I could use some opinions on what to do with 2 motors and projects I have.

I have a '72 Chevelle Malibu with the original 350/350 combo. I also have a '57 Chevy truck with the original inline 6/4 speed manual floor shift.

A friend gave me a BB454/th400, complete with all accessories and brackets, to put in my Chevelle. I believe it came out of a truck. The casting number only tells me that it was '78-'87. He also gave me a '73 4 door Nova with the same motor/trans as the Chevelle, to use the front clip in the truck.

Those were my original plans, but after some research, I'm thinking of building the small block for the car, that way there won't be any fitment issues with the brake booster, brackets/accessories, and driveshaft, and the big block in the truck.

Any thoughts? Both motors will be built to run on pump gas, and the truck will be more of a daily driver.

Any help is appreciated!

Is the big block a pickup truck motor or is it a School bus/dumptruck/cran engine?

Quick way to tell a tall deck truck block from a regular 454. See how the water pump bolts up to the block and it's almost level with the deck?

This is the block you want.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/YenkoChevelle69/Chevelle%20engine%20pictures/DSC00221.jpg

This is the block you do not want. It's .400 taller.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/YenkoChevelle69/Chevelle%20engine%20pictures/b288_1.jpg

I would absolutely love to have an original (ish) 57 or so truck with a six banger and a 4 speed.

No its not fast, probably not a highway cruiser, but, after looking at 30 years of chrome/paint/billet, monster motors and upgrades, the appeal of an original has just jumped out at me in the last couple years.

My Dad had a 40's GMC and a 53 Chevy, both 4 spds, that I drove a whole bunch. Just love the feel of rowing one of those around.

Imho, the Chevelle is a much better candidate for power upgrades and such.

Keep the six four speed!

i would absolutely love to have an original (ish) 57 or so truck with a six banger and a 4 speed.

No its not fast, probably not a highway cruiser, but, after looking at 30 years of chrome/paint/billet, monster motors and upgrades, the appeal of an original has just jumped out at me in the last couple years.

My dad had a 40's gmc and a 53 chevy, both 4 spds, that i drove a whole bunch. Just love the feel of rowing one of those around.

Imho, the chevelle is a much better candidate for power upgrades and such.

Keep the six four speed!

x2!:)

Shay I think the tall decks only came 366 or 427. I have never seen a 454 tall deck.

they did, but the blocks all look the same to the untrained eye.

Quick way to tell a tall deck truck block from a regular 454. See how the water pump bolts up to the block and it's almost level with the deck?


This isn't a tall deck, correct?

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/ryno450r/865405e2.jpg

Here's the way it was when I picked it up. He also gave me another set of heads and a 9" rear-end.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/ryno450r/910aad27.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/ryno450r/d37f4ea7.jpg

thats a standard deck

thats a standard deck

Thanks!

Can anyone give their thoughts on the pulley/bracket/accessory configuration here, as far as whether or not it might work in a '72, or would I be better off finding originals or aftermarket?

You want originals when possible they just fit better

You want originals when possible they just fit better

That's what i thought, just trying to keep the cost down, even though just about everything has been given to me!

My great grandma bought the car new in '72, from a local dealer that's still around. It still has the dealer emblem on the trunk lid. She gave it to my dad when she had to move to an assisted living home. It sat in the garage for about ten years, until I started driving, and we pulled it out, threw a few bolt-ons, onto the 350, and swapped out the rear-end. Didn't have time to work on it much when I started working, so it got parked.

Now, a friend is selling his old shop and had to clean it out, so he gave me the 454/400, among other stuff!

The heads on the motor are cast #346236, and the other set are #353049.

I'm probably going to have the 049's worked over, unless I could sell both sets and put the money towards a set of aluminium heads.

I know it depends on what I want to spend, but do the 049's have the potential of a lower cost set of aluminium heads? I know the weight alone would be a huge advantage.

All the brackets on the motor now will work in your 72. As far as the heads by the time you get them rebuilt ported bigger valves etc. You could buy a set of aluminum heads off ebay. I have seen them around 700-900 per pair.

Tall deck engines never came in a 454 cubic engine sized. They were ALL 427's. I believe the heads were passenger car heads though.

All the brackets on the motor now will work in your 72. As far as the heads by the time you get them rebuilt ported bigger valves etc. You could buy a set of aluminum heads off ebay. I have seen them around 700-900 per pair.

That's what I thought. What it would cost to do the heads, plus what I might be able to sell them for, might pay for a good set of aluminiums.

Tall deck engines never came in a 454 cubic engine sized. They were ALL 427's. I believe the heads were passenger car heads though.

Thanks. I'm still learning.

I just rebuilt a 454 back stock and had heads in good shape but it still cost 350 to do a valve job and get them all set up. to port your heads and install bigger valves valve job Id think would be around 500 then you still have to buy valves and thats also asumming the guides are good.valves range in price for 2.19 and 1.88 valves its around 300.00 for a decent set. thats 800 in the heads with out springs witch you will have to change if you put a cam in and they still wont flow as good as the aluminum heads. In my opinion

as far as how much you could sell your current heads for!!! maybe 100 150 a set

I just rebuilt a 454 back stock and had heads in good shape but it still cost 350 to do a valve job and get them all set up. to port your heads and install bigger valves valve job Id think would be around 500 then you still have to buy valves and thats also asumming the guides are good.valves range in price for 2.19 and 1.88 valves its around 300.00 for a decent set. thats 800 in the heads with out springs witch you will have to change if you put a cam in and they still wont flow as good as the aluminum heads. In my opinion

as far as how much you could sell your current heads for!!! maybe 100 150 a set

Sounds like new heads are my best bet. I'll be getting out the Summit catalog tonight. Thanks again.