Being less than happy with the 383 in my 69 I want to go with the BB I originally wanted,

All I do is cruise...no race tracks no auto crosses just shows and cruises,

Lets hear some feedback....

 

If all you're doing is cruising, a 283 would be sufficient. What's the point of stepping up to a big block?

 

If you have to ask you would never understand.....

 

I think he does understand, that's why he doesn't understand....understand?

In other words why go big block when all you care about are shows and cruises?!?!

 

Lol...you guys crack me up....is this your way of posting without adding...

Once again...you guys really do not understand....but how many people here with a BB or any hopped up engine use it on a strip or track on a regular basis...if they do not they are posturing too,

Okay.... I have a 69 and to me it "should" have a BB...very old school,
"Um...I had a 72 bb and liked how it "cruised" and I admit it's pretty cool at shows when you open the hood and people go wow at the BB rather than get bored at just another SB

 

Go Big Block....because....it's a big block!!


I think for just cruising with a BB, a 454 should be fine and will probably be easier and less expensive to find, unless your buying a 502 as a crate motor or have a line on one.
And I agree....I hate it when people answer a question with a question.
It's like saying, why own a decades old Vette at all??
BECAUSE YOU WANT TOO!!!!!

 

Depends on what you want to do with it. I like riding around, but when I get to nice open spot I want insane stupid power when I mat the pedal. So to me...if I was going to all the trouble to install a big block...it would be a BIG one.

454's are fine....but a 496 is better. If you're rebuilding one the prices are the same if you have to get a crank.

Same deal with a 502....you can build a 540-555" for the same price.

The advantage of the bigger motors are that you can reduce cam a good bit for a given power level and still be killer while helping driveability.

If you're unhappy with the 383 and want a big block...I assume that means the 383 doesn't have the power you want. If you do a 454...you will be in the same spot soon afterwards.

Shop around...there are lots of builders selling motors with LOTS better parts than the GM combos for less money and making way more power.

JIM

 

I do. Otherwise, my Silverado is a lot more comfortable and fuel efficient for just "cruising around".

 

Many years back before I even thought I would ever buy a vette the 69 bb convertible was my favorite car...I realize some of the bb mystic is based on myths...to a degree but the bb is just some kind of silly holy grail of corvette-dom...people just loose their minds when they learn it's a bb,...people will way over pay for a corvette POS if it is a BB car.
The low end power even from the factory low power bb's was killer for the light to light street cruiser,
9 out of 10 people who praise my car ask BB? and when I say sb they seem a bit depressed, and that is just how I feel,
It's not that the 383 doesn't have power...it could get me in trouble really fast it's just the power band is so different...to me it lacks low end and that very well could be the fault of the builder....perhaps lots of the reasons I do not like my 383 is more the hell I went thru with it than it being a actual pig or dog, in fact it runs very well,
When I go bb I planned to buy a crate engine and not putz around with it...yeah, they are a bit bucks up especially the 502...but I will sell something to buy something,
I see some fussing around is done about the vette only bb brackets, being I couldn't care less about stock but if it worked for GM it will work for me are factory brackets that hard to find and that costly?
I did a quick Fleabay and it appears that for less than 200.00 I can buy new the two power steering brackets...that's not bad, is there some hard to get bracket that I am missing the boat on?

 

Oh brother......like I said in another thread about daily drivers some people are way too spoiled....I would rather drive around in a ragged out POS vette than a nice silverado...no offense meant it's just me and my tastes....

 

Sounds like a self esteem issue to me.

 

Not at all..i just like BB's better than SB's....if I had self esteem issues I would be poking at people rather than answering their questions......can you add anything to the topic question 454 vs 502 or just make lame pokes at me....

 

Go with the 454. It will be cheaper to purchase, get better gas mileage, and 502 valve cover stickers will fit like they were meant to be there.

Just my recommendation.

 

You had me right up to the 502 stickers on the 454...no faking here,

I recall about 25 years ago a fellow with a rather nice camaro had ZL-1 badges and the iron block and heads painted an aluminum color.....

Ew...stickers..I'm old school I like old MT finned covers...


I just saw on your profile you have a 69 ZL-1...is it one of the few uber rare cars or one you created?

 

There is a proliferation of 454s available which translates to lots of replacement parts both new and used at reasonable prices.

502s are popular but no where near the availability of the 454 since they were not a production engine.

The bigger question is what you hit on in one of your most recent posts. The Corvette only brackets, air cleaners, etc. They exist in order to ensure everything fits under the factory hood.

cc

 

Aw...very good reasons to go 454,
Seems lots of mystery around the whole brakets issues, I am modding away so I would go with stock only because GM shows they work but seems there has to be other options...

 

Big block brackets and pulleys are easy to find...either aftermarket or OEM.

The ZZ502 is a good deal if you just want good reliable power. It's a good solid shortblock and the heads are basically Edelbrock ovals and the intake is an Edelbrock Performer. The only downside to it is the cam leaves a LOT on the table. The whole combo runs out of steam by 5500 rpm. If you are happy with that, then that would be the easy way to go.

If it's a stick car make sure you find out if it has a clutch boss on it and if it has fuel pump boss. I think the newer ones do...but you need to check it out.

Another option would be to buy a shortblock and bolt on better heads and cam. You will need an oil pan anyway because what comes on them won't fit a Vette. Also depends on your hood choice as to whether that intake will fit. L-88 hoods make life a lot easier!


Again...look into the various 540 combos out there that have much better parts. Reher Morrison offers a great hyd roller cammed 540 that is made for street cruising and puts out 700HP (they say 680..but I saw the dyno sheets on a bunch of them!). Scoggins Dickey sells one too...as well as Shafiroff.


JIM

 

I created it. I don't subscribe to the "Look what I own, and no, don't ask me if if I ever drive it" philosophy. This ZL-1 will earn its keep keeping me amused on road courses or local autocross tracks.

A recent picture during assembly:

 

Well, we are not so far apart...you could have done the same thing on the tracks with many other less exotic and less expensive engines but you wanted a ZL-1 same with me...just way bucks down...I just want a 454 or 502,

I understand in GM stock form both the L-88 and ZL-1 were a bit radical, I am very curious, could you drive yours in traffic or is it too "race car" to really go for a street drive.

 

oooooooo......shiny