I just got my 87 irocz it came no motor so I am looking for something to fill in void but the best bang for my buck ...

 

Best bang for the buck is not going to be a BBC. They can make a lot of power but the conversion is going to be more expensive than any other normal swap. An LS engine would be a better choice.

 

Which one would be the better option I am open to opinions because it will be getting a full restore

 

I am trying to do some online research to see which one I am going with everyone I know has told me LS motor but there are so many to choose from

 

I have to agree with alky, either a SBC or LS motor will be much easier

 

Which LS

 

Whichever one fits your budget... You need monetary goals or you're just asking hypothetical questions. I'd take a BBC stroker over an LS motor any day. Doing it MY way, the cost was roughly the same between the two. Everyone's situation and needs will be different, and that dictates which direction would be the better of the two.

 

Ok I understand I have a guy that is going to let me get his 454 bbc bored to 468 for roughly 4500 I am just trying to figure out if that is the way to go because I can get a used LS motor and get maybe the same output but I am trying to see which end I will be spending less

 

Side note this is a 2-3 year build

 

How much you spend depends on exactly on what you want to do. Not counting the cost of the engine, a BBC swap should be less than $3000. The biggest expense is headers and exhaust.

When you factor in the cost of the engine, you could get a running, bone stock junkyard 454 for around $500-$1000 and drop it in or in my case, my 588 BBC is worth around $20,000 but there is nothing OEM about it. A bone stock engine isn't good value when you consider there are mild SBC engines that out perform it and are cheaper to swap.

 

The thing is with a mod on a OEM block BBC your torque output is going to be always greater.Guys say you can match that with other engines,but a primary question is at what rpm??. Hands down there is going to be more grunt at a lower rpm with a BBC and that is a very important factor if it see's street driving.

 

Thanks for the info I am still kinda undecided on which way to go being that I have a while to go with the motor I am thinking just getting a LS3 or LS5 and build from it I want to go fuel injected because it going to be more than a Sunday driver I want to hit a few local shows and also run it in a couple street races ... The bbc might just be too much when it comes to regular driving

 

The 454 that is being sold to if I pick it up is far from stock it already had head work done think for what that motor is it's a good deal just may not be a good match for what I'm thinking my direction is with this car now that I hear what y'all are saying I will definitely have to do some more research

 

What kind of "bang" are you trying to get with your buck?

In other words, what will you be doing with the car after it's complete?

 

After all said in done I'm not trying to go racing I want a nice street muscle car that can race on track if I want to but it's more of a weekend show car

 

No "bang" either more like a "boom" I'm looking for I have no problem saving up and getting a ls7 but I don't think that is smart when you can get the same power out of a lower model LS motor for less money

 

the LS7 motor is "cheap" when you're not looking at all the other things it takes to drop one of those in a car... the headers and oiling system alone will set you back a LOT. I've already pushed that direction myself once and it's not worth it. That, and you still get to deal with a lot of the common problems LS7's are prone to having (there's a list).

 

What is the best LS block to build up for this maro

 

An iron lq4 or lq9. One of the two unless you have a fat wallet... otherwise the ls3 block is the best choice.

 

Lq9 from an escalade etc right?

 

That's correct.

 

here's a stock '99 454 dyno tuned and untuned, and a 6.0 gto dyno tuned and untuned. -for comparison of torque curves.

 

that pretty much sums it up.

 

Ok thx for that the guy that sold me the iroc is selling me his motor too it's a 406sbc sounds and runs good what do you guys think about that particular block?

 

Please type out the results.Couldn't make it out.

Thanks

 

Like any other engine....it depends on the process of how it was built and parts.Check the block casting numbers on the back of the block.