OldCarBum

As many of you know, I'm stroking the 454 in my 73 to 496 cu in. I have found that I am replacing everything on the motor from the balancer to the flex plate except for the block. I've been thinking that since I am only retaining the original block, why not replace it with a new four bolt, iron block from Chevrolet Performance Parts and sell the original numbers matching 454 as a complete running assembly. I was just wondering if there is any market for the 454 which has 108,000 miles on it, runs good, strong, doesn't smoke, and as far as I can tell has never been touched or modified. I know that some will advise to squirrel it away like a nut, but I don't have the room and think it will just waste away sitting in my shed. I'm replacing the TH400 with an OD auto so the numbers matching TH400 will be sold as well.

Nowhere Man

The numbers matching correct block is worth way more to your car then anyone else. Not sure why after 40 years you would separate seems silly to me. But a 454 in my area only goes for less then a grand.

derekderek

New GM block is 1400 or so. 73 45r worth about 500 to 750. Do your block as 496, and original engine is still with the car. People are less fussy about numbers-matching trannys, but I would try to find room in the shed for it. What you doing for heads?

OldCarBum

Edelbrock, Performer, RPM, oval port, Air gap, Crane hydraulic roller,
internally balanced forged crank, rods, pistons, 10.5 to 1 cr and other goodies.

ddawson

I built my existing block but had it zero decked. If the block is still sound I would use it.

ddawson

Pay the extra and have the heads checked as well. My brand new Edelbrock needed valve seats centered.

The13Bats

While i get some guys clinging to that numbers thing,
Less and less people care when the car has other mods anyway,
For many buyers they will rather have your stroked engine anyway,

I packrat lots of junk but i wouldnt care much about your original engine either
And dealing with storing an old engine isnt like storing a shoe box full of trinkets,

But more so im super interested in your build,
Please do a thread on that stroker build i might just have to copy you on that one,

derekderek

Never buy assembled heads. Buy castings. Buy valves. Buy springs, etc. Even Eddys, which are US castings (but don't flow like AFR or Brodix) are gonna be assembled with bulk bought lesser quality components.

ronarndt

I agree. I recently bought assembled heads from a shop that does hundreds of rebuilds and they had the valve spring assembled height so far off that the spring pressure was low and caused valve float at 4500 rpm.

OldCarBum

We are modestly looking to pull 550-600 Ft Lbs of torque and not building a monster so it will be dependable.
I will be doing a thread on the motor build and a thread on the body off resto/mod.

The13Bats

Sounds perfect

joewill

the 454 in a 73 is pretty rare.. at 13%.. maybe half of those 13% are matching engine corvettes, selling it for iron scrap prices is really a long run bad financial decision.. IMHO
especially when its matching. buyers will give you decent bucks for that car and original engine combo when it comes time to sell. even with an extra after market 496 sitting in the engine bay.
find a way to keep it and store it. spend an extra 1400 now and then get an extra 5-10K out of the car when its time to sell.

derekderek

you feel it is better that way than with a numbers-matching 496 with aluminum heads under the hood? OTOH, as rare as a 73 454 vette is, once the engine is separated from the car, it is little different from a 73 impala or pick up truck 454, or even a 79 pickup engine. there are corvette engines and there are corvette engines. as soon as the EPA decided the cams and compression ratios, they became nothing special in their own right.

KingRat

It is your car and you can do with it whatever you wish... With that said, there are plenty of NOM '73s out there that would benefit from being upgraded like you are describing. You are looking to sell the original engine and trans. You will make A LOT more if you sell that numbers matching Big Block car and buy a much cheaper NOM car to modify. Flame on.

Richard454

Well- if it's about the money- there are a heck of a lot better things to invest your time and money in...

A concours 73 BB might bring maybe high 30's on a good day. So working for free - doing most of the work yourself- you can make a small fortune, IF you start with a big one!!!


The next 454 I'll do- will be one of these-
easily over 600HP- and you can run a carb if you want-

Neil B

Keep the original block. Buy an inexpensive rolling dolly from Summit, etc. Engines are quite easy to move around on these. Leave the running motor in the car until the new engine is ready to go in. This will save you lots of downtime with the car. Just my .02.

69Vett

keep your block, keep your block numbers, everything else new parts.
a matching number block on the garage floor is useless,
and will not help resell that much, for resell,
matching numbers in the car huge boost in price.

Mr D.

Scrap steel is selling for .07 per lb, there's your starting point.

Neil B

I disagree. A numbers block is useless (and worthless) with a hole in the side of it. Hot rod a different block and have worry free fun. Save the original for when you sell. A motor swap takes a day.

BBCorv70

Kind of feel the same. If I were looking for a matching numbers Corvette I'd require a steep discount for the trouble of reinstalling the original block. Especially if I wasn't 100% certain the original block was okay. Plenty of Corvettes with matching number blocks still installed, running. Little need to take the risk or go to the trouble of swapping engines/blocks.