Big block or built sb,or stroker?

[al's71gmc]

I know it's not the responsible thing to do. Almost everyone is looking for fuel economy. But I'm wanting to go the other direction. I want torque and horsepower!!! This is for my 71 3/4 ton 4wd. So i'm trying to figure the best way to go. A friend has a 427 from an early 70's 2 ton truck. I haven't got to check it out and get #s off it. It's supposed to be a low mileage rebuilt engine. $1500 includes carb to oilpan. My other inclination is to go to a stroker. I'd like to get some feedback from you guys. Another concern for me is weather my 350/205 will hold up to either option.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

That 427 would be a tall deck. Parts are really expensive although with the new 572ci engines parts will come down but the are more than standard deck BBC. Low miles on a big truck don't mean the engine isn't worn out. Heavy loads cause a lot of wear on these things. A local guy was running a C60 with 1 and had to replace the engine every 2 years because of wear. If you are running a rock crawler then a BBC or a 383 with lots of low end torque. If it is a highway and stop light truck go big cam anything. just my opinion.

[Sport/Truck]

The 427 is probably a tall deck, but probably not an issue since you are getting everything with it.
I think the 427 would be cool though.
s/t

[Curbstone Mech]

I'm in favor of the stroker idea partly because I relly enjoy my own but also since all the parts are cheaper as far as the externals- a big block sure would would be nice have tho.Good luck either way.

[herb101]

Strokers can be nice for a many reasons, but among them are:

stealth - looks just like a 305 or 350, but acts like alot more
ecomony - build/accessory costs. BBC parts always cost more than SBC parts for things like water pumps, manifolds, headers, etc.
weight - big power at a SBC weight penalty
fit - the stroker has the same mounting points and suspension requirements of the SBC it's replacing

The only downside is that it won't LOOK like a BBC

Fuel economy is a fairly worthless debate when the base vehicle is a big truk, up in the air, with gearing a huge tires. It'll only be decent at best.

Herb

[Robznob11]

well that tall deck block also comes with a weight penality, strokers are cool that tall deck would be great for a stroker but not for a stocker, i built lots of strokers and ill tell you from experiance your best bet is to put together a 400 or 406 and slap a supercharger on it. you will have gobs or hp and tq. + reliability and it will be steathy and sound like a stock engine and you figure to have a thumping stroker you need good flowing heads. put that money towards a supercharger in stead and use double humps or 441 heads and you will smash all 383s and most sbc 427and 434s

[70GMCer]

I used a 73 sbc 4 bolt to build my 1st 383. I'm very impressed with the torque of this little mouse. Costs are much cheaper than building a bid block with same results. I say built the stroker. As far as your engine goes, it would be a good choice for the build. It has the higher nickel content for strength. Just my 2 cents....

[Ricks1971]

I would say after having big blocks and one 383 stroker I would build another 400 small block, You will get more torque out of it as I did with my 71 4X4

[al's71gmc]

Great replies, thanks. Anyone care to address my transmission concern? I've always heard the th350 was bullet proof, now everyone around here is telling me it will detonate behind the 427.....

[67_C-30]

I'd go with a TH400 in heavy truck with a stroked mouse or a big block. You can build a TH350 to do it, but TH400 will be more durable. Also, I replaced the factory 300HP 396 (which would be stronger than the tall deck 427) in my '69 C-30 with a 383 stroker and there's no comparison. The small blocks does everything better. More usuable power in all RPM ranges, and is much more economical. My 396 was worn out when I took it out, but the 383 is stronger than it was when it was fresh. The 396 even with a new rebuild years ago never pulled a long hill (loaded) as good as the 383 does. My truck wieghs 8300# unloaded, and I load it down at times. This beast puts a lot of stress on everything!

[57sailplane]

im confused,

why is the 427 tall deck more expensive to build than any other big block. and why is it not as strong as a 396? are the blocks weaker? as far as rod to stroke ratio that taller deck is much better. less piston side load.. i was just wondering i am a sbc lover myself but had always heard that if you are going to build a big block that the tall deck is the way to go for hp and tq.. really i am asking here not trying to start anything?

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 57sailplane

im confused,

why is the 427 tall deck more expensive to build than any other big block. and why is it not as strong as a 396? are the blocks weaker? as far as rod to stroke ratio that taller deck is much better. less piston side load.. i was just wondering i am a sbc lover myself but had always heard that if you are going to build a big block that the tall deck is the way to go for hp and tq.. really i am asking here not trying to start anything?

When I say strong, I mean power, not durability. In stock form, 427's were real low compression, had a small cam, restrictive heads and was rated at 260HP at 4000 and 405TQ at 2600 while the 396 had more compression, better cam and heads at was rated at 310HP @ 4800 and 410 @ 3200. The 427 is a stump pulling low RPM motor while the 396 is better for a hot rod because it has more usuable upper RPM unless you do alot to the 427. Again though, a healthy 383 built like mine is trumps both if they are stock. If you are going for all out HP, a built 427 would be the ticket, but expensive as all Big blocks are.

[wibilly]

i'm going with a 406 small block for my k20 short box. all the torque of a big block in a tiny little light weight package for a fraction of the cost of a big block and still room for me in the engine compartment

[al's71gmc]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

When I say strong, I mean power, not durability. In stock form, 427's were real low compression, had a small cam, restrictive heads and was rated at 260HP at 4000 and 405TQ at 2600 while the 396 had more compression, better cam and heads at was rated at 310HP @ 4800 and 410 @ 3200. The 427 is a stump pulling low RPM motor while the 396 is better for a hot rod because it has more usuable upper RPM unless you do alot to the 427. Again though, a healthy 383 built like mine is trumps both if they are stock. If you are going for all out HP, a built 427 would be the ticket, but expensive as all Big blocks are.

The guy that has this engine said he thought it had around 375-400 HP. Is he full of it?

[sameyrasmea72]

If you go with the 427 tall you can not use regular pickup brackets for all your accessories, none of the bolts will line up and it willbe highly confusing. Thats what I have been told anyway.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Here's some interesting info on a 383 stroker that Moses Ludel gives in his book "Chevrolet+GMC Light Truck Owner's Bible". This is with stock "log" exhaust manifolds,stock Q-jet in a heavy '76 K-20.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by al's71gmc

The guy that has this engine said he thought it had around 375-400 HP. Is he full of it?

Unless it has been built up, yeah he's definitely full of it. A 2 ton engine never made that kind of HP in stock form, they were torque engines. It's definitely capable of making that kind of power, just not in stock form.

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by al's71gmc

The guy that has this engine said he thought it had around 375-400 HP. Is he full of it?

If this is out of a 2ton... and its the stock tall deck, He IS sooo full of it.

Personally, Id ditch the idea of a BB or SB and put in an LS4.

[Robznob11]

although i would go with the small block in this situation, there are some people here that a full of you know what if thy think that that 427 is a slouch, cams are cheap and easy to install a simple cam change can make all the diff in the world you don't need to compleatly redo the motor. sound to me like some one don't know about big blocks... you can build that bb to have power and tq and it will be a milder engine than the sb, but relly a tall deck block is best suited for a big stroker not a stocker, and yea those peanut heads on there do suck compared to a pass head but they will still support 500 ponies. simply bbc was made for shere power with out haveing to go as radical thats why they were made...

[al's71gmc]

So....If this engine is stock, and I put a cam, intake and carb, can I reasonably expect 375-400 HP and keep the torque?