Unfortunately, my experience has been you can't beat the packages on price. You can buy that engine and like you said, prices start adding up. Good machine work is not cheap and I think right now Mark has a good product and most people seem to be happy with his work.

P.S. There were no tall deck 454's only 427's.

 

For a bare minimum overhaul,rings,bearings & gaskets are needed.As an example,heres a link to Summit.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnse...294925232+4294919598+4294870280+4294908216+4294840133+4294925046+115+4294870279

You could get a kit similar to this from any engine shop in your area.This is assuming the cylinder's are in good condition.The heads would likely need to be rebuilt also,new guides,seals,possibly springs,retainers,valve job,etc...Then you would want to replace the timing chain,and check the cam & lifters for wear.Etc.,etc...
Guy

 

Andrew,

A "bare minimum" rebuild would be the parts and labor necessary to bring all specs back to acceptable tolerances. Every moving part and their associated clearances should be checked by a qualified individual. As stated in previous posts, your best alternative is to buy a complete rebuild kit from a reputable source and also have the heads machined by a machine shop that you trust.

As far as the value of the dollar is concerned, yes it has lost some ground to foreign currancies over the past year or so. But, this situation has been a boon to American companies who do business overseas. Most American global manufacturers are reporting record sales and this includes many auto parts manufacturers.

Manage your $$$ wisely, build your engine correctly and have some fun!

 

You should reconsider. By the time you add the cost of a rebuild to your $1000 purchase price, you'll be spending more that what it would cost for a new crate engine. Shop around before you buy.

Tom

 

Thats not always true. There are good deals out there. My old 461 set me back 1800$s that included everything from headers to distributor and carb. I didnt even go cheap on some of the stuff.

Ran 110mph in the 1/4 mile my tank

 

Keep in mind if you buy from a reputable company...most provide a good warranty....to me thats worth the extra money and piece of mind. Not this 90 day or 6 month crap some people offer....but a 2 year like we do. You get what you pay for...

 

A complete running 454 with all the goodies for $1000?

If I were to pay that much, I'd expect to get some use out of it BEFORE a rebuild.
A perf cam and spring change, then run it for a year or two
Being a 1981 engine, it will likely have the 236 or 360 casting number Peanut Port heads.
Great for trucks, RVs, etc. Good for cruising...stupid crazy torque.
Intall the Summit 1301 cam (same as the Edelbrock Performer cam or GMPP cam) and proper springs. Will smoke the tires on a big Duely Truck all day.....

Complete 454 with everything, needing rebuilding should be $600-$700 tops

 

I'm with Sarge, for $1000 you'll be looking to do a rattle can clean up and run it!

Key is heads. If it has 049 or 781 head castings, then when you DO rebuild it with pop up slugs and a hot cam, it'll be an easy 500 ft lbs/er or 500+ HP, whichever you choose.

I'd pull #1 main and #1 rod bearing, and if they looked good, I'd put a new cam in and go!

 

Thanks guys...

See I have BB taste but SB budget I have about 4k to spend otherwise I will be going to the CC. Right now I have a pretty stock 350 with glass packs 210 hp

BB 5k (buy it) 620hp
Exhaust 1k
Carb 400
Accessories, backets odds and ends 300

so close to 7k.


I need to buy an engine on a payment plan hahaah

 

1000.00 dollars is too much money for an engine that needs rebuilding, you'd be better off buying a rebuildable core from a salvage yard for 3-400. That's what I did when I was looking for a 402. Cost me 400.00 for the engine, 1500.00 for machine work, pistons, cam, and gasket kit.

 

Andrew. Remember with a SB-to-BB swap comes all the related running gear. TH400, 12 bolt. Unless you already have these. You will need another 2-3K for them.

 

Dont forget radiator and motor mounts

 

Seattle area
1972 402 bare block with caps, standard bore $75
1966 closed chamber oval heads, bare, $100
mid 70s 454, complete, tired but ran ok, $400

A fresh TH350 with shift kit will survive years and years of a mild 454
A 10-bolt will last a long time too until you add traction tires or do burnouts daily

 

hehe wish I lived there seems a 454 here is 1k min. I have a 4 speed and a 12 bolt with 3.73

 

Yes I have the radiator and motor mights on my mind

The hardest thing I have is making a decision

Thanks :thumbsup:

 

It seems that cheap big block stuff is very hard to find here in Canada.I know guys that have parts and/or complete engines,but trying to get them to part with them is like pulling teeth.
Guy

 

Yes dont remind me. :sad: