ive got a gen 6 454 and wanted to know what you guys think of a big block swap into my 1989 rs.
thanks, john

 

I don't know how a gen 6 454 is different than any other 454 but it's hard to go wrong with a chevy big block in your camaro! Unless of course you don't want to spend alot of money and don't want to redo your entire driveline to handle the power (tranny, driveshaft, rear-end, lower control arms, etc.)...

 

It's up to you. Be prepared for significant cost to make the whole thing work. It's not like a Chevelle where you just drop it in and play.

 

cheapest way is to find a complete running TBI BBC with accesories and brackets etc..

Hooker swap headers are a must

Newer style starter/gear reduction starters are needed to fit the headers

You might have to notch the control arms

A gen VI is closer to the Gen IV with the cooling passages..The Gen V has different cooling passages than either of them so only aftermarket heads interchange between the Gen V and IV/VI..The Gen V and Gen VI both have one piece rear seal and non-adjustable drivetrain..You can convert it though.You can use a mechanical fuel pump for both the Gen IV and VI but not the Gen V..

Daz

 

im told that the hooker headers are one of three that are available. i am pretty much forced to use them because i do not have 900 extra dollars to throw at some lemons. the third manufaturer i do not know of but i hear that another company makes them. i am also told by 8.2 liter that the hookers will not fit without cutting them. is there any other way other than cutting them? i am not worried about cutting my car as it is not my daily driver. all i will be running is an alternator and water pump so i do not need stock brackets, and i already have a mini starter
thanks, john

 

what about motor mounts? i hear that if you use the stock ones, the hookers will fit alot better. but this sounds insane because ive seen the primaries on 8.2 liter's and the pass. side has about 1/8 inch clearance. if the engine torques over any, bye bye headers. am i right? is there any solid motor mounts that fit better?
thanks, john

 

All the info you need for the swap is on my page at www.koolmeister.com I did it ~5 yrs ago.

Miles

 

i have a stock disc brake 3.27 ratio borg warner 9 bolt, will it hold up to a warmed over 454?(like over 525 hp)?

 

Personally I wouldn't use "stock" engine mounts. If it's driven on the street at all then upgrade to poly mounts. If it's track only, use solid mounts. I just finished removing my solid Moroso mounts. I now run a front motor plate.

Your header choices are
Hooker Headers
Lemon Headers
Sanderson Headers

Hooker is the worst fitting but the cheapest. You don't cut the headers, but parts of the car need to be modified to get them to fit.

If there are any other header manufacturers who make a swap header to put a BBC into a third gen, I don't know of them yet. There's a fourth choice but it's the most expensive. Have a set custom made. I've been looking hard at my car on options for bigger headers. Since I run a skinny front tire there may be room to design a "fender type" header. The inner fender between the strut mount and the firewall would need to have a cut out of it. I don't think any more than a 6" x 6" hole would be needed. Similar to early Nova's, the headers would go up and over the frame rail and go down the rear of the wheel well. They would then turn towards the back and exit similar to where the Hookers exit. This would allow for larger primary tubes and could also keep the tubes roughly the same length. These would be a 2 piece design (not a new idea) where the collectors are bolted to the tubes. There's no other way you could install them.

Only on a car similar to mine would this work. The heater/AC needs to be removed and I think the brake booster might be in the way on the other side (mine's already gone) but it should work.

I'll pencil it in as a project in a few years. Hookers are big enough for my current combination. If I ever decide on putting a stroker crank into this engine or buying a 540, I'll look at bigger headers.

 

do the sanderson bb2 shortie headers work for the third gen chassis? they come up on the listing and thats all i could find for sanderson.

 

My 9 bolt (was 3.27 now 3.73) has held up for almost 5 years. 1.72-1.75 60fts. I am going to put a mini spool and 3.91 or 4.10 ratio in my 9 bolt this spring.

Miles

 

wow i was told it would be a grenade under my car!

 

The 9-bolt will live fine on street tires almost despite the power you have.

 

will nitto drag radials kill the 9 bolt, because thats what i have now and i do plan on gettin traction... hopefully

 

anybody heard of sanderson shortys for big block thirdgens? they say they will work on the second and third gen chassis. is this possible? they were under their third gen listing
thanks, john

 

I ran Jack Davis Headers with a chevy headed motor. They fit like a glove and I was able remove and replace them with the motor bolted in. They are about $700, and made the swap a lot easier. Ed Quay also makes BBC headers that work with his modified K member. Jere Stahl also makes headers for third gens, but he is up at the $1,000 range. Let me know if you have specific questions.

 

does anybody know of these sanderson headers im talkin about????

 

I talked to Sandersons when I was looking for my headers and they said they did not have any headers that fit a 3rd gen car. I questioned them many times because their website does list the 3rd gen, but they insist they don't have any such thing. I called three times and talked to three people.

 

thanks, i will probably end up making my own headers (with the assistance of 8.2 liter firebird) he made his own out of what were hookers, and he lives about 10 min.s away
thanks, john

 

what about a Moser rear end? and how what kind of control arms? lastly tranny??