Stingray vette Big Block swap HELP !!!!!!!!

[tinkoo]

Hi!
I purchased a '74 Chevy Camper Special with a 454 (some work done to the motor, 30 over bore, rv cam and a few other things by previous owner and runs very, very smooth). I paid 2400CDN for the entire pick-up truck and will be able to sell off the rest for salvage as it is a bucket.

I have bought this with the intensions of swaping the motor into my '76 Stingray.
Now i get the feeling that I may have paid a little too much so before I get into my wallet I need your advice.

What might be considered the best option for someone looking for power but not wanting to put too big of a dent in his

1. Tune the 454.
2a. Turn the 454 motor into a stroker 496.
2b. Buy a bare 454 block and then start from scratch making it a 496 stroker.

If you chose the stroker then is it smarter for me to sell off the pickup considering the money it cost me and using that money to start off from scratch.

THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES

[MrPbody]

I'm of the opinion, if you like the mid-era Corvette, and want it to drive like a 'vette, but want '60s-style power, build a 383 small block. The '76 was not available from Chevy with the big block. It can easily be installed, as all the parts from a '68-'74 would "fit". (I believe I've seen 1 '75 that was truly original with 454)

A 400 HP 454 is fairly economical to "build" if you already own the core. The 496 is a BEAST. It would easily over-power the chassis. That IRS won't last long behind a high torque engine, either.

Consider selling the BBC and the truck, and using the funds to build the small block. A 383 makes near big block torque numbers, and is very reliable, as well as 300 lbs. lighter than the 454.

Jim

[SMOKSHO]

I agree with MrPbody, the 496 will eat up the IRS. Also with any big block in your Vette you will have cooling issues with stock system. There are many new 383 kits out there when used with a good set of heads can make great power numbers. I just finished a 383 that is internally balanced so I could use a 350 balancer and flywheel and am very happy with its performance.

[MrPbody]

Smoksho,

You're right! We built a 383 for a Dutch customer building a Cobra "kit" (I DID tell him, Cobras use Ford engines, but he said "Not in Europe..."). The engine made 495 HP and 425 lb. ft. of torque. It should spin that little kit car around in circles... I'd LOVE to be a fly on the dash when he hammered it the first time. The look on his face would be priceless! It was an Eagle kit (forged crank version) and Dart Pro1 heads, Comp XE cam, Performer RPM Air Gap, 1 3/4" stainless headers, AED 750HO, MSD, etc...

Jim