So Im just wondering for the future, when my 96 engine says thats all .
Im entertaining the idea of either building my 350 with a lil beef
cam, heads , and headers..or WILL A BIG BLOCK FIT ? thinking
chevy crate motor.. Anyone?

 

It's been done by a few on the forum.

I'm going the blower route myself.

 

It fits



It takes a little persuasion. Do a search and you will find details on mine and there is also and article scanned in from august 98' vette magazine that has a much cleaner(and more expensive) swap than mine
If 96' had the LT4 you may do better building that one though, I have heard good things about that motor.

 

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=25010

 

I have looked at going this route myself, asked the very same question here myself actually, but don't know off hand the link.

Basically, with a BBC you have to possibly notch or dent the frame which runs right in front of the engine. There could also be some trouble with the AC box. There are a few other little problems here and there, but nothing major. It will bolt up. It's once you start adding the manifolds and brackets where you start hitting other parts.

If you go with an aftermarket SBC block, like from Dart, those are small blocks but are capable of being built up to 450+ inches. Those are quite expensive but would fit like an original and run like a big block.

But, an aftermarket BBC could be built WAY up, 600+ cubic inches.

I think I am going to eventually go with an aluminum small block from dart and shoot for about 430ish CI. My goal is to make a super light car and go with turbos. I have been researching what I can do to lighten my car. Carbon Fiber parts, changing out the window glass, swapping out the motorized head light assemblies, ect...

 

Don't get me wrong, a big block has major cool factor, I get that!

But spending huge $ on an aftermarket aluminum small block?!?!??

Why on earth would you do that rather than swap in a new style LS1,2,3,6,7? Technology has moved forward. They make more power $ for $ and are plain and simple--better designs.

Not trying to tell anyone what they have to do with their car, but, I kinda see the traditional SBC and the flathead when the old SBC came around. If you are looking period correct...ok. But if you want power, reliability, and to keep costs down the choice seems clear...

Sorry this got kinda long, here is a summary of my opinion:
1-Stay LT4, maybe go to a stroker (396) - easiest
2-Update to LS type engine (big power-light-reliable-cheap)
3-BIG BLOCK (cool-big power)

 

I have a Big block and small blocks. Im old school and like the big blocks. My big block with a 4 speed does some serious burnouts and neck jerking. I like the low end torque generated by a BBC. Im sure the sbc's make just as much power.

Plus my BBC sets off car alarms in parking lots!

 

I HAVE SEEN ONE AT A LOCAL CAR SHOW.TALKED TO THE GUY FOR A WHILE ABOUT THE CAR HE SAID IT WAS A REAL TASK GETTING IT IN A 84 VETTE,IT LOOKED GREAT AND HE SAID THE CAR HANDLED GREAT WITH THE HEAVY MOTOR.IT WAS FOR SALE FOR 12K

 

I did the BB to see how it fit but I do have some regrets. It would be a much better driver with all of the accessories(climate control, cruise) still there but I took the easier path. It could be done properly with all of the accessories but would take much more time to get it all to fit I think.
The big block is not as desireable as you would think. I put it on craigslist at $8500, then 75, 65, etc... I got calls from teenagers and your basic morons when I put it up a short time at $5k but could not bring myself to sell it that cheap.
I will be selling it locally for whatever I can get very soon just to make room in the garage. I will be going to a stock 6 speed car to just drive next season, I think it would be neat to be one of the "clean and polish" crowd for a while If I do anything it will be a low boost supercharger on the stock engine to keep it completely drivable.
I would trade it in a heartbeat for a clean 6-speed.

 

You are selling your car? Send me a PM with your phone number.

 

Yeah...kinda like a square peg in a round hole

 

You can get a Shafiroff-built 434 for less than $10k. http://www.ultrastreet.net/engines/434_ultrastreet.asp

Swap a EFI manifold on it and hang on

Too many things to get a BB to sit in there. With a "big" small block you can bolt all the accessories on and it runs. No frame issues, no figuring out what will & won't work.

Just my 2 cents...

 

I talked to merle from Exotic Muscle regarding this and he had a few good points.

The arrangement of all the other belt driven accessories is going to be an issue, the steering rack needs to move foward, the frame needs to be notched (for the crank pulley). etc, etc....

I agree, that 600+ cubic inches sounds nice. but also take this into consideration...

I think the big block will end up needing a stand alone computer and custom harness (if going fuel injected), that this point you're talking about $5K easy (custom harness, stand alone, labor, etc).

With that said, I thought of a few alternatives...

Motown big-inch small blocks. The motown all alloy 427 is about the same price as the new LS7, but it's a DIRECT replacement engine for the c4 rather than needing any custom fabrication. Of course the older (first generation small block) c4's will make for a better donor car over the Lt-x cars (due to the motown block being a traditional first gen layout). The distributor is already in the back, and the intake components can be "adapted" to work.

Motown also makes a 454 small block (crate engine) roughly $10,000-$12,000 for either one, completely dressed (with carb and everything).

I called motown as asked about a fulley dressed engine minus intake and carb, and they can do that too, probably around $10,000 or slightly less after that

 

I love how everyone throws around $10K for an engine like it is cheap

Keep in mind that you can purchase a pretty clean car for under that number now and you may understand my comment

 

Well, I don't know who you have doing machine work on your stuff, but I spent $7k on my 355, and that was with a donor engine.

NEW Forged pistons, crank, and heads will easily run you $3-4k of that.

I still have the build sheet for mine and what I paid for every item. The machine work adds up, little things here & there.

Sure, you can do it cheaper yourself. Will it last? Who knows, but I've pounded on mine racing for quite a few years and have had no issues with it.

 

I understand but my point was just for a stoplight warrior a 10K engine is unecessary. There are many young or inexperienced owners here that want to get into the hobby but do not because they think that if they don't get a high $$$ engine and associated drivetrain it isn't worth doing.

I bought a .030 over 454 that is 450HP/520TQ (granted it is a sim dyno)for $3500 delivered with an intake on it. If I went with a 383 I could have had my car around 350HP with 370ish TQ for under $4K.



I apologize if I offended anyone with my post