Am I crazy?

[billybob]

I picked up a 454 over the weekend (for another project) and am currently having it blue printed.

Now I know that doesnt sound crazy, but what does is that I'm actually thinking of dropping it in the vette when I get it back.

How crazy am I now? Now for the real crazy part, what would I be looking at in the way of "must upgrade parts" to make this "bolt on instant performance mod" work in my 75 not stock by a long shot.

Bill

 

[6 Shooter]

Crazy . . .

. . . I don't know, u either have a Bad Case of Vette Fever or the Need 4 Speed !

 

[Nut]

Bill..... you're not crazy. I have the exact same dilemma. My son just got his hands on a 454 from a GMC tow truck. It is in excellent condition with less than 75K miles. It was "supposed" to get shoehorned into a '84 Trans Am project car in the garage. But now I'm having second thoughts for a winter project. Hmmmm. A BB-'81. Wouldn't that be a gas? Heck, I say go for it. Now if I start adding up all the tuition and R&B money I've been pouring into his college career, I'd say a 454 is a reasonable exchange. Heh, heh, heh.

Good Luck............... Nut

 

[cruzer99]

Be carefull with the 454's. The truck motors are TALL DECK motors, low compression and 4 bolt mains. Make sure you get the correct add-on's for the motor you have.

 

[Nut]

Ron,
Thanks for the reminder. We already have been looking at that and it is a concern with trying to squeeze it into the '81. Probably will go into the T/A since I don't mind chopping things up as required. It is a 4BM and the bottom end looks really clean. Rob intended on selling off the heads and using the $$ + more to upgrade those, beefing it up everywhere necessary to be sure nothing falls out the bottom once she's all back together and we nail it a few times. Boy those heads are BIG sucks too. Jeez.

........ Nut

 

[billybob]

I was holding off on details so as not to excite myself but from today's status, here is where it stands....

The 454 I just picked up got ripped (literally) out a 71 chevelle.

The chevelle had definitely seen better days, the frame was rusted out to the point if you stood on the side of the car you saw serious body flex. Most of the body was solid rust, glass was gone and no interior.

Having paid only 100$ for the motor I was skeptical that it would even turn over.

Well good and bad news, first signs from the shop doing the blue printing, the motor needs basically everything in the way of bolt ons!!! But the block to date is intact and is suffering from nothing money cant fix.

It will have to be cooked and pressure tested but so far looks good.

Questions are a plenty as I have almost convinced the boss (my wife) that we should do the mother of all bolt ons.

What about my tranny? TH 400 will this be able to handle the 454?

The diff, being the original, how will it fair?

Those are the main concerns, sure there are a ton of little ones, but those in addition to the blue printing could add up to more than I'm willing to part with at this outing.

Any advice?

Bill

 

[cruzer99]

The good news about the newer low compression motors is that they are ideal for "BLOWERS.....HUFFERS......LUNGS......OR WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM........Now your thinking about it....HA HA:J

 

[billybob]

cruzer82,

That just wasnt nice :blow I'm already planning the installation in my mind.. and the ohhhh if I add this it will have this....

Still not sure if I'm ready for this "Bolt On" it still has alot of $$$ worth of work to get it back to "normal", if I had any ideas on the current status of exsisting parts holding up it might be an easier decision.

Or I could just wait till I get it back and bag it till I get the info, its the not knowing that kills me.

Bill