big block chevy's

AMT's SS454 pickup and the companion Stepside Chevy both have 454's in them, but with 700R4 transmissions.  They aer later model 454's.  IF you want older style pickup the Heavy Chevy 1970 Chevelle Kit.  Reasonable detail on the engine.

navypitsnipe wrote:

squeakie wrote:  navypitsnipe wrote:   wow more info than i need. sounds like this should be in a automotive forum on a automtive web site, except for the ",unless you want to do all the electronics" part, since almost all electronics now days are plug and go. but yeah my plan was to find a TH400 to mate to a AM bell housing to put on the 454, this would most likely mean i would have to do some mods to the trans tunnel of the interior tub but that's all just part of the fun of modeling isn't it?     also, i'm still trying to figure out the "non-automotive" part of GM, one of lifes many wonders my brother is a somewhat known engine builder, and I have to hear about this and that everytime I drop by for a spell. He's done a lot of big block Chevys over the years, but the first thing he does is toss the block! Chevy uses two different 427 blocks, and he always goes for the tall deck block. This straitens out the rod angularity problems that seem to haunt most all Chevys 350cu.in. or larger. NASCAR engines are always built on long rod blocks (they learned this from the sprint car guys). This makes for a flatter horsepower and torque curve.     A TH400 is a direct bolt in to the 454, and is a nice transmission. Takes a little more horsepower to drive it, but dosn't break. Don't let the fools talk you into a Powerglide! In a race car they are OK, but need a really tall rear gear to launch. A three speed transmission eliminates this.     Speaking of interesting engines, my brother is about to take delivery of three NASCAR P7 hemis for a total massage. As I hear it one is going into a very light weight Duster with about 650hp. Transmission will be a tall geared five speed manual, and the car will weigh in at about 2800lb. One of the others is going to find a home in an aluminum front end 1964 Plymouth that's been on a major weight program. Must be nice to have money. gary     (would have put the drooling smiley but i couldn't find it) sounds like one BA duster

I have no idea who owns it, but he calls it a "Saturday night special." The 64 Plymouth without engine or transmission weighs in at about 1900lb.!! It was a factory hemi car (the very first ones with the small Carter carbs and standard wheel base). That car ran 11.0's with a well massaged street hemi in it (Rat Roaster intake, a Racer Brown 72R roller cam and a 5.38 gear). What makes me mad is the guy that owned the car just sold it the otherday to another guy we know, and didn't tell me! The aluminium on that car was virtually mint! Do you have any idea how rare a standard wheel base two door hardtop hemi car is in 1964? It's only the second one I've ever heard of. All were steel front end single four barrel motors for NASCAR. A non cut up body like that with a race hemi in it (correct year of course) is probably worth a half million at the minimum (race car blocks are not serial numbered). Anyway it's gonna have a new P7 hemi in it this spring.

gary

squeakie wrote:

navypitsnipe wrote:   wow more info than i need. sounds like this should be in a automotive forum on a automtive web site, except for the ",unless you want to do all the electronics" part, since almost all electronics now days are plug and go. but yeah my plan was to find a TH400 to mate to a AM bell housing to put on the 454, this would most likely mean i would have to do some mods to the trans tunnel of the interior tub but that's all just part of the fun of modeling isn't it?     also, i'm still trying to figure out the "non-automotive" part of GM, one of lifes many wonders my brother is a somewhat known engine builder, and I have to hear about this and that everytime I drop by for a spell. He's done a lot of big block Chevys over the years, but the first thing he does is toss the block! Chevy uses two different 427 blocks, and he always goes for the tall deck block. This straitens out the rod angularity problems that seem to haunt most all Chevys 350cu.in. or larger. NASCAR engines are always built on long rod blocks (they learned this from the sprint car guys). This makes for a flatter horsepower and torque curve.     A TH400 is a direct bolt in to the 454, and is a nice transmission. Takes a little more horsepower to drive it, but dosn't break. Don't let the fools talk you into a Powerglide! In a race car they are OK, but need a really tall rear gear to launch. A three speed transmission eliminates this.     Speaking of interesting engines, my brother is about to take delivery of three NASCAR P7 hemis for a total massage. As I hear it one is going into a very light weight Duster with about 650hp. Transmission will be a tall geared five speed manual, and the car will weigh in at about 2800lb. One of the others is going to find a home in an aluminum front end 1964 Plymouth that's been on a major weight program. Must be nice to have money. gary

