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

[barn9]

You might want to look at Yukon Jack's posts of late to get an idea of the problems that can arise. Not trying to tell you what to do, but if it were me, I would spend that grand on a good small block that would go right in there. But I'm getting old, and don't like to create more work than is necessary, LOL!

[gaddman]

Yeah, I am watching that post. Mine is a 2wd, and I'll be going with the auto tranny, so I should have less mechanics to worry about. And I have no issues with moving it forward a little to get clearance. I wonder if lowering it (2" in front) will cause more problems, though. I thought some of the 2wd trucks came with big blocks?

This board is the best, and I appreciate the help!
Greg

[jamie72]

good seein somone sooo close to me!!
yea quite a few of these trucks come out with bb(2wd only) so it would not be a problem installing one in yours,i think on a 2wd you really only need a high hump tranny tunnel in your cab,not sure but you may already have one,if not you can install one in your cab..but not positive you have to have one.. every thing else will bolt in.
good luck

[1-PU70]

You dont need a high hump. I put a BB in my 70 low hump with no problem. You might need a 4 core rad, motor mounts and fan and shroud that are correct for your truck. The AC comprser might be on the drivers side but no big deal.

[gaddman]

Ok, well I went to look at it today. It's a 79, not an 89. It was a big RV that he had gutted and partitioned to make a vending/concession stand kinda thing. He ended up not being able to title it, so he took all his metal tubing out and scraped everything except the rolling chasis. It still has part of the front end in tact, and it starts and runs great. The dash is still there and reads 16,000 miles. He said he believed the mileage to be true. He bought it off the children of the original owners who are now deceased. Here's my thoughts in no particular order.

- Block number 861959. Could be 2 or 4 bolt main. Did not take a valve cover off to get a head number.

- The carb (q-jet) has just been rebuilt, looks absolutely brand new.

- The steering column is a super tight auto, tilt, no key, like the vans....which I can use.

- It has a huge stabilizer bar in front that I can use. An even huger(?) one in the rear that I might try to use. I swear it looks like 2 1/2" solid steel. Might be too big to use in my truck :-)

- No computer controlled carb, dist, or tranny.

- I starts and runs great, although I could not actually drive it. No smoke, knocks, and it goes in gear and pulls.

- Engine is not caked up with grease, just some rust from sitting. Looks like original engine paint, and no gasket sealer oozing or anything. Looks to be low mileage.

- One exhaust manifold is cracked and leaking. It's on one end and I think I can weld it, but may want headers anyway.

- Radiator is in great shape, but does not have filler on top. It comes out at the top-right-front and has a 4" or so tube that goes up to the cap. Obviously because of accessiblilty.

- The power steering pump does not have a filler cap. It also has an extension hose that runs up to the front of the engine compartment.

- The brakes also have the extension going up to a remote reservoir.

In summary, it looks like I can use the motor mount brackets to get the engine mounted. I can also convert my manual tranny crossmember to an automatic type and the tranny should fit. So I should be able to bolt the engine and tranny up fairly easily. It looks like my problems come in with the accessories. What brackets to use my A/C? Or can I use the RV A/C compressor with my system? What do I do about a power steering pump and/or brackets? I guess I could have the radiator modified to move the filler to the top left, or else it would look goofy if it would even work. Plus I get a nice tilt column, and a heavy sway bar. I've done a few small blocks in our trucks, but I've never owned or worked on a BB. So I really don't know exactly what I'm getting into as far as all the accessories. I also took a few pics if you think it would help.

Now what do y'all think?
Thanks!

[lukecp]

I'd do it for $1000 bucks. A running 454 and TH400 along with the extra spare parts is easily worth it

[gaddman]

Here's some pics. Not real pretty, and a real weird configuration. And I've got him down to $800 for the whole contraption...hd dually rear end and all.

[superchevy]

Hi Gaddman,
Dropping a 454 in the '68, huh?
Sweet.
Keep us posted.
Later,
SC

[gaddman]

Hey SC, long time no see! Yeah, it's time I got the 68 on the road. It's just been sitting in the garage since I got it from you. I could rebuild the 307 and it would do just fine for me, but a 454 would just be cool! Good the hear from you.

