I've heard all sorts of warnings of how involved and expensive it can be. Down at the bottom of everything is it just a weight consideration?

 

Small block rear ends would be better suited for big block power with a rebuild. Weight is an issue for cars with small block springs, and I believe big block cars had better radiators.

 

SB cars have close to 50/50 weight distribution. BB cars do not. The expense is pulleys and brackets and stock exhaust manifolds...above the cost of the engine itself. With a stock hood you have to have an almost flat intake manifold.

 

It really depends on how you do it. If you take a more modern spec'd BB (aluminum intake, aluminum heads, headers, aluminum water pump, aluminum pulleys, aluminum radiator) you are going to be very close to the original small block weight with all its cast iron parts. I've got a 427 BB in mine and I'm still using the stock SB springs. It does sit a little lower but it looks great and I've never had it bottom out or have problems with it. If you want the stock ride height then you'll probably have to step up to the BB springs but if you have all the aluminum stuff then you might cut the BB springs a little to bring it back down to stock ride height. All depends on how you want things to look and perform.

As for all the conversion stuff, it's really not that big of a deal if you aren't trying for the absolute stock stuff. But big blocks are definitely more expensive than small blocks. Just look in Jegs or Summit, valve covers, intakes, etc are always a little more for BB stuff.

For switching, you're going to need different pulleys, different water pump, most likely different balancer and flywheel, different headers/manifolds, and of course different brackets for things like alternator or any other accessories. The oil pressure sensor is different but you can still use the stock SB line. Depending on how your cooling system is working you might have to upgrade or fix any inadequacies. And don't overlook hood clearance. You'll definitely need at the bare minimum a BB hood. If you want any kind of nice aftermarket intake you'll then need an L-88 hood most likely or some type of high-rise hood.

Your SB bellhousing will still work (although you might look into a blowproof housing), clutch, carb (although you might need a bigger one), and pretty much everything else will still work with it.

Unless you found a BB for free don't expect to do it on a very tight budget. I sold my old 383 for $4k and bought a complete BB with carb, distributor, and headers for $4500 and I still had to spend about another $600-$1k to get it all done. And I did everything myself except exhaust work and some machining on the engine block.

Good luck!

 

Any thing will fit in most every thing. All they are is a rolling engine stand. Some a little tighter that some others but always do-able.

 

With the availability of SBC up to 454 cubic inches I would have to have a real compelling reason to swap to a big block. Good luck on your decision.

 

I sold all my small block stuff. Never going back to SBC regardless of the new big inch SBC available today. The torque off a BBC makes these cars perform at there best. Most folks that have made the switch are very pleased with the results.

Just do It!!

 

What about 502 or even 572?

 

572. Now we're talking!! But a tall deck block has even more complications. Possible but even more challenging.
Good luck with whatever you decide and make sure you let us know how it goes.

 

454 - not very compelling
502 - somewhat compelling
572 - very compelling
800+ - gotta have it (Sonny Leonard, Donovan)

How fast do you wanna go?

 

Get to it !!!

 

I did a 74 w/ a 4spd took out a non # matching 350 dropped in a 427. I'll tell you it was not a hard swap and the biggest expence was the radiator (4 core) with dual electric fans from Flex-a-Lite. the rest was brackets from Dr. Rebuild, headers from summit,air cleaner and most of the other stuff works on a BB like distributor, exhaust w/ alittle adjusting,engine mounts,starter,even the radiator hoses fit just had to trim. GO FOR IT!!! It cost me under $1000 not including price of the motor

 

I swapped in a 454 and used the original copper small block radiator. Runs at 180 during the hottest days of summer. Biggest problem was getting an air cleaner to fit under the hood.

 

Hmmmm decisions, decisions....

Going to have to do something with it.
It's an L-48, Edelbrock RPM Performer aluminum intake, RPM performer AL heads, comp cam he268, 1.6 roller rockers, Holley 600 Supposedly some 18k miles on a rebuild, and it's just not doing the job. Using more oil than I like. Vented valve covers but it's got oil on the manifold. I know I need to rebuild the carb but been putting that off as it's a daily driver. Just doesn't seem to be putting out it's potential. Of course I have other power train issues that have some effect on it too.

Just trying to figure getting this one rebuilt or replaced maybe something like a bored 400, dunno. Realistically I would drop another LS1 in the TA for a daily driver and garage the vette while working on it. I haven't got the skills for swapping engines or rebuilding, and space is a little sparse too. I suppose I could slowly learn/work on a new 400. There is, of course, nothing I can't learn or do, but there is the learning curve, time, and other little intricacies of which I know nothing.

I'm not afraid of looking stupid (the idiot didn't preoil/preload/sacrifice a chicken before he put that in!!), I'm more afraid of being ignorant. I don't mind you thinking I'm an idiot, I mind me thinking it.

Decisions, decisions....

 

Whatever you decide to put in, if you pay for travel and board, (Food and beer), I will come visit and install it for you.

 

Huh?

Damn DB! A princely offer.
I'll give you 24 hours to sober up and retract it.

Realistically the timing of the whole thing is up in the air.
Could rebuild the carb and motor mounts and life would be better.
Could drop an LS1 in the TA and begin the long slow process of engine learning/building for the vette.
Then again a nice engine could drop out of the sky into my lap.