BBC TBI Swaps Suck!

[SCOTI]

Ughhhhh. . . ... This job just plain sux.

The 90°F w/60% humidity weather isn't making it any better. Makes me want to buy some better heads + cam & not do this again. I would much rather be working on my 64 (in the shade).

[veinbar]

I've done a motor swap in near freezing temps with my buddy. In extreme hot and extreme cold, it's hard to focus on the task at hand. In the hot you wear out a lot quicker, and in the cold... EVERYTHING HURTS. God forbid you smack your knuckles against anything.

If you're even thinking about better heads and cams, you better go ahead and do it now. You'll regret not doing it later. Once the 454 is installed and you're roasting radials at every red light, you'll forget how much it sucked. Keep the pictures coming

[jchav62]

Anything would suck at 90°F w/60% humidity !!

[Low87]

Those $20-40 fold out 10x10 awnings are worth their weight in gold for projects like this. Still hot & humid, but at least you're not baking in the sun.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Low87

Those $20-40 fold out 10x10 awnings are worth their weight in gold for projects like this. Still hot & humid, but at least you're not baking in the sun.

Actually considered one of these but w/my luck, a gust of wind would come along & smack it into on of the fenders.

[lolife99]

So what's the plan?
Going small block?

[veinbar]

How many miles did your 454 have on it? Did it need a rebuild or was it just time? What was your fuel efficiency? I've always wondered about a BBC in my Square Body.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

So what's the plan?
Going small block?

Didn't get much positive feedback on the 408 swap so another generic 454 is going in. I'm re-thinking the top end though as much of a PITA this has been....

Originally Posted by veinbar

How many miles did your 454 have on it? Did it need a rebuild or was it just time? What was your fuel efficiency? I've always wondered about a BBC in my Square Body.

Truck has 135K on the clock. It was relatively trouble free until late march when I started losing water. I've been trying to sort it out (radiator, water pump, fresh hoses) but it persisted. Friday afternoon I was heading over to a buddies shop to analyze the fluids for contamination when it seized up in traffic (@ normal temp).

Previous owner stated 10-11mpgs but it was never that good for me.

[Low87]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Actually considered one of these but w/my luck, a gust of wind would come along & smack it into on of the fenders.

I screwed mine into the driveway while I was using it.

[lolife99]

Scot,... I know a guy that use to put on the early (late 60's-early 70's) oval port heads and intake,... and used a tbi adapter to keep the engine fuel injected.
He swore it was worth 100 hp.

Some good info here:
http://www.tbichips.com/454ss.htm

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Scot,... I know a guy that use to put on the early (late 60's-early 70's) oval port heads and intake,... and used a tbi adapter to keep the engine fuel injected.
He swore it was worth 100 hp.

Some good info here:
http://www.tbichips.com/454ss.htm

I've e-mailed them & we've been back & forth discussing options.

Weird thing is they recommended switching to a larger 750cfm TB & a single plane intake if I switched to the sbc (I wanted to utilize a Edel Perf-EGR intake I already have w/a TB adapter). They also recommended I not 'waste' the AFR's I thought of using (that are just sitting on a shelf gathering dust) & go w/Vortecs (different rockers, different tins, different intake, yada yada yada...).

As far as the standard ovals (vs the peanut ports), you can't find anything w/a small enough chamber for the smog blocks dished pistons. Go to an earlier block & you don't have the provisions for the electronics.

It makes me want to yank the TBI to swap in a spread-bore & HEI.
KISS....

[SBTork]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I've e-mailed them & we've been back & forth discussing options.

Weird thing is they recommended switching to a larger 750cfm TB & a single plane intake if I switched to the sbc (I wanted to utilize a Edel Perf-EGR intake I already have w/a TB adapter). They also recommended I not 'waste' the AFR's I thought of using (that are just sitting on a shelf gathering dust) & go w/Vortecs (different rockers, different tins, different intake, yada yada yada...).

As far as the standard ovals (vs the peanut ports), you can't find anything w/a small enough chamber for the smog blocks dished pistons. Go to an earlier block & you don't have the provisions for the electronics.

It makes me want to yank the TBI to swap in a spread-bore & HEI.
KISS....

the bold/italic lettering is what I was thinking. You'll be happy with TBI but in the end it will never be enough, nothing will. We ALL have the disease.

