I know this sounds crazy but i want to go to a 454 or 455, i have read all of your topics that have been stuck up top, but they do not explain what are some possible problems you might run into. Like header clearance for one, cooling issues, and im probably going with the 454, what issues will i have swapping that into my car, i am also a auto now and want a man trans, with a 12 bolt rear. Just need alot of suggestions and help on choosing the riht parts. So the big question is should i hunt for the 455 or is it ok to go with the 454?

 

Oh yeah, i have searched so if you find or no where parts are at, let me get that web address and price, thanks mike

 

BBC is the easiest.

455 what? Buick, Pontiac, Olds? They all have 455's. There's going to be a lot more modification work with a BOP than a BBC.

Engine is the easy part. If you go with a BOP, you need a tranny with a BOP bellhousing. T5 is too weak so at least a T56 is needed. Do they make a flywheel for a T56 behind a BOP? A 12 bolt or 9" will set you back about another $2500.

 

so im taking it bbc(454)will be easier, and in what respects do you mean, or do i have it backwards. dont want to seem like a newb here but this will be my first swap ever and i want it to be smooth as possible, but then i dont want to make you guys mad by asking stupid questions that i should prob already know, if you dont mind, can you make me a list to go over(complete) so i can make this swap easy, i know i need the 12 bolt, and a new tranny, so i should go with the 6 speed? is it possible to pick this up cheap at a junk yard, i know its relativly new, but i could get lucky and will that tranny mate good to the 454, i just want numbers, you know. so your patience with me will be well respected and appreciated..... Thanks Mike

 

What are your goals? Strip only, street/strip or just a big engine for the street? What kind of budget are you looking at? How much can you modify or are you willing to pay someone to do it? Is fuel milage a concern? How much highway speeds will it see?

Any engine swap isn't going to be a simple drop in deal. The sticky explaining the BBC swap pretty well explains everything.

 

booboosean has found a easy and inexpensive header choice. i went with the hookers and they are a chore to work with. but i am going with side pipes so they kinda fit the bill for me. if i ever do another bbc i will use the headers he used.

good luck though

keene

 

lets see, budget is a issue its going to be build on a weekend basis, it is prob going to be just a street car, i understand that the drop in will not be easy but every thing i do (which i will do myself) i always make it out way harder than it is. so you can see why im making sure this is very possible without a million headaches. Ill go back over the BBC swap and see if i have any more questions. If I do you'll be the first i come too.... oh andabout the headers, did hooker make a custom set for you cause that would be cool. thnaks Mike

 

There are a few swap headers available to put a BBC into a third gen. Hooker makes the cheapest at around $400 but they're also the worst fitting. I currently have a set of Ed Quay race headers. I got a deal on them off Ebay but they're worth $1000+

 

Yes. Hooker does make a "custom" header. Take some time and kill 2 or 3 ENTIRE days reading stuff on here and you will be close to knowing EVERYTHING you need to know.

Hooker makes big block swap headers that exit over by the sides of the car. check out the true dual pics in the exhaust section. Don't just spend all your time in the "engine swap" area. You need info from all areas of this site.

It is hard to give advice because no one knows exactly what you do or don't know.

If you are going with a 454 for the street, and are allready spending a lot of $, use a 6-speed. Seems like a logical choice right? 6 is better than 5, more overdrive, overal stronger tranny when stock. All that good stuff. The 94-97 F-body T-56 can get picked up for about 1000 bucks with maybe 40k miles. Sit tight and killer deals come up on this site all the time.

If you for some od reason do not want a T-56 and want a 5 speed, then talk to TKOperformance. He makes really strong 5 speeds for about the same price as a T-56. I don't see the point, but if you like it, then more power to ya.

I guess I will just list a few things that might help, since I really have no idea where you are in this journey for a BBC.


-Cooling: just go with a BE COOL or GRIFFIN radiator and some dual elctric fans. A nice aluminum radiator and dual electric fans can cool any street car.

-Springs, not too sure about, but you will need stronger ones up front to hold the extra weight.

-Tranny should hold up (T-56 is rated around 450 TQ)
I am using one behind a 500 HP SBC.

-The 12 bolt can be ordered from wherever. I got mine from Spohn, but you can get it directly from Moser if you want. Total cost was about 2,300 after shipping and all. Def won't break.

-Driveshaft has to be looked into as well. Talk to Spohn or Denny's drive shafts. They can make anything.


That is just a skim on the surface. Hope I helped a little. Just hard to guage what you need to know and what you must allready know.

Later

-Dennis

 

yeah you guys are def helping me out, we have hit all the issues and some more that i thought would be a problem, i went back over the bbc swap and read about the patriot(s) headers that Booboo used. I also read that i will have to lose the s belt but i thought this site showed some pics of a bbc with s belt and not v. Brackets are going to be hard to find for power steering. I've actually learnt alot. Called my dad up and hes going to help, big chevy buff so i have some good things on my side. i dont want that restrictive exhaust to where it runs into the y-pipe, i could have swore i saw somebody use that setup on this site also, seems kinda crazy. Il lgo ahead and give you the roundabout figures im wanting to put out about 550 to the wheels, a friend of my dads is going to fab me a rollcage to stiffen things up cause this car wa hit in the 1/4 panel a couple years back, just more ideas will help out now that i have a definte way that im going




550 hp
550-600 lb ft so any input will help cause THIS IS MY FIRST SWAP, NOT MY FIRST BUILD UP, i was a diesel mechanic for a while so i got a couple of hours of wrench time under my belt

 

http://www.edquay.com/


this site maybe very helpful to you. there headers seem to be better than hooker and i am planning on using a lot of these parts when i do the swap