Small block or Big Block

[81turbota]

Big block. The freight train torque is wonderful.

[weq92f]

Bbc bbc bbc bbc...

[Square up 84]

I purchased a square with a BB it's a monster and requires attention need to beef up radiator and other items. I need to put headers on it . I hate when people half a$! Stuff and cut corners. And then I have a 6.0 in my 84 Scottsdale.

[KahunaEdd]

Thank you all for the responses. The discussion helped me gain clarity. A well built SB would be more than adequate. Heck, getting the my original motor bored and stroked would leave me north of 300HP, provide ample torque, and still have matching stock numbers. On the other hand, dropping in a BB would make the truck unique, more rare, and somewhat exclusive.

Bottom line is the BB worth the $3K upper.

Thanks again for the feedback..

I'll find some photos to post.

[Ken B]

I don't think I'd go thru all the trouble of going small block to a big block with an sm465 tranny in my truck. I just don't see it being worth the extra cost and effort, especially if you aren't towing a big boat or camper with your truck. I get the cool factor, I removed a healthy small block from my 69 Chevelle just to put a big block in for the cool factor. At the end of the day the only time I got to show it off was at a car show. The other 99% of the time the hood was closed. I'm not all that sure a big block makes it worth a whole bunch more either... Maybe if it was originally a big block truck.

[71sierragrande]

I would have the original rebuilt for a stock driver. I wish still had mine

[MARKDTN]

Build the small-block (or buy a 1-pc rear seal crate engine)and add TPI fuel injection. Plenty of torque and mileage, plus no need to change accessories.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by clay68c10

If you really want something different and don't mind spending a bit more $, go with a Caddy 472/500. They make loads of torque and are all high nickel content so they don't require much block machining. Usually just a hone and go. They also tend to get slightly better MPG than a BBC with a similar cam profile.

Not a bad option either.

If you did a 100% stock restoration by the build sheet, I think it would be fitting to have the original numbers matching engine rebuilt. I would venture to say that this would make it the most "rare" as anyone can swap in a crate SBC or even a BBC. Not everyone can have their original, numbers matching engine.

In short, build what you have or build a BBC. Cost will be a little more for the BBC and either will cost more than a crate SBC - but you didn't cheap out on your restoration, did you? Why would you cheap out on your engine then?

[KQQL IT]

Before big block LS it. EFI and OD with some cold a-c

[Fraud]

When I was still trying to find a truck to buy, I always thought that if I ended up buying a big block I'd keep it, and if I got a small block I'd put an LS in... I ended up buying one with a small block, and now I don't know what I'm planning...

An LY6 with 4L80e attached and all wiring/pedal/sensors etc. for $4k is damn hard to argue with... even if it costs another $2-4k to get installed, tuned and running thats pretty good value for 400hp and a very tough OD transmission... And once its all bolted in place the options for adding pretty significant amounts of power are endless and pretty cost effective...

a ~450hp 383 sbc crate motor and built 2004r/700r4 would cost about the same by the time its installed etc, with basically no power left on the table (without a full rebuild/new internals etc etc), and arguably on the limit of that trans with a 3700-4200lb truck...

But I am inclined to agree that a proper small block looks way more at home in there, and there are plenty of options to custom build a tough small block making plenty of power and bringing plenty of smiles.

The oil marks in my garage suggest I should make some kind of decision soon... and drag week footage has been giving me bad ideas...

[snj8198]

why get 350ft-lbs for 10mpg when you can get 500ft-lbs for 10mpg

[CST10]

I still say BBC, be different.

The tone is deeper, you don't even have to open your hood for folks to know you got one. Tires shredding torque.

It might hit you up for a few more dollars. I built mine as a mild engine by BBC standards. Lays out 475 HP/ 500 TQ all between idle and 5000 RPMs. At 2000 RPMs it's got more than most small blocks at 5000. And I get 12 MPG if I keep my foot out of it. Maybe I'm Ol School, but no replacement for displacement. Tuning is easy with a carb. I say keep them simple.

At shows I get more people looking at that huge motor than the trucks on the side of me without BBC's.

i love SBC's and LS engines too. I have them in a camaro and another truck. I've even got a 250 CI inline 6 silly. Love it too. None compare to the feel of driving that BBC, none compare to the exhaust note of that deep throwing tone.

That's just me, everybody has there own perferances.

Everybody I've known that has installed a BBC engine has never regretted the decision. Actually a few of them won't put anything else in their builds now.