  (would have put the drooling smiley but i couldn't find it) sounds like one BA duster

navypitsnipe wrote:

wow more info than i need. sounds like this should be in a automotive forum on a automtive web site, except for the ",unless you want to do all the electronics" part, since almost all electronics now days are plug and go. but yeah my plan was to find a TH400 to mate to a AM bell housing to put on the 454, this would most likely mean i would have to do some mods to the trans tunnel of the interior tub but that's all just part of the fun of modeling isn't it?     also, i'm still trying to figure out the "non-automotive" part of GM, one of lifes many wonders

my brother is a somewhat known engine builder, and I have to hear about this and that everytime I drop by for a spell. He's done a lot of big block Chevys over the years, but the first thing he does is toss the block! Chevy uses two different 427 blocks, and he always goes for the tall deck block. This straitens out the rod angularity problems that seem to haunt most all Chevys 350cu.in. or larger. NASCAR engines are always built on long rod blocks (they learned this from the sprint car guys). This makes for a flatter horsepower and torque curve.

    A TH400 is a direct bolt in to the 454, and is a nice transmission. Takes a little more horsepower to drive it, but dosn't break. Don't let the fools talk you into a Powerglide! In a race car they are OK, but need a really tall rear gear to launch. A three speed transmission eliminates this.

    Speaking of interesting engines, my brother is about to take delivery of three NASCAR P7 hemis for a total massage. As I hear it one is going into a very light weight Duster with about 650hp. Transmission will be a tall geared five speed manual, and the car will weigh in at about 2800lb. One of the others is going to find a home in an aluminum front end 1964 Plymouth that's been on a major weight program. Must be nice to have money.

gary

  wow more info than i need. sounds like this should be in a automotive forum on a automtive web site, except for the ",unless you want to do all the electronics" part, since almost all electronics now days are plug and go. but yeah my plan was to find a TH400 to mate to a AM bell housing to put on the 454, this would most likely mean i would have to do some mods to the trans tunnel of the interior tub but that's all just part of the fun of modeling isn't it?

also, i'm still trying to figure out the "non-automotive" part of GM, one of lifes many wonders

navypitsnipe wrote:

thanks for the info squeakie. either way does anyone know where i can get one, i also have a '78 El Camino that needs a heart transplant

I used to work for a "non-automotive" division of G.M., and we had so many 502's laying around that you actually lost count of them! My suggestion is to look for a deal on a crate motor, and then rebuild it as soon as you get it (nobody byuilds a good crate motor anymore). Remember that if you opt for a crate motor you want one that's setup to not use a CPU, unless you want to go ahead and do all the electronics. Secondly all the better automatic transmissions will require a CPU as well (4L60E / 4L80 etc). Best combo would be a 70's 427 and a TH400. But I think I'd go with a 383 crate motor.

gary

navypitsnipe wrote:

ooops don't i feel like a moron, lol. well i guess i'll just put a bigger carb on it.

actually there is no real physical difference between the 454 and the 396 when comparing the 396/375hp or 425hp and the 454. They carbs all look the same on the outside. There was a 427 tall deck motor, but even then the deck would only be 3/4" or 1" taller (can't remember). Some 427 (L88 for one) and 454's came with aluminium heads (this engine is heavier than a late modle hemi), and they were not painted as well as the intakes.

gary

IIRC the 396ci and 454ci big blocks are the same blocks and heads and only the bore and stroke are different.

Since the 454ci didn't come out until 1970, you sure you want to put one in the Impala? The 396ci put out a very respectable 425hp.