I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
Engine SwapEverything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.
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I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
Given: The 396 is coming out of the '57 to make room for a stroked LQ4/4L80E combo. I'll take my time on this, probably won't finish until 2011, possibly even 2012, depending upon what else I do (floor pan and support brace rust repair, 6-point, 12-bolt, etc.).
Well, several years ago, back when Berlinetta #1 still had a 305, I mused about a bigger engine going into the '57, and the 396 should find a new home in the Camaro. Now, is that really necessary? No. The current plans for the current 350 should make it a fine runner. And, if I want to upgrade from there, an LQ4 would do nicely, especially since it's a DD.
But, take that 396, bore to 4.250", nice aftermarket aluminum heads, a healthy hydraulic cam, a bit of a cowl hood. . .
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Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
i like it! wander away man. i cant wait to assemble mine the rest of the way. plus i got a job finally so i can stop trying to build a hot rod with unemployment checks!
__________________ 89 rs, 468 bbc, oval port "781" heads, 850 speed demon, edelbrock air gap, patriot headers, custom header back exhaust with 2 in, 1 out flowmaster to a single borla with flat side exit exhaust. t-56 6 speed, centerforce flywheel, pressure plate and clutch, custom 4 inch aluminum driveshaft, 9 inch rear.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
396 in your camaro that would be a screaming machine. My dad had a 396 in his chevelle. It would move. I would say if you have the ambitions to do it. DO IT. because when all said and done you will look back and be glad you did it.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
LOL. sounds like a sweet thang. If you do this think you could post up some pics on the course of doing this swap? If there was any modification you had to do?
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
haha, good point, good thing its sales commission and part time to start. its still better than 150 a week! plus winter is coming and i know ppl in the nw just love to wait till snow falls for winter tires. besides, with my insomnia, i get another 6 hours a day :P
i dont know if all bbc's had the same stroke, but you should be knocking on 402-427 area with a 4.25 bore right? those q-jets are nice when they are built right, should work great!
__________________ 89 rs, 468 bbc, oval port "781" heads, 850 speed demon, edelbrock air gap, patriot headers, custom header back exhaust with 2 in, 1 out flowmaster to a single borla with flat side exit exhaust. t-56 6 speed, centerforce flywheel, pressure plate and clutch, custom 4 inch aluminum driveshaft, 9 inch rear.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
im in a similar process berlin, but i wont have pics up till next year most likely. supposedly its fairly bolt in, but you have to be careful about valve covers, a/c and windshield wiper motors. also, truck oil pans dont work (trust me on that) and tall deck blocks are a pain so ive heard.
the engine mounts are the same, headers are a pain, especially when you want bigger tubes. theres alot too it, but not much more than a standard swap, other than the fact that noone makes a bunch of bolt on parts for a bbc in a thirdgen.
__________________ 89 rs, 468 bbc, oval port "781" heads, 850 speed demon, edelbrock air gap, patriot headers, custom header back exhaust with 2 in, 1 out flowmaster to a single borla with flat side exit exhaust. t-56 6 speed, centerforce flywheel, pressure plate and clutch, custom 4 inch aluminum driveshaft, 9 inch rear.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by five7kid
Well, with a 4.250" bore, it wouldn't be a 396 anymore. . .
Did I mention running the CC q-jet on it?
427 - very nice
I'm looking forward to the 454 I'm putting into my '83 in the spring... only problem I have thus far is finding a dual plane manifold that will fit under the stock hood.... not easy lol.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Air_Adam
I'm looking forward to the 454 I'm putting into my '83 in the spring... only problem I have thus far is finding a dual plane manifold that will fit under the stock hood.... not easy lol.
i dont know if there is a dual plane that will fit under a stock hood, at least not with out some brace trimming. u might try a stock iron piece, but thats one step forward and two back. i got my 2.5" cowl 'glass hood with the car, so i just ran with it. if you happen to find one that works, shout it out. mean time, im going with an air gap.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Air_Adam
427 - very nice
I'm looking forward to the 454 I'm putting into my '83 in the spring... only problem I have thus far is finding a dual plane manifold that will fit under the stock hood.... not easy lol.
A Corvette '71-'74 LS5 intake is iron, but is so low that the bottom of the plenum is actually lower than the bottoms of the large oval intake ports
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
The 502 swap into the 86 TA was straight forward enough.
