Big block Chevy pricing

[Smokintire70]

I'm looking to build a BBC to withstand somewhere in the 700-850 horse power but only push it to about 475-520 in hopes of it lasting. It would start its life as a 454. I need a recomendation of what generation to use too.
I need junkyard pricing on a a few things. (Below)
1. Block
2. Complete engine

[davepl]

850 naturally aspirated horsepower would require some serious RPM, which in turn would require some very high dollar parts.

If you mean just the -bottom- end should be able to withstand it, then any four-bolt high-nickel block would do. I'm a big fan of the 512 castings, which were the 427/390, 427/425, and so on. They're only 2-bolt but you can drill them, and I'd rather have a splayed setup than a factory 4-bolt if I had my choice, so that's how I'd go.

Good news is that 2-bolt 454 blocks are cheap like dirt. I've been selling complete running 396s with standard bore for $600, so a 454 should be in the same ballpark I'd figure. But it's the machining and parts that'll get you, of course.

Unless you're going to be a full race setup, stick to oval ports (or better yet, the ZZ502 style "roval", or rectangular-oval, ports). For your horsepower level target they're ideal, and you don't lose all the port velocity like you do with a rectangular port.

Then add two turbos and yer done!

Will vBulletin fix sideways photos for 2017? Only time will tell, but I'm done rotating them by hand!

[70STOVEBOLT]

Sideways pics are an iPhone thing, if you take the pic "landscape style" it will post properly here I have found.

[57taskforce]

I've thought about a vortec 7.4 out of a late 90s truck off and on in the past. The earlier style high flowing aftermarket heads will bolt up and you don't have to spring extra coin for a hydraulic roller cam. You also get a one piece rear main. The one down side is no mechanical fuel pump provision.

[68bowtie]

i've got this one for sale. these are the heads everyone is looking for…

http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/5926440310.html

[100%Chevy]

I have a 99,454 vortec nobody wants!
Around here a mark 4,454,4 bolt truck engine can be had for around $500.00 running.Usually they're motorhome engines.
I have a couple of them in my stuff.
Mike.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Sideways pics are an iPhone thing, if you take the pic "landscape style" it will post properly here I have found.

It's a forum bug (in the forum software, not in the way the admins use it). All images have an orientation field, but the forum software either loses it in the uploading or fails to respect it when it renders a page containing an image. I don't know which.

Also, if you look at the Image Properties for the image within the JPG itself, it's clear that the image I uploaded is 3024 wide and 4032 high. It doesn't get shown that way.

You could make it always work by always taking pics in landscape, since that's what the forum assumes. If I'm taking a picture FOR the forum, I will. But if I'm posting a photo I took for other purposes TO the forum, the forum should deal with it. But since it doesn't, they're sideways.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Dave, I did not realize it was a forum thing. I wonder if something happened a while back when they upgraded the server?

[davepl]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Dave, I did not realize it was a forum thing. I wonder if something happened a while back when they upgraded the server?

Dunno, but here it is from the horses's mouth (vBulletin senior tech):

"They need to make sure their orientation is correct before they upload them. We don't use the EXIF data to determine orientation. Facebook goes out of their way to fix it. We do not yet do this."

Which means, in layman's terms:

"The user will need to manually pre-rotate their images in a paint program because we're too lazy/cheap/whatever to read the EXIF data and figure it out for them".

It's up to vBulletin to fix it, so far as I can tell. Forum owners can "vote" on it being an important feature to fix here:

https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/foru...-auto-rotating

[67 chevelle]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

i've got this one for sale. these are the heads everyone is looking for…

http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/5926440310.html

Those are great heads , would be a great starting point for someone , add a roller cam , the supporting valvetrain , and fuel injection , and the numbers , 475-500 hp are right there . I had a similar engine 461 with 049 heads [basicly the same casting ] and it whipped out 550 hp and close to 600 torque

[ss454conv]

Not exactly what your talking about but might be worth checking out since it is on the west coast.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/60-w...mbo-worth.html

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

i've got this one for sale. these are the heads everyone is looking for…

http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/5926440310.html

Where you located? I am interested in the 781 heads.

Thanks,

-klb

[bbcmudtruck]

For starters, HP cost money. Big reliable HP costs ALOT of money! In short, a well thought out 496 build will get you close to your desired upper end numbers of 700hp. There are guys over on TeamChevelle.com cranking out 496 pump gas motors with those numbers fairly often. You can expect to spend $7500-12500 if you simply order it from a builder and pick it up when its done. People might be quick to argue that you can build it for less, and in some instances you might be able to. That would completely depend on your abilities to source parts, catch good deals, and assemble the motor yourself.

For your completely realistic goal of 475-520, expect to spend somewhere in the $3500-$7500 range. Again, depending on what you have to start with and your capabilities. A well thought out stock stroke bbc can get you those numbers by using a lot production parts. If you can find a good mk4 motor with 781 or 049 heads, you'd be ahead of the curve.

