I my friend you works in a junk yard came across a 454 in good shape. I was wondering will a 454 fit in my 88 camaro? I didn't do any measurment yet but, I know there is enough space length-wise but i don't know about width.

 

Yes it will. Miles (i think that is his name) did one with a BBC and I guess it fit okay. Alot of stuff to think about though new headers (supper tight fit) new front springs etc. I am going to be putting a 455 Pontiac in my 82Trans Am soon but I am not sure what will let me hook up well with all this torque. Maybe if Miles reads this he could reply for me as to what type of suspension he is running or maybe take a look at my post farther down and answer a little more indepth to my ? I am sure someone must have his web page he also does alot with 9 bolts (which he runs) since a stock 10 bolt 7.5 wont hold up to well to the torque of a big block. Good luck if you do decide to go through with this swap. James

 

There is a guy that runs around here in a later Firebird probably around '89 or '90 with a "Ron Sporl" built big block. He actually drives it on the street. Has a massive cage, big tubs in the rear, and a big hole in the hood for the polished intake and carbs. When I looked in his engine bay at the car show, the front clip was basically stock. But let me tell you, get a shoe horn and some grease cause its gonna be a tight fit!

 

My susension is completely stock 2.8 liter 1988 issue (save for a new pair of shocks in back). I run 1.72-1.75 60fts with a stock 9 bolt rear. I foot brake the car with a 2400 converter and can not spin a 28x9 or 26x10 slick (it needs more converter ) All the info for a street version of the BBC swap is on my page at www.koolmeister.com

Email me with any specific questions.

Miles

 

Big block Chevy fits fine. Hood height will likely have to be raised unless you go for a very mild build up which negates the entire purpose of a big block. I would go with a small block, though. A hi-po small block can run very hard and beat many many big block cars.... and still turn a corner without fear of plowing off the road.

 

You don't need "grease and a shoehorn". besides having to trim the lip of the firewall for the distributor, it pretty much slides in. Also for some strange reason, my 7.5 has been holding up for the last year and a half.

 

Relatively easy swap buy some good headers and you are ahead of the game.

 

Yes it fits.
If you're on a tight budget use the stock truck /chevelle
exhaust manifolds. You can run 12's with these if you bolt them to a 12 sec motor. You can make your own custom 2.5 into 3" Y pipe by welding up some mandrel bends and straight sections, joining behind the trans and then get a 3" cat back exhaust. The stock low/no rise qjet manifold will fit under the hood with a gm drop base air cleaner. The only performance intakes that will fit under the hood are the edelbrock torker II (oval port) and the factory LS-6 454 low rise intake (1970/1971 corvette square port)
Both need a gm 1960's factory drop base air cleaner to fit.
You'll need new front springs and a real good radiator
and fan. Hooker makes nice engine swap headers but they
aren't cheap.
If you use the factory manifolds, air is a possibility.
Be sure to replace the factory 454 valve springs with
performance ones if you plan on popping a lil cam in 'er.
They are only good for about .420" lift.
Budget big blocks like mild solid lifter cams on the street
Here are two to consider that will get you the power your looking for yet are easy to live with.
Comp cams magnum 282s 236@.050/.561"
GM factory Ls-6 454/450hp 242@.050" .520"
Bo these will work with stock manifolds street intakes and stock 2500 stall converters (12") and power brakes.
The compression ratio on stock smog 454's is quite low (7.5/7.8:1) Have the stock heads shaved At least .060"+ and use factory .022" shim gasket to get compression up.
(If you can mill your stock heads to 100cc's you'll have 9.0:1 cr)
after a good pocket port job and valve job.
Your '88 V6 camaro should have 3.42:1 gears which is just about right.

This is an easy 12 sec car.

 

Hey 9.0L Firebird!!!
SWEET!!!!

 

hey 9.0L Firebird, just out of curiousity, why all the sheetmetal in the engine bay?

 

hey 9.0 are u going to bring that to the fbody nationals at englishtown next month? i owuld love to see u just make one run in that thing. that must be a killer at the track.

 

Just to update. I ran a 12.86 on a 1.89 60' this past weekend. This was with truck manifolds into a 2 1/2 y-pipe into a 2 3/4 single exhaust. I do havea cut out which was open located behing the passenger front wheel. This was also on the STOCK posi 26 spline 7.5. The only aftermarket part in there are Richmond 4.10 gears. Drove 100 kms. to the track, raced, drove 100 kms. home without any issues. Sometimes simplicity does work.