I am picking up a 1979 454 out of a 3/4 ton truck what should I expect the compression ratio to be? Are the pistons domed or flat tops? what are my chances of it having the good 781 or 049 heads? Will the oil pan fit my 69 Camino?

I have one out of a 74 truck and I've been told it has flat smog pistons and it has the lame peanut port heads. I think most of the mid-late 70's 454s were low compression and smog restricted. There's always a chance of getting one with the good heads on it though. Just pull the valve covers and check it.

Pretty sure the oil pan will not work. I would think it would have flat top pistons because of 79's were generally low compression low power motors. It may have 781's, I would just pop off the valve cover and check it out.

Here is a good way to tell if it is 4 bolt or 2 bolt main, obviously without dropping the pan. This is from Darryl Berg:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g274/roundyround/bbc4-bolt.jpg

My 78 3/4 ton burb motor was low compression and peanut port heads

My 78 3/4 ton burb motor was low compression and peanut port heads

My 78 Suburban has 781 heads.
All factory 454's after 1970 that came in passenger cars and trucks have flat top pistons.

Pan should be fine b/c it should be a car 454 pan.

pdq67

PS., at least my core '75, 454 C/K 20/30 P/U engine's pan was.

Pan should be fine b/c it should be a car 454 pan.

pdq67

PS., at least my core '75, 454 C/K 20/30 P/U engine's pan was.

Are you sure? I didnt think truck pans fit in chevelles... :confused:

I don't think its gonna fit. I got looking at some pics of my old 70 Chevelle and there was a pic of the motor and tranny hanging from the crane, the pan on that one has a much shorter [front to back] sump than the pan I have now.:sad:

I looked at a 1980 454 today, 236 Peanut Port heads on her
IIRC, late 78, certainly 79 saw the intro of the PP head.....
Mortec site says 1975-1987 but I've not seen any dated before 78 in the 6 or 7 sets that I've seen....

You should have flattop pistons in there, one valve relief. Rated CR was 8.5:1 though if you get in there and measure, do the math, you'll find real CR as low as 7.9:1 and 'better' ones in the 8.1-8.2:1 range....
236s do a fine job of making torque, plenty fine for daily car or cruiser....

99% of the 454 burbans I have parted out all had truck pans.
I had a GMC 1500 series 454 p/u years back that had a passenger car pan on it.

I have a 454 out of a 79 truck...2-bolt mains, flat top pistons, 781 heads. Pan doesn't look to me like it will work in a Chevelle.

Just sold my 79 4x4 truck motor to buy a car ,2 bolt main, cast crank, flat tops , 236 peanut heads, LOOOONG pan sump that definately would not fit a pass car. Pans are cheap in the aftermarket unless you buy a resto pan.