BBC conversion in C4
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,375
Likes: 3,385
From: Central TX
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
BBC conversion in C4
A few years ago,Corvette Fever or Vette magazine featured an article about installing a big block in a C4. Does anyone remember that article? If anyone has it scanned & saved,could you forward it to me? It would be much appreciated as a friend is interested in installing a 502" in his C4.
Clint
Clint
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: BBC conversion in C4 (montie98)
I have that article somewhere... They used an old Can Am aluminum block and installed it in an '86... Corvette Performance or Corvette Specialists or something like that, out in California I believe.
I put a carbed 496 in an '84 about 8 years ago...It's really not that hard; you do have to clearance the front crossmember and the heater box is in the way as well. Since this was going to be a street racer we pulled the heater core anyway so it wasn't a problem. I believe they cut and resealed it to clear the valve cover and exhaust manifold in the article. They also used OEM Vette BBC exhaust manifolds from an early 70's C3; I would build a set of headers though...
-Jeb
I put a carbed 496 in an '84 about 8 years ago...It's really not that hard; you do have to clearance the front crossmember and the heater box is in the way as well. Since this was going to be a street racer we pulled the heater core anyway so it wasn't a problem. I believe they cut and resealed it to clear the valve cover and exhaust manifold in the article. They also used OEM Vette BBC exhaust manifolds from an early 70's C3; I would build a set of headers though...
-Jeb
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Re: BBC conversion in C4 (USAZR1)
I have heard that they use a ZR1 heater box that gives adequate clearance. Do a search and you will find a few articles here for the conversion. Some guy here did several of them sometime ago.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 5
From: Liberal Kansas
Re: BBC conversion in C4 (USAZR1)
Do an archive search for 'big block C4' in the C4 Tech section. Twenty threads were found. Here is one.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=347516
Or search 'Grumpyvette'. He has done a number of the conversions.
[Modified by Dan Plett, 8:01 PM 9/13/2003]
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=347516
Or search 'Grumpyvette'. He has done a number of the conversions.
[Modified by Dan Plett, 8:01 PM 9/13/2003]
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