To Big Block...Or Not to BBC.....
 

Hey Guys, what engine choice would you make if you could have either, bbc or sbc. I recently acquired a 71 green and white stripe C 10 longhorn with a 350 trans and non matching 350 sbc clunker. Plans are for a total restoration into my first "girly " truck. I have a complete 67 396 coupled to a turbo 400 to rebuild as well as a 350 , four bolt main, from a 72 Chevy truck. Also have a rebuild able 400 small block. I have several bb cars , but never had a bbc truck. What would you build.......if you had these choices.......thanks..

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If your not worried about "gallons per mile" or the cost of the rebuild and you can get some wide tires under the back with posi-track (say 3.50 or there-a-abouts)...go with the 396! Turbo 400 trannies are very good transmissions. I would build the 396 to push the 450 FW horsepower which should make it streetable, but really wake the truck up.

"There is no replacement for displacement!" AND "Torque is the King!"

OR if your "girly" truck just needs to be pretty and relaxed... the 350 or 400 economically built has always made for a nice ride. The 400 ci carries a certain aire of class, but can be more costly to build.

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I put a 400 SBC into a 1970 K-10 I had years ago.
It made great power, a friend built it with my truck in mind, had a lot of low end grunt.
But, I like the sound of a big block. So really I'm no help!!

Greg

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First off--no such thing as a C10 Longhorn. They were all 20s or 30s. Second what are you going to do with the truck? Work it, cruise it, show it off, garage queen? Working it you'll need torque and power which is where the big block comes in. Cruising it around with an occasional romp on the skinny pedal requires a big block also to bring a smile to your face. Showing it off also needs a big block with the wow factor when the hood is lifted. Garage queen--no engine required, put it in the corner and pile boxes on top. Any of the other above, just get a 454 and build that. May actually cost less to build to get the same result as a hopped up 396

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400 small block

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My smallblock can make me smile[383]:lol:

If you have all BB , might be the way to go,,,,,:chevy: familiarity

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Big block

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"Restoration" or just making the truck clean and fun to drive. "Restoration" limits you in your engine choices.

If you're not truly "restoring" it, and could have any engine you wanted... I would personally choose a 454.

Gary

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The longhorn is a heavy truck...you are easily 4500 lbs, which is a 1/2 ton more than some muscle cars.
So the power element that will get that weight moving quickly will be torque...not horsepower, at least up until 30-40 mph, which is, lets face it... where most (90%) of your driving will be.
So if it was me, the bare minimum would be a 383 stroker or a 400 sbc....but if you are starting from scratch a big block 454 would be the way to go.

Is your original glovebox intact?....if so, on the inside surface you will find your 'SPID' sheet attached to it and it should list what the original engine was for the truck.
If it was a 400....you can always 'badge' your 454 to look like the 400....if a push for 'original appearance' counts and no one will know the difference...until you leave, lol.

Regardless...for a truck that heavy, you are going to want torque....horsepower should not be the target.

My two bits
Coley:chevy:

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Sell all those motors and get out of the stone age......LS all the way....efi=horsepower, torque, PLUS better economy/reliability...
you want low end grunt?....put in a 4.56 gear and use an OD transmission...4L60E or 4L80E....just my 2¢...

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Hot Rod magazine did a comparison years ago where they built a SBC 400 and BBC 402 to be as nearly identical as possible - similar compression ratios, cam profiles, etc. Then they tested the two motors side by side. Their conclusion was that you're going to get more torque from the big block and better mileage from the small block. The numbers were close, but that was the result.

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my 68 had a 396 in it and when I got ready to rebuild the machine shop guy told me I could build a 454 cheaper. I proved him wrong but its not a 454 anymore. 489 C.I.

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BBC all the way

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400 small block is an awesome engine!!! I have one already built to put in my 67 C10.

My 68 Golden came with a 396, and will get the re-vamped 396 back in it, when that day comes!!!

Small block pickups are everywhere, seldom EVER see a big block version..........

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My vote... BIG BLOCK.

POP

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Out of the 3 choices you listed, I would go for the 400 SBC. Most cubes per weight, and cheaper to build than a BBC. Put on some Vortec heads and enjoy.

If you are seriously considering the 396, and are ok with spending some extra, do as others have advised and build a 454. Beyond buying a good core block and crank you will be in for the same $$.

