SScott

Hello and thank you for your help. I have read the posts here and they are great. I have a few more questions about the BBC transplant:

I am going to buy the Patriot H8012s. Do you guys think routing the exhaust using 4" in the stock location and a single flowmaster will work out ok?

My in tank pump is coming out. I have done a carb swap before and used a BG bypass regulator. Should I go that route again and replace the in tank pump or bypass it and use a mechanical pump with no return line?

Will a stock style HEI fit or do I need a MSD style distributor?

I like the idea of an S-10 manual steering box. Is that a straight forward swap?

I am lost as far as pulleys. Will an electric water pump work for a street car? That would take care of that and I could pick up alt. bracket from SECO. If an electric pump won't cool it on the street, what setup do you suggest?

My car is a 6 banger body. Do I need different coil springs up front?

Will a v8 radiator and twin electric fans work?

Once again, thank you for your time!

Scott

AlkyIROC

SScott

I say this respectfully...

I appreciate your response Stephen 87 IROC even if it was meant to be somewhat condescending.
I have read the "Engine Swap" section of the forum from beginning to end. I would not ask if did not look already. While I am a newbie here, I have high post counts on several other forums and I do know how this works (that is not meant to sound disrespectful).
I have even checked your website out front to back and soaked up a lot of helpful information. Thank you by the way and nice car.
I am building a daily driver street car. I thought it would be a good idea to have these questions in one spot to help other people taking the same route.

Thank you, Scott

TexasLT1

I'm not sure about the BBC specific information, but I'll throw in my $.02.

1. 4" exhaust will go along the stock routing fine, it just depends on what headers you run and where they exit.

2. S-10 box *should* be a straight forward swap.

3. If you get an electric pump designed for street use, you'll be fine. I know a lot of the pumps out there are meant for drag race use only, they aren't designed to be used for long periods of time continuously. I'm putting a CSR electric pump on my LT1. It seems to be hit or miss with them anyway. For some people they last years, others can't seem to get them to last more than a few thousand miles.

4. You'll definitely need new front springs. Just going from a V6 to V8 requires new springs to keep it from sitting too low.

5. If you get a good aftermarket radiator you'll be fine, might be clearance issues with the twin fans, don't know.

xtremeirocz

texaslt1 is right, the electric water pump needs to be a street/strip deal. ive seen some that were great at the track, but you drive anywhere and they overheat. get a mezeire electric pump and maybe a be cool radiator and youll have more then enough cooling

SScott

TexasLT1 & xtremeirocz, I appreciate the response and the advice.

I had no idea on the springs. I appreciate it.

Irockz

iTrader: (1)

S10 box is a bolt on painless deal.I've been told that I had to use the Camaro pitman arm,but I used the S10 unit,no trouble whatsoever.The ratio is a bit slower,but it's not really noticable,it drives great at any speed,and turns tighter to boot.

Keep us posted,I'm contemplating a BB swap myself,Since BooBoo let us in on an affordable header for the deal.I for one would love to see posts/pics on the swap.

SScott

Thank you Irockz! I appreciate your experiance. That sells me on an S-10 box.

I am in the planning stages of the project. When time and money permit I will post some pics and progress.

booboosean's post is a great inspiration for my project.

I bought the car and engine with no idea of what steps to take until I found his post thru Google. I am surprised at how little info is in Google about a 3rd gen BBC swap. When I get time I plan on building a site on the project similar to Stephen 87 IROC cool website but a street car version.

Thanks for the response, Scott

Blackroc86

SScott

Thanks Blackroc86!

I would like to see some pics of yours or any anyone elses big block car if you have any.

Thanks again, Scott

Blackroc86

I will try to get a couple of pics for you tomorrow.

greezemonkey

iTrader: (14)

here`s my street strip BBC Z28..if you need any advice on the swap let me know.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/487725

SScott

I appreciate it Blackroc86.

Great page with pics and info greezemonkey!!! Thank you!

