BIG BLOCK fitment issues?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,631
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From: Union City CA
BIG BLOCK fitment issues?
Since the Big block V-8 is about 2 inches longer than a Small Block, Will the transmission get moved back 2inches as well, also Besides noching the firewall, the cross member for the crank pulley, and moving the steering rack forward. What else is needed to complete this? Also If I go with IRON Block and IRON heads, how much weight gain am I looking at?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
Trans stays right where it is, the other stuff gets you the clearance you need. Iron heads, man that's another 60 lbs hanging over the front.
Thomas
Thomas
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,631
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From: Union City CA
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (The Green Rocket)
Yeah that why I think I should move the battery to the back. ;) Also my vette is only 3,000lbs so even if I get another 100lbs from a big block, I'll still be lighter than other C4's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
Cast iron headed big block vs aluminum headed small block, It seems to me the big block would weigh at least 200+lbs more. I am sure someone can chime in with exact numbers
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13,356
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From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
Big block???? No way...Just to heavy for the C4......There are so many combinations of the small block that a big block is out of the question....
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,631
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From: Union City CA
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (oldace84)
oldace84, someone on this forum has done this before, I think the website theme name or something is called moneypit but I dont know who it was anymore, anyway he put a 468ci engine in his corvette and has 700hp. I Just posted this forum so I could get some info because the Big Block is 2 inchs longer than the SB and so I wanted to know if the tranny got pushed back or not? ;)
Advanced
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: london
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
The weight usually quoted for a big block is 690 lbs. The similar weight for a small block is 540lbs . So the nominal difference is 130lb or about 4% of the weight of an average C4. Given the engine location on a C4 this is going to add about 100lbs to the front end weight. Puting the battery in the tail would shift 30lbs well back so the net extra would be say 60 lbs on the front ( but see below)
These are , I beleive , all cast iron to all cast iron engine numbers from about 15 yrs ago before lots of aluminium started to appear on GM engines.
I think aluminium heads save about 40lbs on a SB and 70lbs on a BB.
If you go with everything aluminium on a big block ( except the actual block) you can get to about 600lbs.
The problem is that you also need a bigger radiator etc and the C4 SB engines do have aluminium parts so its probably best to
a) plan to spend money on BB aluminium parts
b) accept you will end up with 100lb extra front end weight
By the way as people probably know GM did a factory BB C4 prototype way back using mostly stock parts. It appeared in various Corvette magazines but was never a serious production idea due to CAFE. ;)
These are , I beleive , all cast iron to all cast iron engine numbers from about 15 yrs ago before lots of aluminium started to appear on GM engines.
I think aluminium heads save about 40lbs on a SB and 70lbs on a BB.
If you go with everything aluminium on a big block ( except the actual block) you can get to about 600lbs.
The problem is that you also need a bigger radiator etc and the C4 SB engines do have aluminium parts so its probably best to
a) plan to spend money on BB aluminium parts
b) accept you will end up with 100lb extra front end weight
By the way as people probably know GM did a factory BB C4 prototype way back using mostly stock parts. It appeared in various Corvette magazines but was never a serious production idea due to CAFE. ;)
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
From: La Fontaine Indiana
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
I think you have your mind made up already but if you bought aluminum small block make it a 455 it will cost less to build than alum. big block. Weigh less and make more power an the car would handle much better.
700hp is no big deal my 406 makes much more than that.
700hp is no big deal my 406 makes much more than that.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (black bart)
I have an old Vette or Corvette Fever article they did where a guy put a BB in a C4. Email me your fax number and I will dig it out and I can fax it to you.
They used an aluminum BB and had to cut the heater box corner and refabricate that. Cut the welds on a steering bracket, flip it 180 degrees, and reweld it and a few other things.
They used an aluminum BB and had to cut the heater box corner and refabricate that. Cut the welds on a steering bracket, flip it 180 degrees, and reweld it and a few other things.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,631
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From: Union City CA
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (ukchevybuilder)
Thanks for the specs on the big block, small block, alumium head weight specs. BlackBart- I plan on running a 525CID engine with a 4.31 bore and 4.5 stroke. This would give me more torque because I really want this to pull mostly on the bottom end, so I'm going for more tq than hp figures. ALso I plan on running 8.5 t0 1 with a blower to hopefully generate a kilohp. Id85 I dont have a fax machine so maybe you could scan and post it if that would be alright. ;) Plus If I use aluminum heads on a iron Block, what kind of gaskets do I use, do I need special ones? I plan on making this a Drag Vette with 29inch radials and a solid axel. Also I will be using 3.6 rear gears with a th400 so I could still use this on the highway. I dont want to use 4.10's because I dont want to be doing 3500rpms at 68mph. :lol:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
Light84vette, I have pictures of a Lingenfelter installed big big block in a C4. This Corvette looks like it came from the factory with a big block. I will email you these pictures, if you wish.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,631
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From: Union City CA
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (ld85)
STL94LT1 AND Id85 my e-mail address is in my profile, I dont want to post it onto the main site topic. I dont think the Big Block fit will be too hard, I'm just trippin over the weight. ;)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Union City CA
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (STL94LT1)
Thanks STL94LT1, The engine lookslike it really did come from the factory, but the custom welded intake throws it all off, so you can kinda tell its not factory. Also the LPE sign. Anyway where did you get the pics from, also do they come with some info?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (Light84vette)
Light84vette, the car in the pictures is a friend of a friends. He claims it is a Lingenfelter, one off, prototype, 540ci, big block, C4 Corvette.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 1
Re: BIG BLOCK fitment issues? (ukchevybuilder)
I myself would go big cube small block. However if you have never heard a C4 with a big blck in it, you would want to do it. I think it will be awesome when it is done and good luck. Research the ZR2 that was done, because at some point in time they published all of the part numbers that they used in the setup and that would help you abunch.
Justin
Justin