Been searching the threads for good info but just have a few quick things i need help with.

1. Will any standard 454 engine fit? i.e. one form a truck
2. Is there anything i need to do look for to keep it able to pass emissions and keep it streetable?
3. What things on the engine do i need to watch out for to make sure that it is rebuildable? i.e. like a cracked block or something entirely unfixable


Thanks

 

1) Yep.
2) It's not going to pass California emissions
3) cracked block is basically it. A cracked bore can be sleeved, a cracked main cap can be replaced and line honed, etc etc. Any cracks in the block itself is the main thing.

 

You cant get a 454 to pass emissions? reasons for this? Anything that can be done? Damn does it even have to pass emissions?

 

Any properly tuned carbed engine can pass emissions just like an EFI engine. Trouble is, most are not properly tuned.

 

Sorry....Regardless of emission test results, a big block 3rd gen wouldn't pass. Hell, they'd open the hood &fail you before even doing the emissionsportion in ANY state, not just California.

3rd gens were never built, from the factory, with a big block, so it isn't a legal swap.

 

Guess you've been going to the "right" testing facilities, I've never been to one where those guys knew or checked anything other than what was on their checklist. Unless he gets a gearhead or tech with quite a bit of background, they won't even know the difference between big block or small block.

 

You'd think the rest of the world would know this by now, but California is it's own planet.

No way, no how you'll get a 454 (or any big block) through California emissions. Any certified passenger car engine same year or later than the chassis that has all of the emissions equipment from the certified car type can be swapped in, problem is no big block passenger cars were produced by the 3rd gen years.