ok, if you couldent tell from the title, i plan on removing my old anemic 3.1l v6 for a 454 big block from a 1971 chevelle, i currently have a warner 9 bolt rear end with a posi and 4 wheel disc brakes, and i am aware i am going to have to get stronger front springs and new struts to handle the weight.

now to my problem, currently my car has a "world class" T-5 and i cannot YET afford to put in a tremec t-56

i am aware the trans cannot handle this engine under hard throttle, racing launches, power shifting, and serious burnouts, my question is, will this transmission, with reasonable modifications, handle it under NORMAL driving conditions under conservative throttle long enough to allow me to purchase the trans i want.

i DO have a 700r4 from an iroc but i really dont want to be forced to put an automatic in my car as i dont like them in sports/muscle cars

i AM going to buy a rear countershaft bearing support from g-force to help, but i cannot afford, nor do i think it would be worth, replacing the gears to the tune of 1200 (unless i run scca stock modified class in which case i would use a 350)

i plan on making this car a drag/scca open modified road race car in the future

any advice both positive and negetive is welcome and respected, i am a mechanic so you dont need to dumb it down for me, thank you

 

Do you want this car to be able to handle still at the end or do you only care about straight line performance? If its the second then by all means continue. But if you want it to handle id say sell the 454 to someone restoring a chevelle and build a 383 stroker. You are going to be adding a good deal of weight right over the front wheels and will screw up the weight distribution of the car. For drags it doesnt matter but for all around street driving it might suck.

As for the trans i would look into if you can even get a t5 to work behind a big block. Is the bellhousing the same between a small block and a big block? Ive never messed with a BBC so i cant say. If its not then you might be forced into a more expensive trans such as a TKO or a T56 with an aftermarket bellhousing. That right there could make or break this plan.

 

Bellhousing bolt pattern is the same. I'm not sure about a clutch setup. You can't use a SBC flywheel because the 454 uses an externally balanced flywheel.

Making lots of HP or torque is a package deal. You can't just spend the money on building up an engine and expect big things from it. The entire driveline needs to be upgraded if it's expected to perform and last.

 

the 454 already has a flywheel and i can buy a clutch, im aware the front would be heavy but im willing to accept that (less than 200lbs) weight differance from small block to big block, the 350 dressed weighs about 575, the 454 dressed is about 685 ish

the engine i am running is the ls5 engine from a super sport station wagon, as close as i can remember the only mod is a rv cam, the engine is the early high compression so it has about 425hp and somwhere in the range of 475 lbft of torque dressed at the crank, it will also be getting hooker headers and full 2.5" flowmaster exhaust and an aluminum intake with a 650 holley double pump and an msd super hei kit, the front acc setup will be replaced with the serpentine setup from the vortec 454 (money permitting)

 

if i could afford the 1500-2000 to build a stroker i would, the only other option i have is to use the 350 in my suburban for the camaro, but that engine needs a full rebuild as it has nearly 250k on it, still runs though.

 

Don't take advise from a skeptic who's never done it.