engine swap
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
I've no experience of this, but I've seen this asked before.
At least: Radiator upgrade, front suspension upgrade.
There may be more. Will a 454 fit under your hood? Will the power of the big block mean you have to upgrade your half shafts and other stuff?
At least: Radiator upgrade, front suspension upgrade.
There may be more. Will a 454 fit under your hood? Will the power of the big block mean you have to upgrade your half shafts and other stuff?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 137
From: Butler Pa
Basically you'll need accessory brackets and pulleys. I bought mine from Summit. Headers and exhaust. Maybe a hood. It's a pretty straight forward swap.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,110
Likes: 4,174
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Steve,
I'm thinking Ben is right about the radiator. I believe the BB radiator has a larger core than a SB radiator. The AIM does indicate that.
BB- UPC LS5, Sheet B4
SB- UPC 11, Sheet A10
You can bet that if it didn't need more radiator, GM would have saved the $$.
Regards,
Alan
I'm thinking Ben is right about the radiator. I believe the BB radiator has a larger core than a SB radiator. The AIM does indicate that.
BB- UPC LS5, Sheet B4
SB- UPC 11, Sheet A10
You can bet that if it didn't need more radiator, GM would have saved the $$.
Regards,
Alan
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
I did a 427 in a 74 vette with no problems. Dr. Rebuild has all the P/S, ALT. brackets and engine mounts. My 350 rad. was OK but I got a good deal on a 4 core and dual Flex-o-lite puller fans slip rite in perfectly(Alt. amps. must be over 80amps).carb, trans, distributor linkage fit right in, 454 flywheel will be needed
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
"What do I have to do to swap out a 350 for a 454 in a 73 vette, 4-speed?"
Have your head examined ! I know I just did this....
You have to buy all the brackets and pulleys for a BB,
unless you want to beat your head on the wall.
Flywheel needs to for 454. ohh yea a BB radiator core support !
plus all the other stuff, waterpump, radiator, shroud, hoses, belts,
power steering pulley, fuel pump.
Front coil springs are different, unless you want the slammed look.
good Luck, 69VETT
Have your head examined ! I know I just did this....
You have to buy all the brackets and pulleys for a BB,
unless you want to beat your head on the wall.
Flywheel needs to for 454. ohh yea a BB radiator core support !
plus all the other stuff, waterpump, radiator, shroud, hoses, belts,
power steering pulley, fuel pump.
Front coil springs are different, unless you want the slammed look.
good Luck, 69VETT
Last edited by 69Vett; Sep 23, 2008 at 09:35 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
"What do I have to do to swap out a 350 for a 454 in a 73 vette, 4-speed?"
Have your head examined ! I know I just did this....
You have to buy all the brackets and pulleys for a BB,
unless you want to beat your head on the wall.
Flywheel needs to for 454. ohh yea a BB radiator core support !
plus all the other stuff, waterpump, radiator, shroud, hoses, belts,
power steering pulley, fuel pump.
Front coil springs are different, unless you want the slammed look.
good Luck, 69VETT
Have your head examined ! I know I just did this....
You have to buy all the brackets and pulleys for a BB,
unless you want to beat your head on the wall.
Flywheel needs to for 454. ohh yea a BB radiator core support !
plus all the other stuff, waterpump, radiator, shroud, hoses, belts,
power steering pulley, fuel pump.
Front coil springs are different, unless you want the slammed look.
good Luck, 69VETT
I used my 74 350 shroud! just remove the 3 inch extension that is stapled on. Radiator works if you have no A/C. Hoses were trimmed. P/S and ALT brackets, spacers and bolts were about $300 from Dr Rebuild. P/S pump and pulley worked perfectly. No spring needed it only lowered the car an inch but if it really bothered you, you can get coil over shocks or spurge $100 for new springs
OH YEA... to answer the post above, 454 BB is externally balanced so your SB 350 will not work. If you used a 396/427 BB than the 350 would work
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
just because something works, doesn't make it right.
When someone asks for recomendations I would much rather recommend the right parts,
than suggesting what might work,
for Instance BB power steering uses a double pulley configuration,
sure you can jury Rig other combo's.