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I vote Big Block, I had a 427 in a 68 Corvette and I loved it. I am getting ready to start the rebuild on my C10 and I have a 78 L82 SBC that I am going to build for it. I really wish I had gotten BBC block for the build. Oh well at this point I can’t wait to get started. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Posted via Mobile Device

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Big block all the way. I don't think anyone has ever said "dang, I sure wish I would have built a small block" in reference to their well built big block.


Yes you can sap more horsepower out of less cubes with newer engines - that being said, they will never be able to build the low end torque that a large big block will.

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If it will be a work truck you gonna tow with, a big block would serve you well, but for a weekend cruiser the mpg are just too lousy. I would take the 350 and build a 383 stroker with a little EFI unit on top, makes plenty of power and good mpg on long trips. Big blocks are pricey to rebuild. Check into a L31 engine, perfect for a Longhorn, imo. Personally, I would stay away from the sbc 400. Yes, it's a classy engine, but I'm not a fan of the siamese bore.

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:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:Winters was one of the funniest dudes on Earth.

BBC all the way OP. BBC just feels right, and IMO they're more eye appealing.....................If I recall, a 350 only gets maybe 1-2% more gas mileage. Even the straight six was a gas hog. And I agree, build that bad boy up to a 454. I didn't because at the time I couldn't afford it. Course then you're looking at even less MPG, closer to 7 MPG. I figure mine gets 8, and I couldn't care any less to check. Old high performance heads, punched out, mild RV cam. Real smooth runner.

Other than MPG, which the old blocks weren't much, seems the larger the block the sooner the rebuild. If you want something with endurance that you can take across country, great gas mileage and punch, word is an LS7ish is a great way to go.

Since everyone is showing their AWESOME BBC, this is what mine looks like today. It's the only item left on the frame. Someday she'll be real pretty.

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Or drink the same insane amount of fuel..

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In no way challenging you, I'm just curious how someone can take an LS motor, bone stock that's rated for maybe what 16-17 mpg in the city in lets say a Crew Cab Silverado, then put it in a C10 and all of a sudden it gets 25+mpg ? I get it, LS motors are efficient but I have never seen one that's pound for pound and dollar for dollar similar in power. You can buy a 150k mile LS motor all day for $800 and it still needs going through. Then you'll need the ECM, pedal, etc. I can build a $800 350, Vortec heads, etc and piece one together cheaper. It takes a lot of weekend driving to justify a $4000 build on an LS motor to make 600+ horsepower. Yes, they're more efficient but they're far more expensive to build. For an every day driver, LS. For a weekend fun toy and/or workhorse I'd go with the GenIV 396. The right build and carb setup makes all the difference in the world. Why not EFI the BBC? Just a thought.

Here's a clip of my BBC. It's no land rocket.. but it's pretty nasty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9k_...ature=youtu.be

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Blown 454 only way to go in 2wd...LOL

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No my friend...I have the utmost respect for your and any one else's opinion....Years ago..(late 60's early 70's LOL)...I was into big blocks deep...there's nothing sweeter that the sound...the last one I had was 468 open chambered aluminum heads....13:1 pistons and a big Crane cam that wouldn't idle under 1500 RPM in a 71 Camaro...Me and my buddies won a bunch of money with it...street drag racing (I know...crazy)....that was when gas was 35¢/gal and we would easily burn 2-3 tanks on a Saturday night....loads of fun!
Now fast forward to 2006 with the advent of the Z06 Vette and LS7 engine...I bought one brand new....505 HP and honest to Pete...26MPG at cruising speed...that's what sold me on the LS base....yes they are more expensive to build...and I agree 100% with you as far as the intended use for the truck...it's all good....carry on...

BTW...beautiful Truck...'67 & '68 are my favorites

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Nice choice! not meaning to derail thread, but I have had a drop top C-6 now for about a year as well
--- buddies have given me grief about not opting for a ZO-6, -- but I really like to style 'n profile , so its hard to wave at the ladies when i'm rowing through a manual transmission :lol:

That said ---- these darn engines are 436hp themselves for an LS-3 , --- likely a bit cheaper to aquire than an LS-7 since they started putting them in some Camaro variations as well

-- I've seen 25-26mpg on long road trips, but typically nail down about 20 ---- still phenomenal for a car with 12 second quarter capability and a theoretical 190mph top speed

----- I think i'd still go BBC for a Longhorn, -- but a nice LS motor would also be a great choice ,

https://i.imgur.com/MWFf1SBh.jpg