The only difficulty was finding a suitable windshield wiper motor that could be clocked to clear the ds valve cover. That and building a suitable exhaust ( w/ dual cats ) to mate to the Super Comps. Ground clearence was an issue. So much so that the lowering springs had to come out and stock height springs installed. Manhole covers are hard on the bell housing!
__________________ 1986 IROC-Z. 350 010 4-bolt block 10.1:1 static cr. 8.1:1 dynamic cr. Vortec heads w/ competition valve job milled to 63cc. Modified for screw in studs and guide plates. Comp Cams: Bee hive springs, Pro Magnum 1.6 rockers, Pro Magnum push rods, XR276HR cam. 670 Holley Street Avenger. RPM Air Gap intake. Cloyes Hex Adjust timing set and cover. Resized stock rods w/ARP bolts. Polished stock cast crank. Speed Pro coated flat top 4 relief pistons. Balanced assembly. Fluidampr balancer. SFI flexplate. MSD small cap distributor. MSD 6AL ignition box. Hedman LT headers w/ stainless 2.5" y-pipe. 3" Flowmaster no cat back exhaust. 700R4 w/ Trans Go reprogramming kit and upgraded 3-4 clutch pack. TCI Street Fighter 10" convertor. B&M trans cooler. Hurst dual gate shifter. 3" steel driveshaft with Spicer 1350 u-joints. 9 bolt 3.27. Spohn LCA relocation brackets. Boxed LCA's. Edelbrock strut tower brace. Energy suspension polyurethane bushings throughout. McCreary Dirt track 26" bias ply treaded slicks. 12.778 sec. 105.05 mph. 1.70/60'. 3700 lbs w/driver and 1/2 tank of 94 octane. 26(CDN)/23(US) mpg highway.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
I think I actually DID find exactly what I was looking for in a BBC intake. Its aluminum, oval port, square-bore, dual plane. Its a GMPP intake manifold, the one that came with the "Anniversary 427" crate engine my boss got for his '69 Corvette a few months ago.
He's using the same air cleaner and carb that I am (L88 air cleaner, 4150 Holley), and it clears the L88 hood on his Corvette by 0.5"-1.0"
I don't remember the P/N for the manifold now, but I did find that manifold on the GMPP site during my lunch break, and its a bit shorter than an Edelbrock Performer intake for a BBC, but its not a 'pancake' intake by any means, like the LS5/LS6 intakes.
He's planning to go to EFI on the Corvette over the winter, so if he does, I may have to borrow that manifold in the spring when my 454 goes in, and see how it fits. The big drop (a full 2") from the L88 air cleaner sure helps though.
I *think* I found it, incase anyones interested... GM# 12363406 is the manifold I think I was looking at.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
FiveSeven,I really wish you'd do this.I've been associated with this site off and on for 5 or so years.I can remember many times over the years that you have expressed interest in doing this swap.The CC quadrajet,that part I am completely dumb to,as far as making it work properly on a 427.You know what the engine would be capable of.I'm not sure how your MPG would be affected,can't help but think the right combo with an OD trans would be acceptable.
Yes,the headers suck,but not as bad as everyone makes them out to,if you have the basic grinder,die grinder,things of that nature to clearance things.
Handling,I personally think this is by far THE MOST EXAGGERATED part of the swap.If handling was going to change drastically,it would have with mine.I went from an aluminum headed small block,with aluminum water pump,to an all iron bigblock,with minimal handling differences.On a street car,I'd hunt up a st of stock IROC front springs,for a TPI 350 car.I understand this to be the heaviest combination of engine ever put in these cars from the factory.It might not end up a corner carver,but I'm sure it would display acceptable handling for a daily driven car.
I'm going to finish this long-winded post wit............DO IT MAN!!!!!!!!!
__________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
Re: I probably shouldn't even let my mind wander like this. . .
I would think it wouldn't be hard to make the CC Qjet work on the big block if it was bored to 4.25".
The early '90s 454 trucks (same 4.25" bore as the 427) had a TBI system, so you could use the knock sensor for that in the 427. You'd have to add an O2 sensor bung to whatever headers or manifolds you used, but thats not a big deal. None of the other sensors are displacement-specific, so as long as theres a hole for them to fit into they should be fine. The distributor is interchangeable between SBC and BBC, so thats already a non-issue. All you'd really have to do is just set up the carb with the right metering rods, etc.. and it should work pretty well on the BBC.
