Need Advice...Thinking about a 454

[gaddman]

I have a 68 lwb fleet 1/2ton, 3spd manual, manual steering, with a/c, with a locked up 307. So I need to either re-build the 307, or I have a lead on a 454. I know the 307 would be a decent motor for what I need...mostly a daily driver. Not my primary transportation, but it's far from a beater. I'd like to have power steering and automaic transmission, lower it a little to give it a good stance, and keep the A/C. But that's about it. So let me tell you about the 454 and y'all can give me your thoughts, and give me an idea at what it would take to make it work...

I found an 89 motorhome with 13k original miles. In short, the thing cannot be titled because of a tax lien, and it has extensive hail damage. It has not been licensed in 11 years. The guy was going to fix it, but ended up just getting it tore down to basically a rolling chassis. So everything is there, complete from the radiator to the rear. It has (I think) a th400 tranny. I can get the whole thing for a grand, maybe less. He says it runs great, with a little lifter noise. It probably just needs to be ran.

So, should I go for it? I will have all the brackets and accessories, but what else will I need to make it work? Should I use the front springs from the mobile home too? I'll post the casting numbers when I actually see the motor. I know some of them had very small valves.

Thanks!
Greg