[Mustangsaly]

I'm Looking for a complete BBC engine and kinda need to know what to look 4, as far as yrs, block, heads ect. I'm thinking a older bbc like mid to late 60s to early 80s I know where some are, but I need to go look and see whats available is a 2bolt block ok or look more for a 4 bolt ? what about some info from you bbc guys on the 90s bbc motors ? this will not be a all out performance engine for now, butt never know about the future. I'm looking 4 something I can rebuild a couple Xs over the next few yrs. it will be put down the track a few Xs a yr plus some daily driving (on fair weather days) this is going in a 72 chevy swb p/u with a 400th tranny & 390 geared ford 9" with a ladder bar suspension.



thanks guys



Mustangsaly

[firestone]

Look for a block with 289 as the last digits in the casting number. Also look for oval port heads with either 781 or 049 as the last digits.

Adam

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

About the only "undesirable" Big Block would be the 366 truck. Small bore/tall deck. These have a dual thermostat intake with a governed carb/distrib. Also a very deep cast balancer on the front.

Anything else is buildable 396-502 Two bolts are great, unless you are doing a max-horsepower Nitro/blown engine. Same goes for forged cranks.

[Super Streeter]

pre 1990 trucks have the bst shortblocks,but the heads are junk.1970 thryu 76 passenger cars have o.k. shortblocks but the hads are better for mid level perfromance buildups.2 bolt of 4 bolt is no big deal at under about 1000 hp and 8000 rpm.Stock cast cranks are good to aout 700rpm and 650 hp depending in how you are making the horsepower{a 7000 rpm n/a engine making 650hp is harder on a crank then a 650hp nitrous engine that only spins 5500rpm}

The only upside to the truck shortblocks is the better rods in the 454's and tall deck engines,and the passenger car shortblocks are a good match to the stock passenger car heads since both are good for a lowbuck 550 hp buildup,but require upgrading beyond that point.The stock pasenger car heads can b upgraded to make 650hpif you dont mind sinking some money into them,but a far better choice would be to go a litle further and get some aluminum heads.If you are planning for aftermarket heads,then the truck shortblock is a better deal.

1990 and later shortblocks are o.k. and parts are available to build them up like any pre 1990 shortblock.The downside to them is that allthe heads are junk for anything but the mildest truck buildup.If you wanted to build a mid priced 454 for the street,you can do well with a 90's era 454 shortblock freshened up and fitted with the GMPP or Edelbrock rectoval heads and a hyadraulic roller cam if you can find a shortblock that came with one.

So that is pretty much where it is at.Good luck.

[Mustangsaly]

Thanks Everyone, the 550HP range would be right about where I was Thinking. I was Planing or Hoping for a older Big Block and some decent stock GM Iron heads. so the tall deck truck engines are decent ? I guess I thouht I had heard to go with any thing but the tall deck blocks, do you need to deck the tall deck blocks or they are fine ?




Thanks


Mustangsaly

[Bumpstick]

Tall decks use different intakes and other internal parts (push rods, rods or pistons) and are really kinda different animals... A reg std. deck is easier to build and for a street/strip engine will do just fine... A true 550hp BBC with oval port heads street-able compression is not to hard to build and with mostly stock componets... The above mentioned parts will do the trick with just minor upgrades and good matching of parts a "Rat" will push that 72 rather nicely...

Check out my photo album it does 12.5`s (on the street and is just a little 427... Will have some new pic`s of the body work that has been done so far...

[Mustangsaly]

Bumpstick,

your truck is what i'm after s far as motor and Box and look, did you shorten a LWB frame ? if so can you give me the measurements on the LWB & SWB & how much you shortened the frame ? what did you have to do to get the late model box on your frame as far as mounts ect. ? I was hoping to use the stock gas filler neck on the late model box and a frame mounted tank, there are some other good ideas on this thread 4 that too.




Thanks


Mustangsaly