First I want to say thanks the world of advice I have gotten so far on the new Chevelle. Right now I'm well into the body work.

Now the hard part, and I know this subject is of great debate and been hashed out many times before. But what engine to put in?

Through advice of others in this forum, I am looking at a local engine builder rather than a GM crate engine. Right now the car has a small 6 cylinder. I'm not sure whether to put a SB or BB in the car, or what size.

I have about $5,000 to spend on the engine total so it would have to include the carb. I know that there will be other expenses like radiator and the like, I'm not including that in this budget.

The car will never see a dragstrip, and won't be a daily driver. I want it to be fast and sound fast though, and be reliable. What are the pros and cons of going SM or BB? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know what the total cost was, I think, but if I recall correctly the old hydraulic version of Ed's BSE combo (do a search for it here) cost like 5 and change from top to bottom, and you could probably go with a schooch smaller cam than he went with.
Its a 454-468 combo of well matched parts that is reliable and I would imagine would suit your purposes fine. If its possible, however, but probably not doable in your 5k budget, to stuff a hydraulic roller in there instead of a plain flat tappet hydraulic.
Or if you are mechanically friendly to the sort of thing, a solid flat would work just as well in the motor.
I would think the BSE would be the perfect testbed for a hydraulic roller because of the intended off idle to 6000 rpm range of the combo, which is exactly where hydraulic rollers are most happy, and the right hydroroller will make more than enough power.
If you can afford it I say hydroroller, if not solid flat or solid hyd, you just have to mind the break in on a flat tapped instead of the "set it and forget" (copyright ronco) of a roller.

I would search for the combo, I think once someone even posted it with a price list of each part and a guess for balancing and assembly and it came out to like 5200, but that is just off my memory. A very stout little combo that should be a 12 second screamer in a street car.

This is all my opinion, I'd wait for some of the big dogs to chime in here..
The GM crate engines, everyone I know who uses one says they run great and never, ever have any problems but they are usually dissapointed with the power, but that is probably why they run so well.

matt

A mild BB would satisfy your requirements. Lots of torque without being radical. A SB will work pretty well but to get the same output the engine will need more cam, ect. I'm not up on BB's but something in the 10:1 range with about a 272 cam should do it. Should be easy to live with.

Thanks! Do you know what major steps are involved in doing a 6 cyl to BB 8 cyl conversion (besides new transmission)?

6 CYL to Big BLock.
Strip car to frame including control arms, mounts, brackets, bushings, motor, trans, rear, radiator, exhaust, hood and all accesory mounts. Buy all correct replacement parts to accomodate big block; reassemble.

Seems relatively straightforward. I assume by “Strip car to frame” you mean strip the engine compartment to the frame. Should be a fun project.

I seem to find a ton of info on SB to BB conversions but nothing on 6 cylinder to 8 cylinder conversions.

I only have like $3800 to $4000 in my 496 that I shade-tree put together myself after my trusted Machinist got through...

My 454 core motor had a bad crank so it wasn't too hard justifying it..

New Merlin oval heads, 9.8 to 1 CR., CC 282S solid cam, Holley Strip Dom. single plane and a good old rebuilt 750 cfm Holley, 3310-2 carb. and 1.75" four tube, long el-cheapo headers...

Per D2K, 551hp at 5500rpm and 579t at 4500rpm so I just call her my great big "tow-truck" motor!!

I know it's just sim. program numbers, but still it's GOOD cheap power to me!! A lot more then my mild, 406SB makes/made..

pdq67