rebuild or go with a big block?
 

well I spun a bearing in my 350 yesterday. So should I just rebuild or replace it with a big block? Any suggestions? The big block needs a cam, distributer, water pump and timing set but has all new bearings. Any suggestions?

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

how much do you want to spend

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Do you want power or (relative) fuel economy?

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

small block for your driver, parts getter...Big Block for everything else (hey just kiddin, do what you like or as has been said can afford...)

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

thanks. I'm on a pretty tight budget. I can get the 454 for 800 including headers. It has been rebuilt recently. It belongs to a friend's brother. He was building a truck and decided not to finish the truck. Just wasn't sure of the unseen cost that may appear.

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

gotta have all kinds of stuff to swap a BB in...
motor mounts
exhaust
pulleys/belts/accessories
intake
carb
cooling system
etc....
i love BB's so if you can afford to change everything that needs changed and you can keep your foot out of it then it may not be as bad on gas as ya think.....

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

it is a 1969 454 and I was told my power steering pump, alternator bracket would bolt right up. Still debating.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

I went from a sb 350 to a bb 427 on a budget and used all of my sb stuff, pulleys, brackets...everything (both motors had long water pumps). I drove the truck like that for 17 years with 1 radiator replacement and 1 transmission replacement after about 3 years of (work truck) daily driving. I replaced the radiator with a 4 row core and the th350 with a th400, the radiator leaked like crazy and the transmission just wore out. I put headers on the truck about 9 years after putting the bb in...they were real tight (touched) in the motor mount stand area but they went in. I hope this helps. By the way, the bb motor mount stands are hard to find new and are WAY expensive. Some of the members on this board have used stands they will sell you for a lot less money.

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Thanks. I'm still looking at all options but I like the idea of putting in the BB

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

if you go bb you need to change the motor mounts or you can cut the mount so it clears the header tubes but that is so butcher ,i changed mine to the tubular motor mounts headers clear nicely
first pic is with the old headers and small block mounts .2 nd is new headers

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

I went from a 402 BB to a 454 and the difference was huge, but the gas mileage is awful. I also went from stock carb and intake to 750 cfm edelbrock performer and edelbrock performer manifold. Made an old truck feel new again!

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Gas what it is and it's only going to get worse$$$, I would use the money for a fuel injection swap. It's going to cost more than $800-but a BB swap will too. Just a quick look on car-part.com shows ~100k mile Vortec 350s for about $850, TBI 350s for say $700. Both of these are a more-or-less bolt-in swap. Figure another $600 for harness and some for misc. You could do these for under $2000. Or you could rebuild your stock bottom end and put Tuned-Port on top of that for about the same price. You could buy a wreck and take parts out and come in for less. You could do an LSx swap, but that is a whole layer more complex.

My bottom line in 2011, no way I swap in a BB. No way I put in something that is not fuel injected unless it is a full bore restoration.

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Might wanna check the numbers on the engine. I believe the 454 didn't show up until 1970.

Gary

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Will do thanks. I am probably going to just rebuild my 350. After looking at the cost of everything. But I sure would love to put a BB in it.

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

I went BB. I slowly gathered all the right parts and when I was ready made the swap. I LOVE IT dont think I'll ever have another SB at least not in this truck, Way cool and Lots of FUN

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Mine came with a BB 402, I can't go back either. Have 2 high HP small blocks in the shop....bagged and tagged. :lol:

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

Once you go big block you never go back.

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

What do you want to do with the truck? Is it a daily driver or a show piece? Do you want to cruise or drag race? All these things really come into play to make the best decision. If it is a DD and/or cruiser, the fuel injection swap will pay for itself. If you want to go fast or want a show truck a BB may be ok. Just as an example, in my '83 K20, the original 350 is like 180 HP. It got 14 mpg city and about 18 highway (700R4 and 3.42 gears). I swapped in a stone stock '90 L98 Corvette TPI engine (250 HP) and my mileage went up to about 17 city and 21 highway-same exhaust, same transmission, same rear end. If you take fuel at $4/gal that is $.05/mi savings. Roughly every 10,000 miles I spend $500 less in fuel with $4 fuel. At $5/gal the spread is over $.06/mi. The performance increase is also noticable. My uncle bought it brand new and I have owned this truck since it had 42K miles and you were always on the throttle to maintain 65-70 mph. Now it will run 80 with no movement of the throttle. My point is this, if you want a BB just to say you have one-then get a BB. There is nothing like the bragging rights to say "I have a bored out 454 under the hood". But if you want to drive it much, you may want to consider fuel injection-it truly is the best of both worlds. If I did my swap again today, I would buy a 5.3 LS style engine. Just look at the ratings on LS engines. You can get to 400 HP pretty easily and have the torque of a 454 without the annoying hot start issues and get mileage like a 350. It might cost a little more on the front end, but if you put many miles on it you will have payback in fuel savings. Just my .02

Re: rebuild or go with a big block?
 

I"m going to look into it thanks.