But think back , those of you that are old enough , to Grumpy Jenkins 68 small block Camaro kicking *** on all those Hemis... While it broke my heart I had to hand it to him...he discovered what less weight could do .
Just an observation from a heart-broken Mopar guy...
No replacement for just that sound of big cammed, big block idle. It just stirs something in my soul every time I hear it. I took my wife out for a spin the other day and we are sitting at a light and she turns to me and ask's me the question, honey, the car is idling funny, is something wrong with it? I smiled all the way home. Yes, there are faster small blocks and LS cars out there and even my Raptor is faster than my 68, but that sound at idle!
My 66 had a really radical 327 but wasnt as much fun as my 72 454 with far less hp, and i sold that 327 to go bb in the 66,
I swapped a new 383 to a member for his new 454, he liked sbs i like bbs , worked out well
For me, it's not about being modern, my 69 isnt a late model, i dont want a computer running my engine,
For me its about the feel i get from a bb, to me i see a cool car and learn its "just" a sb i feel like somethings missing, doesnt matter how mean the sb is, mice squeek, rats roar,
I dont care if a bb is a little heavier than a sb, slap aluminum heads on a bb and its about the weight of an iron head bb,
I sure dont care about mpg, though my bbs do better than my sbs perhaps they dont work as hard to move the car,
My feeling i have seen expressed on countless faces at a cruise or shows, some cats asks bb or sb and every time if the answer is sb the cat asking always looks a bit crest fallen, and i feel that same way,
I had a really mean sb in my 81, and again, it was mean, but didnt have the heart and soul of a beast you only get with a bb....
My 66 had a really radical 327 but wasnt as much fun as my 72 454 with far less hp, and i sold that 327 to go bb in the 66,
I swapped a new 383 to a member for his new 454, he liked sbs i like bbs , worked out well
For me, it's not about being modern, my 69 isnt a late model, i dont want a computer running my engine,
For me its about the feel i get from a bb, to me i see a cool car and learn its "just" a sb i feel like somethings missing, doesnt matter how mean the sb is, mice squeek, rats roar,
I dont care if a bb is a little heavier than a sb, slap aluminum heads on a bb and its about the weight of an iron head bb,
I sure dont care about mpg, though my bbs do better than my sbs perhaps they dont work as hard to move the car,
My feeling i have seen expressed on countless faces at a cruise or shows, some cats asks bb or sb and every time if the answer is sb the cat asking always looks a bit crest fallen, and i feel that same way,
I had a really mean sb in my 81, and again, it was mean, but didnt have the heart and soul of a beast you only get with a bb....
Exactly, its like hunting with a 20 gage when you know there are 12 gages out there.
If rebuilding, look into a 4.25 stroker kit. Not much more than a stock rebuild kit.
Mine is a 454 block, .060 over with a 4.25 stroke 4340 forged rotating assembly internallyt balanced. 496 cubic inches.
Finished the break down on the 454. It was all straight forward. No surprises. Just a worn out Rat. Need to clean the block now, and get it to the machine shop for a thorough inspection. Definitely like the stroked idea, looking at rotating kits now. Would like to end up somewhere in the 500HP range.
.......But think back, those of you that are old enough, to Grumpy Jenkins 68 small block Camaro kicking *** on all those Hemis... While it broke my heart I had to hand it to him...he discovered what less weight could do.
Just an observation from a heart-broken Mopar guy...
Sure you're not thinking of his '66 Chevy II, with a 327/350, that he ran in SS/A??
No replacement for displacement.
nothing like the big part throttle torque of the big blocks...you can almost overcam them run a tallgear and still haul azz. 
While it broke my heart I had to hand it to him...he discovered what less weight could do . 