Like wise someone going to the trouble and expense of moving to a BB,
I would never recommend keeping the orginal used SB radiator, now if the owner elects to take short cuts thats their business.
I prefer the right way, instead of the maybe way, to each his own. 69VETT
When someone asks for recomendations I would much rather recommend the right parts,
than suggesting what might work,
for Instance BB power steering uses a double pulley configuration,
sure you can jury Rig other combo's.
Like wise someone going to the trouble and expense of moving to a BB,
I would never recommend keeping the orginal used SB radiator, now if the owner elects to take short cuts thats their business.
I prefer the right way, instead of the maybe way, to each his own.
69VETT
Last edited by 69Vett; Sep 23, 2008 at 11:27 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
just because something works, doesn't make it right.
When someone asks for recomendations I would much rather recommend the right parts,
than suggesting what might work,
for Instance BB power steering uses a double pulley configuration,
sure you can jury Rig other combo's.
Like wise someone going to the trouble and expense of moving to a BB,
I would never recommend keeping the orginal used SB radiator, now if the owner elects to take short cuts thats their business.
I prefer the right way, instead of the maybe way, to each his own. 69VETT
When someone asks for recomendations I would much rather recommend the right parts,
than suggesting what might work,
for Instance BB power steering uses a double pulley configuration,
sure you can jury Rig other combo's.
Like wise someone going to the trouble and expense of moving to a BB,
I would never recommend keeping the orginal used SB radiator, now if the owner elects to take short cuts thats their business.
I prefer the right way, instead of the maybe way, to each his own.
69VETT
At the time I didn't but you would not be able to tell I swapped and used the original 350 parts unless you started checking numbers! I don't recall what year brackets I used but it was 73 or 74 BB but I only recall a double pull on the A/C cars, MINE WAS NOT. The shrouds are the same shroud once you remove the stapled on extention. The radiator I made it clear, "IT WAS OK FOR A NONE A/C CAR" and you would have to crawl in pretty deep to tell me it's the wrong rad. The hoses have the same angles from SB to BB after you cut 2 inches off they fit perfectly but I'm sure most people can splurge on two new BB hoses for $30 bucks. My hoses were new, so I saved a buck with no risk IMO. All these mods are what GM does on all their car. Obviously if a belt was slipping, engine over heating, hose kinking, ect... to go back and replace one of these parts is not a big deal but the way some of you guys act you woud think I was using duct tape and rope.
IMHO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 137
From: Butler Pa
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
This tread is not about your car, or my car,
it is about what would you recommend to someone for installing a BB motor.
With all the over heating threads on this fourm,
I cannot believe anyone would recommend leaving a SB used radiator,
in place with a clear conscience.
I will post no more on this thread.
it is about what would you recommend to someone for installing a BB motor.
With all the over heating threads on this fourm,
I cannot believe anyone would recommend leaving a SB used radiator,
in place with a clear conscience.
I will post no more on this thread.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Not necessarily. A 400 SB and a 454 (and 502?) BB are both externally balanced. A 350 or 327 (283, 307....) SB and 396 and 427 BB are internally balanced and will all interchange.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 137
From: Butler Pa
I have issues with people who, when giving advice, the first words out of their mouth is "spend lots of money and replace it". Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with the cooling systems on these cars if everything is in proper working condition. I think I've proven this by cooling my 502 with a small block radiator.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
I can guarantee you that most of the overheating problems here are not because of the radiators. They're caused by missing spoilers and seals, bad fan clutches, electric fans which are too small or not operating properly, incorrect timing and many other things which throughout the years people have modified or simply removed.
I have issues with people who, when giving advice, the first words out of their mouth is "spend lots of money and replace it". Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with the cooling systems on these cars if everything is in proper working condition. I think I've proven this by cooling my 502 with a small block radiator.
I have issues with people who, when giving advice, the first words out of their mouth is "spend lots of money and replace it". Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with the cooling systems on these cars if everything is in proper working condition. I think I've proven this by cooling my 502 with a small block radiator.
I never had a cooling issue w/ the 4 C3s I've owned over the years. I will say an A/C vette in traffic on a hot day w/ the a/c blasting may be pushed to its limits if one or more parts are not 100% IMO