Is it possible to put a big block chevy in a C4? I realize that almost anything is possible, but could it done without major mods to the car?

 

I don't have details, but it can be done

 

It can be, and has been done. However it's certainly not an easy thing to do, and honestly I really don't see the point of it. You can make a LOT of power from a small block, more then most anyone would need on the street anyway and a big block would throw the weight distribution of the car WAY off. Just my 2 cents

 

I agree that a SBC could make more power than almost anyone would want on the street. But I was really looking a crate 502. 500 HP with a 2 year warranty. That's hard to beat. I found a 1991 polo green C4 with a torched motor in it and was cosidering the BB swap. Just looking for some info, that's all.

 

Something to consider.....you can make a 396 ci out of the stock block. With an aftermarket block like a Motown, you can get into the 430 range easily. The 396 will get you 450hp pretty easily, if properly built. There are some guys on here that have that combo. I think there's one or two that have 427 small blocks, and I'm not sure what they're putting out.

There's a guy in C3 that has a TT 427 sb that puts out 1200 hp.... :eek: :eek:

Speed costs, how fast do you want to go? :cheers:

 

There is a guy on the forum occasionaly that has a big block - 502 I believe. One of the constraints becomes the front lower crossmember.. It needs to be notched to clearance for the damper on the big block.. The mounts also have to be take into account and moved I believe..

It isn't a bad deal if you can do all the work yourself, the fabricating and have the time. Also remember that most likely you will have to get a new hood or modify your existing one to fit a bigblock intake..

If you have the time and skills I would go for.. Just use an all aluminum block and heads and your weight won't be to bad..

 

Not if you go aluminum block, intake, heads. :cool:


[Modified by scorp508, 11:02 AM 3/12/2003]

 

G.M. did it back in the early 90s. It was an orange 88 conv. with a hardtop. A friend of mine used to work at the tech center and showed me the pictures. I didn't get all the details on the car, but I do know you have to relocate the the PS rack about 1/2 forward to clear the damper. I think it had some kind of high rise hood to clear the fuel injection setup also.

 

Ya, but the warranty is what is attracting me to the 502. Like I said all the power I want could be made with a stock displacement 350. But it won't have a warranty. I dunno, something about 500+ cubes, 500+ HP, and a warranty just get's me going, ya know?

 

There is also an addictive quality to the term "Big Block". Also when that warranty runs out you have a 502 to modd. Then you'll be looking at Huge horsepower with fairly little effort....

If you do it make sure you keep us posted every step of the way!

 

[QUOTE]......and a big block would throw the weight distribution of the car WAY off.

Not if you go aluminum block, intake, heads. :cool:


Cha ching....$$$......It would be cool, though.

 

i was thinking about it, but decided to stick with the small block, way less hassle :cheers:

 

I have a corvette mag that detailed some of things needed.

-They moved the rack and pinion forward and made room for the balancer in the crossmember.
-Cut a big block FI intake down to clear the hood, made thier own lid for it.
-They had to cut and fill (basically reshape)in the AC box on the passenger side to clear the exhuast (I thought they mentioned the head too)
-They used an aluminum block, and after, they used a lowering kit to get it back to stock ride height.

Those are the main highlights I remember.

They also used stock exhuast manifolds from something, to fit it in. You will probably need custom made headers.

 

Who cares about the warranty? For the amount of time and money it would take to set up a C4 with a BB you could buy 3 500hp 350s. But I still think it would be cool to see.


[Modified by Ray383, 11:13 PM 3/12/2003]

 

I agree, I think those "warranties" are worth about as much as the heat generated from burning the paper they're printed on. Spend your money building a *quality* stroked smallblock with attention to detail and all the bells and whistles you can afford, you'll be better off IMHO.

:thumbs:

 

you can get a 2 year 24000 mile warranty on a complete 427 from bill mitchell. it runs on pump gas and it puts out well over 500hp. only thing is, a complete motor is the only one you can get the warranty on, and they are carbureted. but you could always run the carb for the 2 years and then switch back to FI... or just buy the long block and forget about the warranty.
this is what my buddy is doing soon.
see ya,
sonny

 

Try following these links
http://www.allchevyengines.com/396-470.html http://www.strokermotor.com/SM383.htm http://www.katech-inc.com/prod/ls1/index.htm

Or possibly these: (not listed in any particular order... no religious war please) http://www.carrollsupercharging.com/lt98corvette.html http://www.carrollsupercharging.com/lt1corvette.html http://www.carrollsupercharging.com/lt1corvette.html http://www.dougrippie.com/drm/engine_conversion.htm http://www.dougrippie.com/drm/engine_conversion.htm http://www.lingenfelter.com/pac383cidlt1y.asp http://www.lingenfelter.com/pac383cidlt1y.asp http://www.callawaycars.com/Corvette...atural_engine.

In short, 500 hp from a SBC is not hard to find at all. And, at least the last three links are to places that offer a notable warranty.




[Modified by Fozzy_Bear, 11:00 PM 3/12/2003]

 

I know of two C4's with 540 BB that Lingenfelter has built. One is for sale now. See it here:
http://www.lingenfelter.com/classified0015.asp

Also someone on the LS1 Edit forum has stuffed a one of the new 8.1L big blocks from a truck into a C5

 

I have had two in my '86, a 454 and a 502. Lots of work and lots of money. It is way cool to pop the hood and see those wide valve covers, there is no mistaking what it is. If you plan to keep it under the factory hood, be prepared to open your wallet wide. Its not especially hard to do, the parts list is long, the expense is great, but the torque is mind numbing.

In the end I went back to a small block for reliability and fuel efficiency. My 502 was getting 6 m.p.g., the 350 I have now gets 20.

Matt

 

Another point to consider is reliability. For the mathmaticians out there... take a look at the piston speeds of a 427 or 434 SBC spinning 6500 RPM. Now take a look at the piston speeds in a 427 or 454 Big Block. My money is on the Big Block for living a long happy life in a race car. Here's the stats:

Cubes/ Stroke/ Piston Speed at 6500 RPM
350 SBC / 3.48/ 3,770 ft/min
383 SBC / 3.75/ 4,063 ft/min
396 SBC / 3.875/ 4,198 ft/min
402-415 SBC/ 4.00/ 4,333 ft/min
427-434 SBC/ 4.125/ 4,469 ft/min

427 BBC/ 3.76/ 4,073 ft/min
454 BBC/ 4.00/ 4,333 ft/min
The cool thing is that I can spin my new 427 BB up to just 6000 RPM and have all the power I need... actually more than I need :)

A 427 BBC spinning 6000 RPM is only 3,760 ft/min, A 454 spinning 6k RPM is only 4,000 ft/min.

In my opinion, the real advantage of a big block is the durability factor at higher horsepower levels. A 600 hp SBC is not likely to live long under race conditions, a 600 hp BBC will. We don't even want to get into the camshaft size vs street manners issues.

Cory


[Modified by CHarris85Vette, 12:18 PM 3/15/2003]


[Modified by CHarris85Vette, 12:22 PM 3/15/2003]