[72C203503ONTHETREE]

I believe that that 454 will have the peanut intake port heads, which are smaller than a good set of small block heads. I'd bet that it does have four bolt mains and a steel crank, but youd have to drop the pan to be sure. Its definately a turbo 400 trans to. You will have to move your crossmember back a few inches and shorten your driveshaft a bit and put the turbo 400 yoke on the shortened driveshaft. As far as the power sterering goes, just use the brackets and pump(if its still good) thats on the engine. You will of course need the lines and power steering gearbox, you can get those at any parts store. I dont think that radiator will work, looks like its too tall and isnt wide like the ones that are in the regualr pickups. That doesnt look like a 1 ton or lower frame either. Is the rear the 14 bolt FF? Youre still getting a good deal. If it does have the small port heads, you can always find the larger oval port heads and a good intake later for not too much money.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

hell ya I d do it !!!!!! Wait I did do it but did not get as a good a deal as you will!!!!

[69 Short Fleet]

Wow is that ground strap (head to frame) ever HUGE!!! I've never seen one that wide before. Ya, if you have the time and resources I would put that engine the truck. It sounds like your approaching it in the right way. You might want to do a compression check before you put it in just as a little insurance, regards Doug

[ryanroo]

id say do it. ive also heard that some RV's came with a TH475 tranny. from what im told this is just a factory th400 that was beefed up a little. maybe you'd get lucky and score an extra heavy duty tranny
Ryan

[Hooter]

I had a 307 in in my 69 stock, and it got just as bad of gas milage as my 454 does now, but the 307 was a total dog, if the 454 runs that good, clean it up paint it orange and you are set, even if it is a 2 bolt main 454, the mains on those things are still very huge and having a 4 bolt 454 wouldnt give you too much benefit anyways, the valvetrain will go before the bottom end will

[Tx Firefighter]

Brother, I've been in your shoes and done exactly the same thing....

[Tx Firefighter]

I just cleaned the engine up and painted it orange.

Also, the motorhome tilt column is a straight in swap. They don't need any shortnening like a van column does. Mine came out of the motorhome too.

[gaddman]

Very Cool Tx Firefighter! I went ahead and bought the thing this morning. After I got it home ($60 tow bill), the first thing I did was put the battery on a charger and pull the valve covers. Head casting is 336781. I was suprised to see one of the push rods was bent and broke, and another had come out from under the rocker. A couple of the valves had stuck from sitting so long. A little oil and a little work got them opening and closing fine. And a trip to autozone for a couple of new pushrods and it was purring like a kitten. The carb is like brand new and this thing starts and runs great! I even took it down the road just enough to make sure it shifts through all the gears. I hope no one got pictures of that. No seat, just enough floor left to stand at the wheel :-) And it was super clean under the valve covers. I believe the mileage is correct at 16k. I got it all out and on the floor now. Ready to clean up and paint. Thanks for all the replies and help! I'm sure I'll be back when I go to hook it up.

Greg

[lukecp]

781 heads? Sweet.....if i'm not mistaken those are the desirable oval port BBC heads. I would say you did good for $850, a BBC, TH400, tilt collumn, and HD rearend. Good buy

[Longhorn Man]

You HAVE to get a pic of that thing going down the road like that!

[Bluebelle]

I had a truck with a 454 and TH400 in it. I loved it. the only problem I had was that I snapped a drive line and broke two rear ends. You'll need to beef that up a little. You'll probably need some sway bars too if you have leaf springs in the back. The back end is so light you'll never take off with out spinning. Let me know what you run into. I just bough a '67 with a 327 and am thinking about going to a 454. Never put one in myself. Keep us posted.

[ckhd]

I don't see what the problem is. I would have already given him the $800 and had that thing home.

[moneyguru]

what you haven't finished install it yet?

[gaddman]

Ok already! It is installed....in my mind anyway. I gotta get all the parts I want to keep off the frame and get rid of this monster. Anyone interested in the frame and/or rear end? Any suggestions on something to make out of it? A trailer or wagon maybe?

I'm gonna put a Transgo shift kit in the tranny while it's out, and new seals. Gotta get the motor painted too. Then I gotta pull the truck in and start ripping stuff out. Getting ready to have fun!

[67shortie]

Originally Posted by yellow72custom

781 heads? Sweet.....if i'm not mistaken those are the desirable oval port BBC heads. I would say you did good for $850, a BBC, TH400, tilt collumn, and HD rearend. Good buy

Yes, they are an excellent open chamber oval head, but that engine may have flat top pistons in it=low compression. Either way, great score and have a blast installing it in your truck...

I have got to find me a motorhome on a GM chassis for that tilt column