Big block power from a Small Block.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Big block power from a Small Block.
I want to upgrade Corvette's stock 350 & TH350. I want gobs of torque and plenty of 4000+ RPM HP. I would like to stay in the small block package. Without going to an LS1 swap, what are some good tried ideas?
Block
Block
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Either stroke your existing block or find a 400 block or get an aftermarket block. The aftermarket ones will go to 454 with no problem. The GM 400 can be taken to 434 but safer to 421. The 350 block can go to 396 without much problem. All of these will provide good to unreal torque depending on the build up. Just remember HP is not cheap at all. The 454 will cost you plenty for a good one.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Someone on another thread is selling 396 rotating assembly, (crank, pistons, rods, rings, bearings, etc) for only $1300. I am very tempted, I'm not sure how much machining my block will cost though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 0
From: Mo
all small block are the same,wont change anything.
If you are trying to budget build I would do a 406 with good parts and heads.you can use a stock block,and go aftermarket crank,rods,piston,heads,etc
Or go with a dart block and a 427 or 434.
If you are trying to budget build I would do a 406 with good parts and heads.you can use a stock block,and go aftermarket crank,rods,piston,heads,etc
Or go with a dart block and a 427 or 434.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 7
From: Longwood Florida
Originally Posted by l88rocket
all small block are the same,wont change anything.
If you are trying to budget build I would do a 406 with good parts and heads.you can use a stock block,and go aftermarket crank,rods,piston,heads,etc
Or go with a dart block and a 427 or 434.
If you are trying to budget build I would do a 406 with good parts and heads.you can use a stock block,and go aftermarket crank,rods,piston,heads,etc
Or go with a dart block and a 427 or 434.
TRUE!!
Or the LSx motor
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
If you want to start with a new block chevy has a 4.125 bowtie
block with nodular caps center three caps angled bolts for $1600,
the world and dart nodular cap blocks are a little higher over $ 1800.
sdpc2000.com
block with nodular caps center three caps angled bolts for $1600,
the world and dart nodular cap blocks are a little higher over $ 1800.
sdpc2000.com
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,042
Likes: 674
From: FL
Here you go:
434 cubic inches. 595 HP. 10.5:1 compression. $8995
http://www.ultrastreet.net/434_classic.asp
434 cubic inches. 595 HP. 10.5:1 compression. $8995
http://www.ultrastreet.net/434_classic.asp
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
A killer Chevy 400 can be built for under $4000. We're talking 500hp 500ft lbs and still be very street friendly. MANY guys on this Forum are running them. It's a drop in no hassle big inch small block conversion for your Vette. Everything you already have, including accessories, cooling system, motor mounts, starter, alternator, headers, etc..etc...will bolt right up. For simplification purposes, it's a 350 block bored out. I have tons of info on 400's, so if you decide to go that route...just post away
Eddie
Eddie
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Great guys, thanks a lot. Lots of great ideas. I like the idea of the 400. Simple is good, and cheap is good considering I have a lot of things I want to do to this car. I also have been wanting to do some sort of fuel injection. I did a lot of reading last night about the various kinds of FI available. I think without going all the way to the style on the LT-1, TPI looked good.
I did read that TPI really only works on the smaller CI engines, and if I wanted a bored out 350 or 400 it wouldn't do well for me? Is that founded and true?
That got me thinking and searching. I wanted to see what parts were available so I started going through Ebay for anthing TPI. I came accress something that raised my curiosity a little. It was a mid-90s Chevy truck with a TPI 454, factory engine. If they made TPI for something as big as a 454, then it's got to be adaptable to a big 350 or a 400 right?
Anyone know anything about the TPI 454?
I did read that TPI really only works on the smaller CI engines, and if I wanted a bored out 350 or 400 it wouldn't do well for me? Is that founded and true?
That got me thinking and searching. I wanted to see what parts were available so I started going through Ebay for anthing TPI. I came accress something that raised my curiosity a little. It was a mid-90s Chevy truck with a TPI 454, factory engine. If they made TPI for something as big as a 454, then it's got to be adaptable to a big 350 or a 400 right?