[MacQuigley]

Got to say Big Block. That's what I'm putting in and I cant say that its cost me that much more to install it that I reckon it would have to fit a SBC. I did need a set of adjustable mounts so I could slide it into the optimal position.

Originally Posted by 72_swb

Big block big power. Can't beet the torque. Stroke a 454 to a 496 and build it right and see a LS motor hang with it.

But I do like the idea of stroking my 454

[KahunaEdd]

I finally got the old motor out and broken down. What a ticking time bomb. The oil pickup came off of the oil pump. Had slight scoring on the crank main and rod bearing journals. 3 cylinders started to scuff also. Everything is still rebuild able. I decided to keep the engine number and frame number match together. I asked myself what would a DIY motor head do back in '69. In other words what would uncle Bob do? So took all the heavy parts down to the best machine shop around and had everything magnafluxed and precision machined. I had the cylinders punched out to 0.040 over and the crank ground and polished. I had the heads redone with all new parts and had them decked. I had a custom grind on the cam that was a bit more aggressive than an RV cam. The motor will lope ever so slightly. My old Carter turned out to be un-rebuild able so I went to the Pomona swap meet and found a rebuild able Holly avenger and an Edelbrock period correct manifold. I am going to port the heads and manifold. Now for the slow and careful re-assembly. MTF

[Stocker]

Thanks for the update -- always good to hear what the final decision was! Many years ago I had a rebuilt 350 put into my K20. Don't recall the specs but it had too much cam so that got swapped for something milder. Still wish I had spent the extra for a stroker but the budget said otherwise....

[stsalvage]

Most would say.Whats a big block.To even build one is like having to save up 5 years of money to buy one if you have one it needs to be sleeved.Finding parts for it is getting tricky.15 year ago it was dime a dozen.454 where all over the place.The 402 most and i say this most would just re sleeve them back to the 396 stance.Now you have guys looking for the 427.Now if you guys have one of these puppies hidden away that is ether a truck or car block as long as it's not a tall deck 427.Then the collectors are looking for you.Even the 396 are really coming back.I can remember like it was yesterday that guys where pulling there 396 out and dropping a 454 in.If they where smart they would of pulled the 396 crank out and put the 454 in then you have the 427.That bad boy was meaner then the 454.But at one time i cleaned out a house with over 15 396 blocks and cranks and 4 full on built motors and junked them.No call for them back in 1995 Engine shops did not want them they where junking them.Now you speed up to 2015 the big rage is to save are old trucks and car's.Just to say it as nice as possible.Your too late.Your getting the hand me downs. Most of the guys that junk that are members here know what happened in 2006-08 Metal prices jumped up to $500.00 to ever $995.00 a ton for scrap metal.Saw more engines more hot rods classics wind up under the crusher or the shredder.Saw 3 21 window buses get crushed in 2007 saw over 145 chevy trucks get crushed at 3 local scrap yards in 2006-2008.So Most of the guys that now get these trucks they part them out.Ya i wine Cus i keep hearing guys looking for numbers matching stuff.I tell them that plan to spend big.I keep telling normal guys re pop parts are all your going to afford.Never thought i see the day a bed would be worth 2000.00 and tail gates going for 1500.Very expensive hobbie.I'm glad i got in on the ground floor I got my trucks from 1964--72 and my suburbans my nest eggs.Wish i would of kept all of my Camaro's an nova's 1962--72 camaro's 1967-74 Dam city code

[volksworld]

had a 350/350 in my truck with headers, holley 600 and edelbrock manifold....burning oil so i pulled it for a 454 ls6 crate motor that got de-tuned with 9 to 1 pistons and oval port heads....trying to tune the bog out of the performer carb i rolled off a stopsign and stood on it and removed every tooth on first gear on a muncie 4 speed...yes they certainly have torque...time for a turbo 400... think you're better off sticking with the small block....dont go crazy with porting other than maybe cleaning up some casting flash or matching ports...if you dont know what you're doing you can do more harm than good and lose drivability...opening up ports will only help at rpm ranges where a mild cam wont work anyway....and if you're paying someone else to do them you can buy aftermarket aluminum ones that flow better out of the box for less..give it a high quality (not chinese) double row timing chain...remember its a truck with a granny 4 speed daily driver, not a race car...so less is more

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by KahunaEdd

I. In other words what would uncle Bob do?

Sounds like you picked a solid approach --- probably what I would do too if it was a restored truck also