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Go with a BBC and be different. Don't see many BBC's now days.
This might be a good starting point. 496CI Stroker Crate Engine with 440 HP / 560 FT LBS for $4955 with a warranty too. Nothing you don't really need; add a corvette water pump, mech fuel pump, and a low rise intake and it should fit pretty easy.
VERY IMPORTANT!!! Some later big Blocks do not have the boss drilled and threaded for the clutch Z bar mount. If you are going to run an automatic, no biggie. But I think you said 4 speed car. You must have the boss on the side of the engine drilled and threaded or you will, need to switch to a Hydraulic Clutch. The same is true for installing an LS motor.
BTW I am currently Trying to decide between an BB and an LS myself. Both have very good points it makes it hard to decide.
My hood is not original but I believe its a 454 BB hood. Will a new BB fit under this hood? I don't want to have to get into changing it. Guess it may depend on what parts I use.. right?
My hood is not original but I believe its a 454 BB hood. Will a new BB fit under this hood? I don't want to have to get into changing it. Guess it may depend on what parts I use.. right?
That's a BB hood so you need a low intake like an LS-6 intake manifold or stock LS-5 intake if you want to use your hood like I have and a few other here.
I'm not a fan of crate engines but they certainly serve their purpose and lots swear by them so that all depends on your budget.
A ton of help here on the forums and pictures galore of BBC chrome bumper cars with 454's in them.
Turn that girl back into a BB car !
A chrome-bumper C3 that was originally a big block car, and you're wondering what to do..? That's a no-brainer. Spend what it takes and get the big block back in it!
Lars
on a cost side note. I doubt you will find the original big block, but it has been known to happen. So you do not need numbers matching. You can find a good big block and install it for way less than $ 4,800. I found one with only 72,000 running like a champ. I freshened it up, put a intake,carb, and sidepipes on it. The radiator,pullys, and brackets, everything together including the motor for $1,800.00 and change.
Like you said, you putter around in it, and there is nothing better than puttering around in a big block.
Plus, most likely the car has all the big block stuff. Springs, radiatior, shroud. Sits on same mounts. Except for flywheel bolts to same trans. So you need brackets, pulleys, water pump...and a 454. The engine is probably the easiest to find part. Just go on Craigslist.. https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/pt...530071786.html
Last edited by derekderek; 03-14-2018 at 07:29 AM.
That's the way to go. Make it a Big Block again, make it look just like original, and make it tear your head off!
You can nickel-dime putting a stroker small block in it, and by the time you've finished building that crate-engine mouse-motor (if you're really honest about the cost and receipts), you're going to realize that you're within a couple of grand of putting a really nice big block in it and doing the job right. Don't waste your time and money - save your change and just do the job right one time.
Lars
Well this really gives me something to think about.
I had to go the other way., My original small block car, which I restomoded. Had to pick between LS3 or 496. I went 496 with Tremec 5 speed. Has Vintage Air front runner and air conditioning, has Delphi 600 power steering box and of course new paint interior etc. Tremec was biggest difference, 496 next biggest. 2200 RPM at 80 MPH down the road. And that big block gets there scary fast.
VERY IMPORTANT!!! Some later big Blocks do not have the boss drilled and threaded for the clutch Z bar mount. If you are going to run an automatic, no biggie. But I think you said 4 speed car. You must have the boss on the side of the engine drilled and threaded or you will, need to switch to a Hydraulic Clutch. The same is true for installing an LS motor.
BTW I am currently Trying to decide between an BB and an LS myself. Both have very good points it makes it hard to decide.
I have a 454 in my 73, all original and 108,000 miles.
I'm in the process of getting the parts together to stroke it to 496 cu in and swap out my TH400 for a TKO-600 5 speed.
I'm replacing every component on the motor with new except for the block.
Start doing your research, find a bare block and start collecting parts and store them on the shelf until you're ready to do the swap.
If you don't want to stroke a 454 to 496 find a complete, running 454 from a corvette and simply rebuild it.
I've seen running complete 454's on craigslist starting at $500.00.
I'm a bit envious of your problem. I looked for a NOM bubble-window car, specifically to avoid the guilt of swapping the original engine, and any other mods I wanted to do. I settled for a running, numbers-matching 4-speed. But that means I can take my time to plan an upgrade.
Your car will never not be NOM, so embrace it! Enjoy the car now for what it is, and plan for an LS swap sometime when you can afford to do it correctly, and complete it all at once (don't miss a driving season!). Put in an LSX 454, and prepare the car for the next 50 years.
Throw that "makes sense" stuff out the window, this is about what makes you happy.
If you want the BB go do it then, what we say doesnt matter a bit. You have to be the guy whos happy when you turn the key. Just know if you think yhoure going to be happy wiht 350 youll probably really want 450
THe torque of the BB is pretty hard to resist ;maybe theres someone in your area who can take you out in one. Doesnt seem like the 350 is doing it so definitely go up in cubes period.
03-11-2018, 10:56 AM
