Alright guys I'm in a bit of a dilema.


My dad thinks I should build a big block.He thinks if I am going to build an engine.I should build a 454 and be done with it.I agree.The only thing is that a big block is alot more expensive.

I can buy a complete 454 that needs rebuilt for 500 bucks.All day long in the paper.Then I figure about a grand to 1200 in machine shop services,Get some used open chamber heads and have them ported,roller set up all that good stuff.It would be around 3500-4000.


I could take a 4 bolt 35o block and build it for 2 grand and it would run.All the good stuff to.


I am going to be using a th350 turbo tranny rebuilt with a transgo manual shift kit,Not sure about the stall convertor or anything like that.I will be running a 9 inch rear with 4.11 gears.Not sure on tire size yet either.



This car is going to be for strip only.So I don't have to worry about anything like that.


So what is do U think.Big or small block?

 

I forget which magazine it was but they did a build up of BBC vs SBC 350 and compared prices it was about even in the end for comparable motors.

 

Cost of machine work is the same. The cost to build a mild BBC is only a little more than an equally compared SBC. It's easier and cheaper to build a performance BBC. A 400 HP SBC gets expensive and isn't much of a maintenance free daily driver while a 400 HP BBC is still a mild engine. Spending $4000 on a BBC will get you a lot more engine than spending $4000 on a SBC.

You're going about figuring your driveline all wrong. TH350 and 9" are good choices but saying you want 4.10 gears without knowing tire size is all wrong. Figure out what tire size you want to use first then get the gearing to compliment the tire size with the engine's power band. The torque converter is the same thing. You pick a converter after the engine is built. The converter's stall must match the engine's torque curve for best performance.

Since it's a strip only car, go with a BBC. When I built my first BBC I figured on a budget of $5000 for everything to get the engine in the car and running. When I turned the key to start it, the cost was close to $8000. The cost has gone up since then because I blew up 2 BBC engines last year.

 

In my dads old camaro he was running 31/18.50/15 good year slicks and had a 4.56 gear ratio.(he was running an 1/8th mile)

So I didn't plan on tubbing it yet.Even though I might.Because the 9 inch I got has to be narrowed anyway.


The only thing is will a 2 bolt main block be enough?I was talking to a guy at a machine shop yesterday and he said it would as long as I wasn't running nitrous.Which I won't be.I know U don't need to rev a big block like a small so I think it will be alright.Will a th350 tranny be strong enough?I got it free yesterday and it is cheaper than rebuilding the 700r4.We also have a powerglide out of our 69 camaro I could use.


I took out the passenger side seat and the rear seats last night as well as the rear speakers.Tonight I am going to adjust the vlaves and pull the water pump back off.And then wait till friday so I can get a new water pump,altenator and new spark plugs.

 

Mine is only a 2 bolt main block. Buy an ARP stud kit and have the mains line honed with the new studs and you'll be fine.

I ran a TH350 for 2 years. I only switched to a TH400 this winter because I wanted a transbrake and a stronger tranny to take it. The TH400 is just cheaper to beef up than a TH350. The TH350 is an easy swap. Stay away from a 700R4 for a strip only car. It has a poor gear ratio for drag racing and extra parts (overdrive) that you'll never use. The PG would be a good choice.

Start with the chassis. Good weld-in SFC are number one on the list. Then work on rear suspension so it can handle the torque of a big block.

I started wrinkling the floor above the front mount for the LCA and the rear of the driveshaft tunnel last year. With the ladder bars, all the force is redirected to a crossmember and SFC now.

 

Well I am going to go with a big block.I just want to have some fun first.I am 16 years old and work for 6 bucks an hour.So I not exactly loaded.

I pulled the intake and valve covers off today and found out I have some major issue's.The cam has some problems apparently.Like whenever I get to top dead center.LIke the all the lifters on the driver side are down.I figure it is like our 69 is and has a "flat" cam.The great thing about this motor is I can put a new cam and lifter in it for 150 bucks.


.0/204/.216 duration and .427/.454 lift I should still be able to run my stock valve springs fine with this right.


I plan on going with a edlebrock performer dual plane intake,holley 650 carb and maybe an msd hei performance package out of summit.With a 6a igntion.

I plan on running the car with the small block/th350 and 9 inch for a little while at the strip.Just so I can have some fun.



I did a very very dumb thing today.I cut basicly the intire wiring harness out.Why does gm have to do this.There is freakin wires and hoses every where.And to top it off the dude that had the car before me pretty much cut half it up anyway.So to the boneyard I go looking for a new wiring harness.




So I just have to wait to weeks before I can buy a new cam,lifters,timing chain and gears.



Thanks for the help.

 

85,

Dont be intimidated by the percieved complexity of the stock wiring and vacuum setup. Find yourslef some good diagrams (the gm service manuals have by far the best) and take a few hours and work through everything. You'll end up with a more reliable car if you stick with stock wiring and adapt it as necessary instead of rigging it up to work. I have a friend with an old nova whose wiring is basically run a wire from some unknown hot to wherever you need power. It's a pain in the butt because he's always loosing power places (like ignition, headlights, dash etc)

 

once you stuf a BBC in there you'll never go back!