[Madd Syntst]

I need a little help with some factual information. I was told that with some small machine work to the inside of the block near the crank counterweights and some machining/balancing to the crank, you can put the guts of a 396/427/454 into one of these. I was told it was done a lot with speed boats. Two questions:

Is this true? I said I didn't think so

Why speed boats? Next to any team sport, I know less about watercraft.

Just figured someone here might know

[Pony]

I ran a 1957 Chev 210 with a 409 C/Gas in 1966-67. The 396 was too new and too $$$ for most to afford but when they started showing up they ate the 409's alive.. I'v never heard of that swap. Wonder if it was a stroker kind of thing. If not it seems like a step backwards. The 409 lower end was always nice to me, not so for the head gaskets.

[Ohio-Dan]

Turn the BBC mains down .100" and machine the snout to 409 specs. Reduce the counter weight diameter to clear the 09 block. You will need heavy metal to re-balance the whole assembly. BBC rods and a custom pin height piston.

My guess is that the boat guys want big torque at lower RPM's. The 409 isn't noted for real good air flow to support top end HP. With a 454 crank you would get a motor in the 474 inch range that would make stump pulling torque. Dan

[V8 S-10]

Car Craft did a really good article on those a few years ago that told what you could do to them and what interchanges. I have that magizine.....somewhere..