Blackroc86

Here are a couple of pics, if you want some others I could email them to you.

Blackroc86

another one.

Blackroc86

last one.

SScott

Great pics. That helps me out on how close the pullies and fan wil run as well as the distributer. I would appreciate any more pics you have.


My email is family4*** at elmore.rr.com

Thanks alot!

SScott

Now that is just wrong!!! It won't let me type G O D in my own email.

SScott

Blackroc86, Which radiator is that? Is that a standard BBC alt bracket?

Blackroc86

That is a Griffin 31x19 rad with two 1" tubes.

The alt bracket is off my old sbc.

I have the long water pump so if you had a short bbc waterpump you would have a little more real estate between the pump and rad.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

A few bad apples spoil it for everyone.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

That's interesting. I've been wondering how to get a flat multigroove belt system on my 396, but it's the short style pump. I had a problem throwing belts a couple of years ago, the flat belt seemed like a logical solution (turned out to be bad alternator bearings). Believe it or not, the '57 doesn't have any more room between water pump & radiator than yours indicates, with the radiator in the 6-cyl position! If I went long style, I'd have to move my radiator fan (and I just bought an aluminum pump for it earlier this summer).

Blackroc86

I live in a very rural area so trying to track down BBC pulleys and stuff was going to be a pain. So I figured might as well try to get my SBC stuff to work. I haven't driven it alot since I got it installed but have done a few quarter mile passes and the belts seem to stay on. The fan was just to get me going for now. I will likely go with a flexalite 210 as they fit the Griffen rad nicely I am told.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I have all of the brackets/pulleys/alt from an '87 LB9. I never even considered trying to make them work on the BBC, figuring there was no way they would fit. Did you have to modify anything, like the upper bracket where it bolts to the manifold?

Blackroc86

It surprised me when the alt bracket seemed to fit perfectly. I think it was because of the long water pump on the bbc. Looks like chevy made the lwp of the sbc and bbc the same length.

SScott

five7kid, I understand the reason the use php filtering and respect the wishes of this site. Props go out to all you mods and php guru's.

Blackroc86, I appreciate the pics and the valuable information! This thread rocks!

SScott

greezemonkey, I appreciate the help!

SScott

I think I found another header that may work as an alternative to the Patriot H8012 .

It is painted and only $135: Hedman 68610

When I get around to finishing my motor, I think I may give them a try. I will post when I do. It may be a while though.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

It appears my short water pump doesn't have the tab for the bracket. I don't think I want to convert to long style, so I guess I'll have to keep what I've got.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Things to consider for you're swap, which helped me with the 454 install;

LS6 "low profile" intake p/n 3977609 (might be discontinued, not sure though)

Chevelle Oil Pan p/n 14081027 (use with reinforcements; 14103143 Left & 14103144 Right)

Hooker Headers p/n 2226

... go with a late model big block truck serpentine system. You'd be surprised what is out there for next to nothing.

If you're planning on running you're existing trans' converter (don't), you'll need a dual-bolt pattern flexplate p/n 14001992, with corresponding starter drive p/n 1108400.

Good luck!

SScott

Thanks Street Lethal!

BlueBeast

I am going to be doing this swap myself soon, so this is great info. i thought i would share this site as well

http://www.edquay.com/

this is a great site on all things for swapping.

SScott

Thanks BlueBeast! I want my car to be like one of those when it grows up.

BlueBeast

LOL me to or atleast run like them

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

I also started with a 6-cylinder '89 Firebird.

Exhaust: I had my headers made by Lemons Headers in California. They are mid length tri-y 2-1/8 inch primaries that dump in the tranny tunnel next to the TH400 transmission pan. The idea was get the headers close to the location of Hooker small block long tube headers. That allows you to use the Hooker 3 inch dual y-pipe with a Mufflex 4" single exhaust. All you need is a short adaptor from the headers to the y-pipe.

