454 Crate Engine Identification.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Seattle Washington
454 Crate Engine Identification.
I have recently purchased another two" Project Corvettes" and in one of them has what I believe is a Crate Motor across the Chevy parts counter. The Engine Pad has no stamping. Looking at it with a Magnifying Glass I cannot detect if its a Broached or Swirl surface its been rusted and cleaned to many times in the last 40 years. The Block is a 445 Casting with a 1978 Date. The 990 Heads have a very close Casting Dates. The Head Gaskets look to be Steel Shim and not a Felpro Composition. The GM Flywheel Part Number and Counterweight verify its a 454. The Intake is a 393163 L-88 style. Looking in the Cylinder's I see that there is a small " Pop Up" Pistons and It's got 210-235 Psi Compression. All the Bolts are GM and it just gas that look of never having been apart.
Nothing other than a small Miricle I have found somebody who has what must be the original Blocks and Heads for both Cars !!!! They came from the same Estate sale the cars came from. I am working a deal to Trade the running 454 for the original hardware. But it would be best to know what I got and what he is getting.
So, I figure its got to be an LS-6 right? Not so quick, it doesn't have the bigger fitting at the Oil Filter for the Oil Cooler so its almost for sure not a 4 Bolt Main. It's got the Hi-Perf on it. It went for its first drive in the last 28- 30 years today. I have no doubt its got a Hydraulic Cam in it and it sounds as though it came out of Granma's Station Wagon.
I have searched for the factory performance catalog in this Era and have not found one. This Engine could of been sold between 1978 and the Mid 80's. So if its not a LS-6 then what is it ?
.
Nothing other than a small Miricle I have found somebody who has what must be the original Blocks and Heads for both Cars !!!! They came from the same Estate sale the cars came from. I am working a deal to Trade the running 454 for the original hardware. But it would be best to know what I got and what he is getting.
So, I figure its got to be an LS-6 right? Not so quick, it doesn't have the bigger fitting at the Oil Filter for the Oil Cooler so its almost for sure not a 4 Bolt Main. It's got the Hi-Perf on it. It went for its first drive in the last 28- 30 years today. I have no doubt its got a Hydraulic Cam in it and it sounds as though it came out of Granma's Station Wagon.
I have searched for the factory performance catalog in this Era and have not found one. This Engine could of been sold between 1978 and the Mid 80's. So if its not a LS-6 then what is it ?
.
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above the timing cover on the machined area is there a XCH stamped there?. The 14015445 casting number equates to a Gen IV Big Block 454 used from 1978-1990, and in either a two or four bolt main configuration. I do believe GM made a ls7 crate engine from 75-87 with .500 popup pistons and 990 heads
Last edited by Mdbirk; Jul 22, 2024 at 10:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
above the timing cover on the machined area is there a XCH stamped there?. The 14015445 casting number equates to a Gen IV Big Block 454 used from 1978-1990, and in either a two or four bolt main configuration. I do believe GM made a ls7 crate engine from 75-87 with .500 popup pistons and 990 heads
T K 2 4 X A A 8 I what is on that pad. I guess I have never looked there before and don't know how to decipher it. Google doesn't know how either.