[SCOTI]

I sure wish I would have found my 'ahh-ha' item w/the pre-mature failure. Bottom end looks clean.
Lifter valley looks clean.
Top of heads look clean. No obvious breaches @ the head gaskets. End pieces of the intake gaskets broke off when removing the intake so it's difficult to tell there (it doesn't look like there's been a long time issue).

Lots of metallic floating around. I guess the rod and/or main bearings seized to the crank. Double row timing set & 4-bolt mains. The number on the top side pad matches the VIN number so it's in pretty good shape for the OE block. I didn't expect the pistons to look like they did so I'm researching the p/n's tonight. Rod ends were numbered so maybe it's been apart @ some point (did they stamp OE stuff?). IDK....

[N2TRUX]

Scot- I was at ACE Hardware yesterday and they had a pretty nice 10x10 pop up for 49.00. Add a couple of bungie cords and some free weights and your good to go. It makes it a LOT better. Throw in a hi-po fan and you are golden.

Sounds like its GM crate time to me.

[wyattglock]

Have you checked your oil pump screen? I know when I took my pan off and looked atthe screen, I found a huge ball of silicone blocking the pickup orifice. I have some pics in my build thread.

[Tx Firefighter]

I feel your pain Scot. I've got a 454 TBI dually myself that's using coolant and flattening the cam. I'm going small block on mine when I fix it. I figure I can buy a nice small block and all the little widgets to do the swap for less than a 454 will cost me.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I feel your pain Scot. I've got a 454 TBI dually myself that's using coolant and flattening the cam. I'm going small block on mine when I fix it. I figure I can buy a nice small block and all the little widgets to do the swap for less than a 454 will cost me.

A crate 454 is what I'd like to do but they're $3500 (rebuild) to $4200 (new) give or take. Local builder 'Blaines' has a 'premium long-block' for $1300 (assembled minus tins, spin tested for oil psi & compression check). You get what you bring them (2-bolt/4-bolt, steel or cast crank etc...). Still undecided.

I pulled the mains off for a quick inspection & the bearings were definitely DEAD.

[bigblock73]

I tore the top end off a 350 TBI in our old 90 Suburban...swore I would never do that again, lol!! So much BS in the way of everything!

[67_SS396]

Scot, if you decide to go carb, I have what looks to be a real new quadrajet that came off a fresh 454 I picked up two weeks ago. I'll let it go cheap since I don't truly know the history on it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

I tore the top end off a 350 TBI in our old 90 Suburban...swore I would never do that again, lol!! So much BS in the way of everything!

Exactly. Could you imagine trying to hoist some bbc iron heads out-of/into place?? I give many kudos to guys that do this kind of stuff daily. I guess that's why (these days) dealerships just hoist the complete body up & out of the way when servicing medium to HD trucks.

Originally Posted by 67_SS396

Scot, if you decide to go carb, I have what looks to be a real new quadrajet that came off a fresh 454 I picked up two weeks ago

Thanks....I'll keep it in mind.

[Desert1957]

You have a PM

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

A crate 454 is what I'd like to do but they're $3500 (rebuild) to $4200 (new) give or take. Local builder 'Blaines' has a 'premium long-block' for $1300 (assembled minus tins, spin tested for oil psi & compression check). You get what you bring them (2-bolt/4-bolt, steel or cast crank etc...). Still undecided.

I pulled the mains off for a quick inspection & the bearings were definitely DEAD.

I think I would still go the Blaine's route. more money and time to put into the '64. No mods, just hit the key and go.

Originally Posted by bigblock73

I tore the top end off a 350 TBI in our old 90 Suburban...swore I would never do that again, lol!! So much BS in the way of everything!

When I did the engine in my '87, I was actually pleasantly suprised by the lack of stuff to make it go. I was expecting something similar to an '86. Those super suck. Seems like theamount of lines/hoses, etc was about the same swapping the TBI in place of the 2 bbl carb in the '74.

[D.FENS]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Actually considered one of these but w/my luck, a gust of wind would come along & smack it into on of the fenders.

I use a pop up tent working in my driveway.

Put foam pipe insulation on the legs. Drywall screws will somewhat hold the tent down if you're on asphalt. Sandbags work better on concrete (or gravel).