Cascade Crew

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject: 454 big block?

I was talkin to my dad today about how his guys at work are always trying to get him to get me to stuff a 454 big block in my camaro. They claim they will fit with minor modifications and frame stiffiners. Is there any crewbies that have done this or done research on this?
~JAKE

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:15 pm Post subject:

Brandon's (chevymad) friend Marv did it. Said he'd NEVER do it again. I've seen it up and close... talk about a nightmare changing spark plugs. There's just no room. I hear it gets really expensive especially if you want headers.

I'll never do it. I'll get a car/truck with engine space to do it.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:17 pm Post subject:

Pain in the ass, and you use more gas. If you want a big block, Paul is right, get an old Chevy truck or something for a couple hundred, and work from there.

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:26 am Post subject:

or get a second gen!

Very Happy

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:38 am Post subject:

Hell, any big old muscle car should be able to handle it. Anyone for a '72 BB Chevelle? Very Happy

QwkTrip · Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

Slips right in if you don't mind going without air conditioning. But the car isn't really built for the power. You would need other modifications to make it reliable. There are some hurdles to jump which I won't detail right now. But it is pretty straight forward if you have done any kind of engine swap in the past.

I think the limiting factor to most people is the cost. A big block is more expensive and so are the parts you need to make the car live. That's why I want $11K for my car. I have a LOT of money dumped in that thing with all the bullet proof parts I've installed. If you are serious about a big block, I would really encourage you to start with my car. Not because I want to sell it but because it really is a decent deal for all the bomb proof parts in it. If you don't need all that stuff then keep what you want and get money back by parting out the rest. If you sell your car and apply the money towards mine that will keep your cost down too.

Installing a big block is pretty much saying, "I want a hot rod and I understand it's not going to be a reliable daily driver." You will have to tinker and fix things every month. Big power is a lot of fun but it breaks parts. That's why I put so much effort into building the snot out of my drivetrain. I want it to live.

Nathan J · Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:28 pm Post subject:

big blocks in thirdgens=cool lol, my friend blew up his 406 2 years ago, best it ran was a 9.62 at 142mph, its a tubbed camaro though, but now he redid his cage its cert to 7.50 1.4 times, and has a 598ci big block in the shop waiting to go in, o it also has 3 stages of nitrous hehe, so it should be a damn fun car lol, so a 454 is not that bad but if you think a strong sbc makes these cars twist up a big block might not be the way to go unless you really want to get some support in the thing, sfc, cage, stuff like that. that is all hehe

MIDNITERIDER · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:16 am Post subject:

Danked · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject:

i wouldnt recommend installing a 454 into a 3rd gen f-body, you wont have only space problems, but it might twist the frame when u floor it, im not sure about this, but im pretty sure it would. i know a guy who converted a honda crx into a rwd and put a 302 in it and the first time he floored it, twisted the frame and had to take it all out Very Happy

chevymad · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject:

Here's a folder of pics of Marv's bb camaro.

http://groups.msn.com/Mytrucksotherstuff/marvsmaro.msnw

He started with an 87 v/6 maro. Then put in a 427bb. He used stock exhaust manifolds and intake in order to get everything to fit under the stock flat hood. Behind the 427 is a 3550 5spd. Forte's told him this would be fine behind the 427 because he won't have enough traction to break it anyway. You won't ruin your car with a bb just because of this. If you don't change the rear and put on slicks, you won't have enough traction to hurt the car. Even with slicks and the stock rear, you'll break the rear before you bend the car.

There's alot of small details you don't notice. Looking at the dashboard pic you notice the aftermarket gauges, but they're installed in a custom billet aluminum panel he built, then painted black. Also looking at the engine shots you'll see it still has A/C, and it has a serpentine built setup. All the accessories, a/c pump, ps pump, alternator etc are all from the v/6. He took them built his own brackets and installed them on the 427. When he got all done, he tried the v/6 belt on it.. guess what.. it fit perfect!

He's been reworking his original hood(slinky's is currently on the car). He cut the center out and popped it up an inch or so. Making a really short nice cowl. From what I saw its going to look really good. So much for the sleeper look! I think he gave up on the sleeper though because the exhaust gives things away anyway. He built like 4 or 5 different setups trying to quiet it down. Even built a couple of mufflers himself. One setup actually had quad exhaust. Another he made his own oval pipe by crushing it in a press. I think right now he has a home built setup with a double in/double out flowmaster.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject:

You're not going to twist up the frame by installing a powerful engine. The frame might flex and cause poor handling and door alignment issues but that's about the end of it. Like Chevymad said, there's only so much traction available.

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject:

I'm just amazed he kept the AC box in the engine compartment. If I ever did a BBC swap in a 3rd gen, that'd be the first thing to go. I'd want all the room I could get!