[James the III]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

i've got this one for sale. these are the heads everyone is looking for…

http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/5926440310.html

I wish I could find a set that wasn't junk . that wasn't 3-5 thousand miles away.

been eye balling AFR 300cc ovals.. but I'd need to water cool my wallet..

[James the III]

Originally Posted by bbcmudtruck

For starters, HP cost money. Big reliable HP costs ALOT of money! In short, a well thought out 496 build will get you close to your desired upper end numbers of 700hp. There are guys over on TeamChevelle.com cranking out 496 pump gas motors with those numbers fairly often. You can expect to spend $7500-12500 if you simply order it from a builder and pick it up when its done. People might be quick to argue that you can build it for less, and in some instances you might be able to. That would completely depend on your abilities to source parts, catch good deals, and assemble the motor yourself.

For your completely realistic goal of 475-520, expect to spend somewhere in the $3500-$7500 range. Again, depending on what you have to start with and your capabilities. A well thought out stock stroke bbc can get you those numbers by using a lot production parts. If you can find a good mk4 motor with 781 or 049 heads, you'd be ahead of the curve.

Yup..
but the 496 stroker kits/parts have come down in price..
and you have to be careful as some kits are cast steel cranks, not forged..

I'd have to look but I want to say my 489 rotating (h beam, internal balanced forged crank, 6.3"rods length, and je pistons, rings, bearings, ati balancer, and flexplate, ) was just over 3000.oo in 2003
The roller cam 1100.00
the complete 454 core 400.00
Then all the supporting parts 3 piece timing cover, hex-a-just timing set
oil pan and pick up
pump
head studs main studs, the list goes on..
I'm sure it'll be 11-12 k when it's all said and done..
Then the rest of the drivetrain to handle it..

[davischevy]

I like my big blocks to look original in these old rides, but GM is making hard to stay with that thinking, with the Connect and Cruise offerings.

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance...ruise-ls3.html


For that same $11,000 you can have a dependable LS with overdrive.

Don't get me wrong, $11,000 is a lot of money, but as my engine builder answers when asked "how much is it going to cost" his answer "how fast do you want to go?'

[James the III]

Originally Posted by davischevy

I like my big blocks to look original in these old rides, but GM is making hard to stay with that thinking, with the Connect and Cruise offerings.

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance...ruise-ls3.html


For that same $11,000 you can have a dependable LS with overdrive.

Don't get me wrong, $11,000 is a lot of money, but as my engine builder answers when asked "how much is it going to cost" his answer "how fast do you want to go?'

No different than back when the bbc was a in production.. you could get a ls6 454 at the parts counter for not that much.
The LS is on it's way out.. So how long G.m. will keep the L.S in the crate motor pipe line, before going into the direct injection LT.. is any ones guess..
I know one thing.. even with the craze over the LS and everyone dumping one in their rides.. big block parts have not gotten any cheaper

[CST10]

Originally Posted by 67 chevelle

Those are great heads , would be a great starting point for someone , add a roller cam , the supporting valvetrain , and fuel injection , and the numbers , 475-500 hp are right there . I had a similar engine 461 with 049 heads [basicly the same casting ] and it whipped out 550 hp and close to 600 torque

I'm gunna agree here. I've got a 462 (454 bored 0.040" over), 049 heads with a very mild cam .218/.224 with .510 lift (very small) and a 770 avenger carb. Dyno'ed out at 438HP/482TQ all below 5200 RPMs. Strong smooth street able truck engine with around 11 MPG if I keep my foot outta it.

[hdff]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Sideways pics are an iPhone thing, if you take the pic "landscape style" it will post properly here I have found.

How do I take landscape style on my iPhone? Just turn it sideways?

[hdff]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Sideways pics are an iPhone thing, if you take the pic "landscape style" it will post properly here I have found.

How do I take landscape style on my iPhone? Just turn it sideways?

[James the III]

Originally Posted by hdff

How do I take landscape style on my iPhone? Just turn it sideways?

yes with the shutter button (on screen) on the right..
lefties are screwed as it post upside down.. as we tend to put the shutter button on the screen on the left side

[GASoline71]

Why would you want to ever put that much cash into an engine to run 850ish HP and then "not push it" past 520ish. Unless I read the question/comment wrong.

Total waste of time and money when you can build a 454 to make 500 HP without even trying.

Most people have never even felt what 500 HP really feels like. It plants your butt in the seat toot-sweet... so no need to "overbuild" a BBC to achieve 500 HP.

Gary

[ranger danger]

Originally Posted by davischevy

I like my big blocks to look original in these old rides, but GM is making hard to stay with that thinking, with the Connect and Cruise offerings.

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance...ruise-ls3.html


For that same $11,000 you can have a dependable LS with overdrive.

Don't get me wrong, $11,000 is a lot of money, but as my engine builder answers when asked "how much is it going to cost" his answer "how fast do you want to go?'

Speed costs! How fast do you want to spend!