402bb Vs 350 Crate Motor

[ROBBY WHITE]

I JUST BOUGHT A 71 BURB WITH A 402BB LOOKING FOR OPINIONS ON WHICH WAY TO GO REBUILD 402 OR DROP A 350 CRATE MOTOR. WHAT WOULD BE CHEAPER? WHICH WOULD BE BETTER FOR A EVERYDAY DRIVER?

[smokekiki]

Myself,I would keep the big block.I have one with a BB and one with a SB.Close to the same mpg.You would need to check into the price of switching to a sb,and buying it,compared to a rebuild on the bb.

[bubbaNcolo]

Keep in mind rebuilding a 402 will be slightly more money.
You don't have to change out bracketts etc if you stay with the 402BB.
Less wear and tear on a BB pulling the same weight as a small block. I would think the BB would last longer but couldn't prove it.
If you are going to use it in the mountains and or tow with it I'd stay with the 402.

I had a 76 blazer and in the mountains a 400 small block (stock) would maintain speed better going up passes etc but once I changed out to a small block 350 she was doggy regaining speed. Now the route was not straight and had a lot of curves so what the 400SB did was give the low end torgue to gain back my speed once the road straightened out. The 350 took longer to regain speed. Mph was the same between the 400SB and the 350SB. Same carb and intake and exsaust gear ratio etc.

[toddol1971]

Huh? What makes an engine last longer has nothing to do with whether its a bb or sb. How the engine was assembled, how it was broke in, & how it is used & maintained are the determining factors. As far as your dillema Mr White, you need to determine how much you can spend. Then you can start your engine project. Ill give you my opinion. #1. Crate engines are AWESOME. These companys deal in bulk & get good prices, so they can sell these for less. #2. Id stay with a bb if you tow, & if you have deep pockets. A good bb will out tow a sb all day long. If youre only towing 3 or4 K pounds then a sb will do just fine. BB weigh about 2 to 300 lb's more than a sb. #3. BB use more gas, i dont care how you use them. An engine with more cubes is going to burn more gas period. A good comprimise has always been the 383 stroker. This engine has plenty of everything you need. There also resonably priced. check www.sdpc2000.com or go to your local chevy dealer & ask the parts guy about there performance parts crate engines. Good luck.