I've been toying the idea of swapping a bigger engine in instead of doing up the 305. But i want go a bit bigger than a 350.

Im in Australia and have been looking at one of not many sites that has new/reco'ed engines for sale.
http://www.suburbanimports.com.au/motors.htm

This one caught my eye:

CHEV 8.1 LT 496ci GEN 3 - Reco fuel injected motor.
Comes with Distributor Coil Pack, Drive Plate, Exhaust Manifolds, Pulleys, cast heads, cast iron block. Cost $5400 #511C. (motor is based on a 454 in size). 12 months guarantee.

Take into account i got quoted $5000 just to get a vortec supercharger to my door, this seems pretty cheap. Id rather get more horses out of a bigger engine for the same price.
Im willing to spend $8000 on one of the other engines on that site. My long term goal is good performance on the track, i just need some expert opinion which is the best way to get there.

Am i going to have any major problems putting in a bigger engine?
Any engines on that site that would be better for price difference?

Any help greatly appreciated. Thx.

 

well one thing if you go with that big of an engine your whole drivetrain will have to be redone. that should prob cost you somewhere around 3000. your going to need a new rear end, SFC's, LCA,Panhard rod, Driveshaft, strut tower brace, and traction bars and i think you would be set to drop in a BB i might be leaving out somethings but your deff going to need those to plant the power and keep your car from falling apart once its planted

 

You can get a GM Performance Parts 454 H.O. crate engine for $4,995.00, http://store.summitracing.com/ I dont think it a bad price.

 

Not to Austrailia you won't,I bet shipping would cost as much as the engine.

 

ok, i think i will go to a shop thats done a similar engine swap before and have a good talk to them, get some quotes.

Would it definetly be worth it rather than doing up a 305?

Just to buy a supercharger costs $5000 remember.

 

Worth it would all be in your eyes,your the one footing the bill.Cool?absolutely,I've driven a lot of pickups with the 8.1,and they are tourqe monsters.IMO,anything would be better than spending $ on a 305,it costs more even here to build than a 350,so it would probably be real pricey where you are.Since your looking at the local dismantlers,don't overlook the LS1 smallblock as an option,I know that a lot of the Holdens have them.

 

The question i have is how much is gas over there and how often do you want to drive it? LOL.. I swapped in a big block, (far from that good of one.. mines a stock truck block...) and i can tell you its not as hard, (or easy for that matter) as it seems.
The most you will be spending time on is well.. the frame.
I am assuming you have a 700r4, wich will bolt up. Its kinda a turd for the torque you will produce. Some one will correct me im shure but a TH400 is the best bet. That requires a Crossmember swap, as well as a driveshaft. there are a few kits for the 400, I have the B&M, but hate it. I can feel the chassy move. I NEED sfc's. so here i am waiting for the coin to buy spohns kit for both the frame and the crossmember/torque arm mount. Other than chassy, the biggest money eater for my project has been the headers.
There is a great article attached to the big block swap sticky, read the whole thing if you havent allready. I spent 500 on the headers i have and they are used. I could have easily spent 800 to a grand for the size i have. With an engine like you are talking about with the horse power it can make, i think you should look into at least 2 1/4 primary down tubes,
wich wont be cheap. 1 7/8 is the norm for "swap" headers. gonna strangle your engine. uncork it.
As far as the axle, for me im gonna run mine till it pops.
but that wont take long. im saving money for a strange 12 bolt, but there are plenty of aftermarket choices for you.
you have a v8 rear, i have a v6. peg lag at that. My swap has been how cheap i can do it and drive it. Wrong approach. driving it rips on it and more problems arose. I am having to re-think alot, as well as beef up what i didnt beef up before.
my ad vice with a project like this... TAKE your time, and ask tons of questions. Good luck man , Big Blocks are the only way to go.
Hey, should the big block swap sticky be updated with some more info? a pic before the swap... sorry i have none after... stupid camera broke

 

thx, im not dettered at the sound of doing all this work and footing the large bills. It will just take longer, the end result would be worth it though.

I have been quoted $1500 for custom made headers and installation. But i've been talking around here locally and i should be able to get them cheaper. This was for the 305.

Fuel is about $1/litre, i go through about $30-35 in a week with the 5.0L 305.

My only concern at the moment is being able to get all the parts needed here in Australia.

Im not going to be able to get things like the transmission new, should be able to get one off a truck or something though. Is there anything else i could be looking around for from a donor vehicle?

Could you link to some of the parts and kits you mentioned in the previous post, im having a bit of trouble finding them.

Thx.

 

Strange Engineering Catalog
Spohn Performance, Inc.
JEG'S High Performance - Car, Truck, Street, and Drag Racing Performance Parts
Summit Racing - High Performance Auto and Truck Parts
http://www.moserengineering.com/mose...ts.asp?CatID=8
http://www.pawengineparts.com/
http://yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=G
http://www.jimmy-jams.com/

these should help. PAW is THE way to get engine parts.
they have the "swap" headers as cheap as ive seen em.
mine are a weld up kit from hooker. the primarys are custom bent. Ill get the model number for you.
the book is huge. from crate motors to t shirts man.
I have ordered the spohn crossmember, but i ordered the wrong one, i need a torque arm mount. The one i have is Top quality. i think i posted a pic, ill have to find it. i am impressed with the peice. i am shure his work is all going to be good.
the moser catalog link is to the bolt in 9 " ford housing, i had trouble finding the complete axle. i belive spohn is selling a currie 9" bolt in complete. i have read a great thread on here about it.
Jegs has just about everything. I prefer to shop there and PAW, dont much like summit, but thats my opinion. I have no idea what shipping is going to be like, but if i can get stuff in japan, you should get it in australia.
Oh yea, jimmy-jams is just cool. neato do dad stuff...
That should get you going on pricing stuff.

man i sound like a salesman... and to think i give them my money....

 

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...21&prmenbr=361
these are the headers. mine are far from the kit price. but oh well. they work. i have the 2 1/4 4 " collector. (still trying to figure out the pipes)
I also have a pic of the cross members. big diffrence huh.

 

headers

 

thats a gen three you want. WAY diffrent than what im doing. i have a gen 1. oops. i dont think anything is the same...