big block- small block

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Jul 23, 2009 | 08:20 AM

Sho'nuff

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 180

Likes: 1

From: Prairieville Louisiana

big block- small block

other than exhausts, is there any changes to be made going to a big block from a small block?

Jul 23, 2009 | 08:26 AM

DJCorn

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 104

Likes: 1

From: Warner Robins Georgia

Front springs and hood I think

Jul 23, 2009 | 08:26 AM

baxsom

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 5,284

Likes: 235

From: Rockledge FL

search around, a lot of people here have described how to do it.
big thing is the accessory brackets.
the small block brackets wont match the big block engine.

then there is radiator, suspension etc etc

Jul 23, 2009 | 08:27 AM

Sho'nuff

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 180

Likes: 1

From: Prairieville Louisiana

more than i figured.

Jul 23, 2009 | 09:37 AM

not a '76

Racer

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 308

Likes: 0

From: Salem MA

do not do this.

a small block worth replacing a big block with would cost more than a run of the mill big block anyway.

Jul 23, 2009 | 09:43 AM

Attfay Elleybay

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 1,108

Likes: 0

From: Sebastian Florida

I think he's wanting to go from a small block to a big block.

Jul 23, 2009 | 10:38 AM

not a '76

Racer

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 308

Likes: 0

From: Salem MA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attfay Elleybay

I think he's wanting to go from a small block to a big block.

coffee machine is broken at work...not my fault.

Jul 23, 2009 | 11:57 AM

markdtn

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 7,720

Likes: 12

From: Chattanooga TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by baxsom

Plus: Hood, a/c compressor on a late '76 and newer, etc. It can be done, but for the money now days I'd do an LS swap before I did a BB swap.

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Jul 23, 2009 | 12:58 PM

Corey_68

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Joined: Feb 1999

Posts: 34,453

Likes: 665

From: Republic of Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sho'nuff

more than i figured.

yes, MUCH more than exhaust manifolds.

Brackets will be the expensive and "fun" to find/buy parts. As stated, radiator, exhaust, springs, sway bar,...

Jul 23, 2009 | 01:41 PM

#10

calwldlife

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 53,648

Likes: 878

From: Southern Cal Ca

St. Jude Donor '22

Motor mounts, A/C bracket, P/S bracket, Alt bracket? W/P and pulley
Cross member, half shafts, radiator,

Jul 23, 2009 | 07:31 PM

#11

Big Block 69

Racer

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 458

Likes: 55

From: Southeast Ohio

Crossmember & half shafts??

Jul 23, 2009 | 08:10 PM

#12

calwldlife

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 53,648

Likes: 878

From: Southern Cal Ca

St. Jude Donor '22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Block 69

Crossmember & half shafts??

oops, thinking of the U joints and tranny swap
and need for a trans mount.
Come to think of it, the dia of half and u joints size is bigger like LT1

Last edited by calwldlife; Jul 23, 2009 at 08:13 PM.

Jul 24, 2009 | 08:56 AM

#13

Ganey

Race Director

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 11,520

Likes: 13

From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS

75-79 already has the larger half shafts & dual ex. crossmember.

Mainly accessory brackets, rad., exhaust, springs if not FE-7.

Jul 24, 2009 | 09:19 AM

#14

auavette

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 132

Likes: 0

From: Cumana

Just finished my 76 with a 496 and a 8-71 blower.
If it wasn't for the blower the change would have been a lot easier.
Did change the trans also to a TH-400 and the yoke to fit the drive shaft. Otherwise just the brackets. Try a march system.

Jul 31, 2009 | 10:51 AM

#15

auavette

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 132

Likes: 0

From: Cumana

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sho'nuff

other than exhausts, is there any changes to be made going to a big block from a small block?

Take a look at these pictures
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...8-img-0876.jpg
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...1-p2210036.jpg

I do not have the a/c.
I had to go to the 7 inch brake booster to clear the valve covers, but with the origonal gm valve covers you would have no problem with the original booster(at least in my 76)

Jul 31, 2009 | 11:06 AM

#16

63Nova

Racer

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 277

Likes: 0

From: Big Spring TX

Not to mention that parts for a big block are about twice the price for a small block. I found all this out when I built my first 496.

Jul 31, 2009 | 11:11 AM

#17

DRIVESHAFT

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,682

Likes: 3

From: League City TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by auavette

I think you made a few more changes than were actually necessary.

Jul 31, 2009 | 11:19 AM

#18

vintage-racer

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 201

Likes: 0

From: michigantown IN.

Do the bigblock..

All brackets for p/s and or a/c and alt. can be purchased as a kit brand new from zip or paragon and are not that expensive. The motormounts are interchangable. The only tricky part is pulleys, do your research. There is no replacement for a bigblock thru sidepipes ,I've had highstrung / high compression small blocks....the bigblock is music you can feel plain and simple.

Last edited by vintage-racer; Dec 24, 2011 at 01:51 PM.

Jul 31, 2009 | 11:23 AM

#19

mtcraigco

Instructor

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 219

Likes: 0

From: Missouri

Brackets and radiator are the biggies.

March has a very nice bracket kit for not much more than scrounging the originals

A rad kit will set you back 700 to 1000, but I don't know that I'd run a BB without upgraded cooling unless it had one factory. Could be wrong though.

BB swap = more $ (and effort) than small block upgrades, but is WAAY cool!

Jul 31, 2009 | 11:27 AM

#20

auavette

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 132

Likes: 0

From: Cumana

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRIVESHAFT

I think you made a few more changes than were actually necessary.

That is true but mainly due my desire for a 8-71 blower.
Even the powersteering has a remote tank, which is not necessary if you are just putting a BB in it

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