Hey guys, Recently my radiator went out and overheated my 350. I took it appart, new head gaskets, cleaned everything up and put it back together. It runs and idles better than before, but my neighbor and I were watching it while it was running, it makes a sound now, I think its knocking. So I dont know whats left in this engine. I want a 454 for this car, I dont really go to the track or race much but I of course I love the power and would love to throw a BBC in her! My main question here is, if I build a big block it wouldnt be a high dollar engine but a good little crusher. Should I just put another small block in it since it wont be a really high HP engine. Maybe a 383 or something? Plus gas mileage, I drive this thing daily. :D Any ideas, stories, advice, Love to hear it...

You could build a HEALTHY Hydraulic Roller 383 with some big hp numbers and still drive it daily. Just a thought.


JP

agreed, if your gonna daily it, just stroke it. You can get kits for less than 1K, But I am an ardent fan of BB's! :D

I think no matter what I do the price will be somewhat the same here. Spending more money on this existing engine doesnt grab me as fun. It's pretty easy to build a 383 out of a 350 though isnt it? Ive read up alot of 454's bored and stroked but not SBC's

If your gonna toss out the existing 350...Perfect time for a BBC. If you dont, you will just wish that you did. A 500 HP / Torque BBC is no big deal, steetable, durable, pump gas. To make that kind of power with a small block you would be looking at a "high strung" mill. Besides all that Chicks dig big blocks / size does matter!!!!!

Just build a 350 for it. It will be cheaper in the long run! My 355 runs low 13s, and I still drive it daily. It will take any rice-burner that pulls up next to me from our race track. If this is your only car, I'd also be thinking about gas mileage. An SBC will be less consuming that a BBC.

Originally posted by: ak69
Besides all that Chicks dig big blocksMost chicks wouldn't be able to tell anyway...

Yeah, not unless you let them grab the stick and take it for a spin! smile.gif

Then they'd just be a-scared of it! :eek:

Haha, yeah true true. I can put up with the gas I guess. Its going to be bad either way. Ive got a couple motors lined up. One 454 out of some guys stock 77 GMC 1/2 ton, is that a tall deck? And another 350 with 12:1 pistons and 202 heads, would have to change a couple things but its a beast of a small block, all new too, he wants $1000 for it.

I think no matter what I do the price will be somewhat the same herePhillip,
1)The BB will likely be a little more expensive for the same parts...

2) you can reuse many of your current pieces (carb, distributor, trans, headers, pulleys, etc) on a smallblock, and change stuff as your budget allows...

3) the BB will require many extras that you can't reuse (headers-might require exhaust work, pulleys, brackets, motor mounts, intake, radiator, fuel pump? water pump, oilpan (truck versus Chevelle?), etc... That all adds up...

You can probably reuse your carb, distributor and trans and maybe the radiator?

Then there is the "trouble" you have been having finding a 454 core... What if that core is no good? even if you can get your money back, you still have to find another one... Small Blocks are much easier to come by...

For a nice cruiser and part-time performance car, hard to beat a small block for your situation.

I would buy that 350 you mentioned above, especially if it is all new! Do you have proof that it is all new? Is he a reputable guy? What 1966_L78 said above it true, you can't reuse a lot of the stuff you have on a BBC.

Yeah hes my nieghbors buddy, very reputable. Sinks alot of money into cars. This guy is loaded it makes me sick smile.gif It sounds nice, Im going to check it out this weekend. Id still hate to do all this work for another 350 . But it would be a good choice.

You make it sound like having a 350 is a bad thing... Seriously though, like half of the people wouldn't even know the difference between a BB and a SB. At least it's not a F*rd, right?

Hmmm, I don't know. I mean you can build one helluva good small block and it is alot cheaper than a big block.

For a daily, I think I'd stick to an SBC. Spend ALOT of time engineering the system right. Good machine work ( blueprinting if you will) and system design MAKE an engine IMHO. That's how you get an unexpected upside result versus your typical stuff. That's how onovakind runs 11s with a mild street mill ( in a Chevelle, it'd be a mid 12 ride I should think).

You have to decide whether an extra 50-70 lbs ft ( which I'd guess would be typical in a street trim 454 to 383 ) is worth the changeover hassle. Adn finally you have to know yourself well enough to know if the 383 will be enough, because if it isn't going to be, I'd argue its easier to build a 500+ rat than a 500+ hp 383 - cheaper too.


Know thyself young gearhead!

IIRC, there are no 454 tall deck blocks.

The BB parts will cost slightly more, but dollar for dollar, the BB will put out more power at the end of the day.All things being equal.(But remember that BB is a lot heavier than your current SB)
It's usually always about money.
Buy a base BB cheap and rebuild, or a BB all complete,it likely will end up near the same $ at the end.The advantage for you right now is, you already have the small block base to start from.Personal preference and economics(budget)in the long term.

Ive got a couple motors lined up. One 454 out of some guys stock 77 GMC 1/2 ton, is that a tall deck? And another 350 with 12:1 pistons and 202 heads, would have to change a couple things but its a beast of a small block, all new too, he wants $1000 for it. That 350 doesn't sound too streetable and would need some scratch to detune it, is the 454 a running engine or just a core?

Yeah I looked into it more too. $1000 for the engine, a couple misc parts, change the pistons and the machine shop to do it. Adds up too much for sbc right now. Id rather go BBC still.

Phil

small blocks can make plenty of power, but generally they need more of everything to put out big numbers.

the nice thing about a big block, especially a 454, you can build a very strong performer with nearly 100% stock parts.

that 454 out of that truck you mentioned is a very good platform. although it does have flat top pistons and open chamber heads(like 8:1 comp) if its a good running egine you can install a set of early closed chamber ovals to achieve 9:1 comp. then add a mild hydraulic cam around 268 to 272 advertised, a edelbrock performer, a quadrajet or holley(750)and 1.75 headers. you would have a real stump puller you could get in and drive every day.

since these things make so much torque you could use 2.56-3.08 gears, a mild 2400 stall and still run low 13s high 12s with ease and would probably knock down better mileage than a 350 that runs the same times.