I have recently been given a choice to receive one of these blocks for free? What would the best choice, and waht are some good combinations for the street?

 

502!!! Remember there's no replacement for displacement. BTW, how did you score a free block?

 

I would think taking the 502 would be a no-brainer!

 

Comparing the engines you have mentioned. The 502 is the better option! It is a revised block, uses a roller cam, better cooling passages. With that said the other two blocks are the same. Now complete engines are different. Depends on what you are gonna do with it.

But if all else fails and the 427 is a ZL1 motor, don't waste your time it's junk. In fact I'll take it off your hands so I can use it as an anchor.

 

502!

 

i am going to have to go with a 427.

remember the 427 and 454 use the same block i believe. but if it is a zl-1 get the damn 427.

how did you score a free block? can you score me a free block?

 

check witch is the cheapest to build up ...
Its nice to have a free block but.. u have to
buid up the rest.. could cost a lot..

Id go with say the 454, a muncie m-20,
and 3,73 9" or 12 bolt rear.

 

My grandfather has two oil trucks from the 70's and he's junking it so I get the engines. I'm gonna keep one to build up and sell the other. How do I tell if its a Zl-1 block, and why r they so bad?

 

ZL1 blocks are aluminum..Find out if the blocks from those trucks are tall decks or standard decks(9.8)..I dunno if those talldecks would ift..

Daz

 

It's not going to be a ZL1, and these guys were just joking about them being bad. They're pretty awesome setups.
I think Steven from Calgary uses a talldeck block in his thirdgen, no?

 

Well if the Blocks are stock out of 70's Chevrolet trucks the blocks are either 427's, 454's, or very very rare 509 block (the 509 was also Aluminum like the ZL-1 with a 4.5 bore and 4.0 stroke, engine also used cylinder sleeves, I don't think they ever put these in Trucks though, I just know they were around in '70 and '71). The 502 wasn't introduced until 1995 I do beleive. So the best bet is that the blocks are Low output 427's or Low output 454's (probably 454) Not too many Hi-po Truck 454's or 427's. So go with the 454 but remember the pistons and heads are probably set-up at about 8:1 compression (junk unless you want to throw a turbo on it, that would be a blast )

So odds are the blocks aren't anything special but "Anything free is worth saving up for!"

Later, Garrett

 

I didn't realize that the 502 didn't come out till 95. So then the blocks must be 427 or 454. How do i tell the dfference, and since I'm just using the short block, what's a good combo for lots of streetable power.

 

get the numbers on the block and have someone on here run them i suppose. that is the only sure way i can think of to tell which is which.

 

If you can get the casting numbers off the back of the block you should be able to figure out what it is by looking on this page http://www.mortec.com/bbc.htm

Good Luck, Garrett

 

Oil trucks? Are they large cab over, trucks? If so then they may be tall block big blocks, which are pretty much useless for what your looking for. The tall block big block chevys ( 366 ci [366 is not a typo] and 427 ci) look almost the same as other BBCs (396, 427, and 454) except they have a taller deck hight. A 427 tall block would'nt be TO bad you would have to use some $$COSTLY$$ headers and intake, if its a TB 366 dont waste your time. Tall big blocks came mostly in GMC tow rigs, oil tankers, school buses, and garbage trucks.

 

The only difference between the 427 and the 454 is the stroke.

The 427's stroke is 3.75"
The 454's stroke is 4.00"

The bores are the same at 4.25" (unless overbored for a rebuild?)

EDIT: I am assuming they are normal big blocks, not tall-deck big blocks.

 

Tall decks aren't that bad. Pretty much worthless for you if you are on a budget. Raised cam and can fit a monstrous stroke. Again you'll need some cash for headers,intake, a long stroker crank(4.25),good rods, etc. It'll be a monster with some cash thrown at it. You may be able to sell them for a little change and pck up an old L-88. Even the new 454's are monsters. With a 300 shot(shouldn't have a problem with that with the 454's internals it'd be killer).

Hope you got a gas card though!

 

I've heard of people building tall deck 427's so there not all that bad just alot of dough to build up. The 366 however is just a waste of time for performance use.

 

427 tall decks can be stroked to massive cubes. Normal bbc intakes can be used with adapters.. Make suer they aren't 366 though those are junk. As for it fitting in a 3rdgen? last I looked a normal block was a squeeze and tall decks are physically larger. How attached to windshield wipers are you?