Anyone know anything about the TPI 454?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I'm a firm believer that 1=1. One cubic inch is one ci. It doesn't matter if it's a 396 small block or big block. Or 427 small block VS 427 big block.
That is if the heads.................blah blah blah are flowing nearly the same CFM.
My 427 Motown small block kicks my buddies ported retangular port.060 over 427 big block in a simular weight 67 Camero. We both have single planes and big carbs. We both have three inch free flowing exhaust.
But I had a sollid roller cam vs mechanical and I had 3500 stall 4.11 700R4 VS 3.08 rear TH400 with 3000 stall. So i had the gears and stall for the 1/4 mile and I had the top speed. Going down a freeway without a shift my OD against his 3.08 i still would walk away in a just wide open throttle race from 80 - 150 mph
My Vette won even with simular head flow because of superior cam type and earodynamics.
But I can't compete with a 540 big block
That is if the heads.................blah blah blah are flowing nearly the same CFM.
My 427 Motown small block kicks my buddies ported retangular port.060 over 427 big block in a simular weight 67 Camero. We both have single planes and big carbs. We both have three inch free flowing exhaust.
But I had a sollid roller cam vs mechanical and I had 3500 stall 4.11 700R4 VS 3.08 rear TH400 with 3000 stall. So i had the gears and stall for the 1/4 mile and I had the top speed. Going down a freeway without a shift my OD against his 3.08 i still would walk away in a just wide open throttle race from 80 - 150 mph
My Vette won even with simular head flow because of superior cam type and earodynamics.
But I can't compete with a 540 big block
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Originally Posted by gkull
I'm a firm believer that 1=1. One cubic inch is one ci. It doesn't matter if it's a 396 small block or big block. Or 427 small block VS 427 big block.
That is if the heads.................blah blah blah are flowing nearly the same CFM.
My 427 Motown small block kicks my buddies ported retangular port.060 over 427 big block in a simular weight 67 Camero. We both have single planes and big carbs. We both have three inch free flowing exhaust.
But I had a sollid roller cam vs mechanical and I had 3500 stall 4.11 700R4 VS 3.08 rear TH400 with 3000 stall. So i had the gears and stall for the 1/4 mile and I had the top speed. Going down a freeway without a shift my OD against his 3.08 i still would walk away in a just wide open throttle race from 80 - 150 mph
My Vette won even with simular head flow because of superior cam type and earodynamics.
But I can't compete with a 540 big block
That is if the heads.................blah blah blah are flowing nearly the same CFM.
My 427 Motown small block kicks my buddies ported retangular port.060 over 427 big block in a simular weight 67 Camero. We both have single planes and big carbs. We both have three inch free flowing exhaust.
But I had a sollid roller cam vs mechanical and I had 3500 stall 4.11 700R4 VS 3.08 rear TH400 with 3000 stall. So i had the gears and stall for the 1/4 mile and I had the top speed. Going down a freeway without a shift my OD against his 3.08 i still would walk away in a just wide open throttle race from 80 - 150 mph
My Vette won even with simular head flow because of superior cam type and earodynamics.
But I can't compete with a 540 big block
internal weight.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Block_Head
Anyone know anything about the TPI 454?
That's very interesting. I wasn't aware of FI 454s in trucks in that year. That's a good idea to look into, maybe for curiosty's sake if nothing else.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 7
From: Longwood Florida
Originally Posted by l88rocket
Lsx swap would be a total pain,and not cheap.
New engine,trans,wire harness,ecm,headers,exhaust,on and on.
New engine,trans,wire harness,ecm,headers,exhaust,on and on.
Much easier than the Fi, wiring harness, fuel system, ecm, M6 trans swap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 0
From: Mo
Originally Posted by holley505
not a pain... If you run a CARB AND TH350... that is what have... plug and play with the Edelbrock/msd intake and MSD box. I used C5 zo6 manifolds... hughes flywheel and crank adapter.
Much easier than the Fi, wiring harness, fuel system, ecm, M6 trans swap.
Much easier than the Fi, wiring harness, fuel system, ecm, M6 trans swap.
Damn that's sweet,I totally forgot about putting a carb on one.Looks real good
