Noticed a month ago on Ebay a 1984 big block vette.I lost the guys email before i could contact him on info of how to do this. I also searched the web on hopes of finding a website or page on the subject.Any book or website info would be greatly appreciated.


[Modified by Jays84Z51, 3:48 PM 8/6/2001]


[Modified by Jays84Z51, 3:51 PM 8/6/2001]

 

I'd have to think it would throw the balance of the car off with that much weight in the front.

 

It is a very tight fit, but it is also doable. I've seen a couple of 502s crammed into a C4 engine bay. You'd probably want some stiffer springs up front to help with the added weight (unless you go aluminum block/heads).

 

I think there was an article in either Vette or Corvette Fever a couple years ago about a swap like this. The big-block bolts right in to the existing holes and the bell housing or auto trans bolts up too. The big problem would be the ECM and interference with the A/C box and the brake booster. I don't think that you could easily adapt the fuel injection system. You would almost have to do either a carb or some sort of aftermarket EFI setup.

With aluminum heads, you may be only adding around 100lbs or so to the front. A stiffer spring and shocks and a larger front swaybar could help handling.

But it sure would look great when you open the hood :cool:

 

Thanks alot... someone just sent me an email saying this project was in VETTE Aug. '98....I have check on their web page for old issues , but was unable to contact anyone....Thanks again :yesnod: :chevy

 

Hmmm. Interfacing the stock fi to a big block is an interesting idea. :crazy: Lets say you use a 90 - 91 setup. How it could be done.

Use a Victor JR intake modified for Fi. Plumb into the stock fuel system. Make a plenum box from an explosion proof electrical junction box. Secure the stock TB to the plenum box. Reuse the entire stock wiring system. Big block and small block dists interchange so spark is taken care of. Injectors would hook right up. The rest of the sensors could be wired as needed. The stock ECM program would be modified to take the larger injectors and larger engine size. The speed density curves would have to be redone. Spark advance would have to be redone.

The only things you would need to buy is the intake 600 (including mods), plenum 125 and use tuner cat 100 to do the programming. Figure a total of 1000 bucks including misc exp. compared to DFI or holley which are 2700 and 2400 respectively.

Put on cats and EGR and you might be able to pass emissions as long as there is no visual inspection.

I have a 502 and the Holley fi system. I was going to put it into my 70 Chevelle but I think I'd rather have a C4 or 90s Z28 with the motor. Chevelle drives like a truck. Maybe an RS Camaro for the ultimate sleeper package. It maybe a bit tough to make the 502 sound like a 3.2 six and the 315s on the back might be a bit suspicious.

I think I need to check out that vett article too.

 

Would love to see article myself!!! Its alot easier when someone else has done it! Cya....

 

There is a member on here that is having his 91 L98 bored and stroked out to a 427. That could be an option you might want to look into.

 

i would like to install a Big Block and use a aftermarket fel injection system.Just like to try something thats been tried and trued.

 

I rem. an article w/ a big block pretty well...its NOT a direct drop in..the shop had to cut the steering rack locating brackets and re weld them a little further up in the frame...also the crossmember was cut and re welded to clear the harmonic balancer.

They also had to cut the a/c box in the engine bay to allow some more clearance and there was a mod done with the wiper motor and valve covers because they hit.

Its alot of fabricating work..if you have the money or the means yourself to do the job, go for it.
But all that work, youd be better off stroking a small block to big cube numbers if possible and not mess with the crossmember and other mods.

Also I read in another article, a guy installed a Big block and eventually went back to a small block in his C4..the main reason was the torque and weight movement of the engine kept cracking his windshields under load.

I think its more trouble then its worth.
But I know it looks great under the hood.
If you have an 84, youll need to change hoods as well.

 

Thats what i was waiting to hear thanks alot for the info.

 

There was a recent article in Hot Rod on a 427 small block. Used a chevy style 350 lower end casting, big pistons, long stroke, etc.

Availability at the time of the article was just with a carb, but they mentioned that a TPI version would be out soon.

Now that might be an interesting motor to drop in a C4 :D :cool: :D

 

Like some of the previous posts have noted, it has been done and can be done again. Accel makes fuel injection for the big block as do others. Computers are not the problem. Money is only drawback. Big Block parts cost big block dollars. Go with a bored and stroked small block. Try the Motown blocks, you can go up to 440 cubin inches and still have the dimensions of the small block and the weight too. Plus all the accessories will bolt up to the small block and you can still make over 500 hp if you want to go that far

 

The 84 in vette was a car that had the milege turned back. the guy that built and owned the car lives a half mile away from me. the only thing that he had problems with was the windshield wiper moter. i forgot what he did but he got them to work with the exception of the intermidete feature :chevy

 

:cool: :crazy: :D
Now if I just had 39K and about 4k for tires.

 

I am going to do this swap on my '84 4+3 coupe. Check out the August '98 issue of Vette magazine. It gives a pretty detailed explanation along with pictures of what's involved. I've already contacted the shop that did this swap and they report no ill handling effects, just munched trannies. They even said that they've done iron headed swaps and the front ends hold up fine. I will be using the Edelbrock Performer RPM oval port heads and the Performer RPM air gap intake with an 850 demon carb. The motor will be a 0.60 over 454 with a steel 396 crank that'll give me 440 cu. in. I'll be using a Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 284 cam. It should put out around 550 hp. I'll do the rack relocation and heater box mods myself and I'll take the car to them for the accessory bracket mods. Take a look at the magazine, it's very do-able.

 

Here's 502 in a C4
http://tunedport.com/89Corvette.html


Drop them an email, they have tech support

 

Aquametallic, I wouldn't give up on the Chevelle. There are plenty of parts to make old A-body's handle like they're on rails. My LeMans had a few on it and it handled VERY good--easily on par with an F-body.

 

Jay,
There are many ways to get the cubes without going to the expense of dropping a BB into the car. There are a handful of aftermarket block manufacturers that make "raised-cam" castings for big cube applications.

I am in the process of working on a 427 SB from a Chevy "Bow-tie" block. It will have 4.125" bore and a 4" stroke. Everything will fit without any major mods, and the balance of the car will remain intact. You could even go the aluminum block route and shave another 100 or so pounds off the front end.

Although I "myself" LOVE the looks of a BB, I can't see spending the $$ it would take to squeeze one into a C4 chassis.

 

A guy in my neighborhood has the 502 in his 87 C4 but it has a big round hole in the green hood for the chrome air cleaner above the carb. But it runs 11.00 seconds in quarter at captial drag raceway.