Radiator: I have a Moline 3-core radiator that fits in the factory radiator support. No modifications.

Fuel pump: If your car came with the multiport fuel injection setup and you are going to use a carburetor on the big block then you are in luck. You can keep your original fuel pump until you find out that you make so much power you run out of fuel. The OE fuel pump is fairly low flow at high pressure but will pump a ton of fuel at low pressure where your carburetor operates. All you need are fuel fitting adaptors (power steering type fittings) and a pressure regulator designed for high pressure to low pressure. Mallory makes one. Call their tech line and ask for help with a part number.

SScott

Thanks QwkTrip! Sounds like you have one bad Thunder Chicken!

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

Thanks. It hasn't done any thundering in the past several years but hopefully it will again. Good luck with your project and most of all... have fun!

SScott

So much for a header alternative... I just got my Hooker 2226HKR headers from ebay for $150. I also landed a set of Venolia Forged High dome pistons and dimple rods for $450 on ebay.

My crank is in the machine shop, it had to be turned 10/10.

It is coming together slowly.
I am so excited, I could bust!!!

booboosean

Hey badride5,

Sounds like your project is coming along. Are you going to post any pics?

Later,
Boo

SScott

Hello booboosean! Did you know your the reason I became a member of the board? I found your post on the BBC swap through Google...Anyway

I am in the collecting parts stage now. I will get some pics soon. I am real close

I need my crank back from the machine shop and a new set of bolts and a manual box and it will be close to assembly time.

I am as excited as it gets!

Thanks for asking!

booboosean

That's a really nice thing to say. I noticed you're in the Montgomery area. A few of us in North Alabama are starting to kinda network on the Southeast Regional board. I'm really surprised at the number of people that are into these cars.

I've noticed a lot of GM NOS 3.76 stroke forged steel BBC crankshafts fore sale lately. Apparently a stash was found somewhere. I had a new one delivered to my door for $275.00. Just a thought if you can't get your crank to come out, there are replacements for cheap.

Good luck with the project.

Boo.

Iroced86

What is the biggest modification and problem that you come across when you swap from the sb 305 to a bbc 454?

booboosean

Iroced86, welcome to TGO.

I'll only speak for myself. since a BBC will bolt in place of a small block (i.e. motor mounts and transmission bellhousing are a direct bolt-up), the biggest problem I ran into was the headers. Now, looking at the bottom of our cars, you know the exhaust is a challenge small block or big block.

It's not really a problem getting a BBC to fit and bolt up, it's all the problems that arise when you put a 400 plus ft lb of torque motor in a car designed for about 250 ft lbs of torque. Sure there's the little things like accessories, cooling, and hood clearance, but the big problems come behind the motor.

Boo.

Iroced86

Thanks for the help, i wasnt quite sure if the bbc would fit in the stock sb motor mount location. What did you use for headers? Are you able to change your spark plugs relatively easy? or is that a whole process in its self. Thanks for the help i really appreciate it!

Blackroc86

I used the Hooker 2226 headers and they take a little time to install. Changing the spark plugs is easier on the bbc than it was to change the plugs on my sbc with Hooker 2210's in the same car.

SScott

How about taking the valve covers off?

I have a Crane LS6 Solid cam and I am leery to use it because of the need to adjust the valves on a regular basis. I have a set of low profile valve covers and I am keeping my wipers.

to everyone contributing to this post!

Blackroc86

I have removed my wiper motor so I can't comment on that.

Iroced86

Does anyone know the Horsepower of a 1991 454? Or anywhere i can find the information, Im having a hell of a time finding info on it. Thanks

SScott

LINK

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

I have tall valve covers with 1.7 roller rockers and clear the wiper motor. But my car didn't fit up like most I've heard of. I seemed to have more room than normal and placed further away from the firewall. The only thing I can contribute it to is that i started with a V6 car and the crossmember isn't exactly in the same position as a V8 car (even though common belief is that it is).