Hi All,
I have a 69 SS. I want to put a 540 BBC in it. Would a tall deck fit (10.2) without altering the upper a arms? Custom headers I take for granted. The car has power steering,4 speed(m20)and a Summit HEI.

It's not the control arms that's a problem. You could have interference with the brake booster, and heater-A/C box on the other side. Yes, headers might be a problem, but that seems to vary with the brand of header. The distributor issues vary with the manifold used. I'm thinking that most tall deck manifolds are machined to accept normal distributors, while regular manifolds and spacers need a longer distributor, or one with a slip collar. You can buy the slip collar seperately, then machine your distributor to make it fit, by the way.

No promises on hood clearance for the air cleaner, or any brackets that bolt to both the block and the heads. You'd probably wind up elongating the bolt holes, or otherwise re-engineering the brackets.

I have a 580 BBC in my car and it has a 10.2 deck. Motor bolted in originally using the solid Moroso mounts and I have custom Lemons headers. Heater box clearance was fine but I don't have AC or PS for that matter. It even cleared the wiper motor. The biggest problem you'll have is the brake booster. I'm running manual brakes on mine. Otherwise it dropped right it......we were astounded.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

Thanks,

what kind of heads are you using? and manifold i have ran many differant set-ups let m eknow and I can give you a solid answer. sean

Here's my buddies 68 chevelle with a tall deck 427.It has brodix heads and hooker super comp headers.
http://img185.exs.cx/img185/5311/markschevelle7re.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

I use a 427 TALL DECK block in my 1971 GMC SPRINT ,Crane GOLD roller rocker with stock valve covers (no stud girdles) .I use doble valve cover gaskets and no problem with the power brakes booster .

The lower frame mounts I use are the tall ones to make my 8 quarts Moroso fit also I use the Summit 1/3/4 headres with no clearence problems . But if you are going to make a big cubic inch motor you are going to need a larger headers. I hope this helps ,and good luck with your proyect . ;)

Hi All,
Its me again ,Scott Pahlow, to get some of the gray area cleared up. The block is a 2 bolt 454 bored .04 over. It has A.F.R. CNC 315 heads with 8016 spring package, and Jesel SS shaft rockers (exhaust ports raised 5/16" stock bolt pattern), RPM Air gap rectangle ports, 850 Demon Vac secondarys, Hi vol Holley street mech pump. Comp Cams Extreme Energy 274H .550 lift, 234 deg. duration, Shubeck hyd. lifters (no wear face, .01 total hyd function), Summit HEI with an MSD intensifier kit. Energy Suspension polyeurathane trans, and engine mounts- used 14mm allen bolts-fit right through, very strong, long enough for double nuts) Stock rebuilt clutch linkage (z bar)Speed Direct heim end pedal to z bar rod, grade 8 threaded rod lower with a 1/2 water pipe sleeve over the outside, jam nuts to lock adjustment. The original one bent after installing a new Ram long style 2800# pressure plate, and clutch disc (300 series) flywheel and Lakewood scattershield with a heavy duty fork. Now it all works great. The car also has manual disc/drum brakes. I took off the ac stuff. I plan to get a Vintage Air system later. My goal is 700 "all gas" hp, for a car that is mostly on the street. Already making plans for new 5 spd and ford 9" with Currie "Jonny Joint" rear arms with the connecting arms (upper to lower)from Hotchkis. Thanks for all the great feedback!! Scott