I have a 77 vette, it now has a 350 in it , I have a 454 I would like to put in. am I getting myself it for a nightmare? also if I do this project I have a turbo 350 trans that is rebuilt so I would like to use it if possible. any info would be great thanks bill

 

Any BBC can occupy any space formerly held by a factory SBC. With that said, if you didnt already have the 454 I would steer towards a 400sbc, but since you do have it, might as well just stuff it in there.

Its really the accessories and bracketry AND PULLEYS that will be annoying, plus exhaust, front springs, radiator, hoses, etc. Then of course your choice of intake manifold, carb, and air cleaner for fitment. How about air conditioning? May want to freshen up the rest of the drivetrain to handle the torque as well.

Im sure there are parts of this that Im missing, but this is just off the top of my head. Nothing is ever a walk in the park, but at the end of the day, its not like your putting a motor where it wasnt done by the factory [at least from 68-74]...imagine the first guy that put a 302 in a Miata!

As a side note, I would also recommend doing a search on the subject as it has been discussed many times on the board, as well as changing the topic phrase from "Bill" to "454 in a 1977"...post will probably get alot more traffic that way.

If there is ever anything you are unsure of, dont be afraid to ask for pictures of what this stuff looked like in stock configuration.

 

Dave thanks for getting back to me, it gives me a better outlook. I will put in the topic 454 in 77 like you said, I didn't know how to do that until you told me, now I know how my name got there thanks again i.m new at this you probably new that . thanks again bill

 

Bill, we were all new to everything we've ever done at one time or another, so dont sweat it!

The beauty of your project is that anything you need already exists, so you wont have to fabricate anything [or at least 'shouldnt' have to].

Whats the deal with the 454 youve got? Something you built, or a stocker from a truck?

 

I put a 454 in my 76 vette. It has the 350 tranny.

Not too difficult of a job, cost me about $2500 for parts to make the switch.
$700 was for a radiator/fan setup.
$600 Was for new taller hood and getting it painted.
The rest was for brackets, pulleys, water pump, fuel pump, and new front coil springs, and who knows what miscellaneous items (paint, fuel line, radiator hoses, etc).

Oh and I spent $4500 on the motor by itself and $1000 for side pipes, headers, and heat shields.

It gets expensive quick.

I kept tellling my wife I spent about $500. Unfortunately, she's an accountant and gets our credit card invoices sent for her Quickbooks software and it lists all the costs itemized by category and I got busted. She really doesn't care what I spend but I had know idea I spent that much.

Roger

 

Roger thanks for the come back, yes it does get pricey. I bought the 454 for another project a couple of years ago, never used it is 30 over mild came its got a set of large oval port heads I can't remember for sure the # I think 049 they are supposed to be good head for cast iron. so that's why I want to put it in cause I got all ready to go. i'm not that far yet still on the rear suspension, and stuff. had one spot on both side I had to fix on the frame just some soft spot in that bad spot buy the wheel well but was lucky easy fix welded a couple of plate on good shape would have been ok but I got it apart so now is the time. i'll keep going thanks for getting back to me nice to know I'm going in the right direction. bill