what knd of cars will a 454 big block fit in???

[rydinturbo]

i was windering what kinda of cars a 454 big block wid fit in?? what year camros would it fit in with not alot of problems ty

[rav440]

67-81 for sure with some mods . " motor mounts , exhaust manifolds / headers , springs . " unless ofcourse it was already a bigblock car 67-72 then you dont really have to do much at all .

[Layla's Keeper]

The big block Camaros were 396's and a handful of 427's for the first gen and the second gen cars never received anything bigger than a 396 from the factory (there were the 454 Baldwin Motion cars, however).

A 454 swap into the 1st and early second gen cars isn't too difficult. The biggest hang-ups are transmission tunnel clearance, motor mounts, and exhaust routing, as well as spacing against the inner fenders. Also, it's advised that you check and recheck the upper control arms' range of movement as you progress with the swap as the arms sit practically beneath the cylinder heads on big-block Camaros.

However, a Camaro is not the ideal recipient for a 454. Their unibody chassis have a tendency towards twisting around a built 454 and their longitudinal leaf spring rear suspensions lead to extreme wheel hop under full throttle launches.

454's are most at home in Chevelles, Monte Carlos, Impalas, and El Caminos, the cars that received them from the factory. Big block Chevelles are particularly easy to find as 1968 to 1973 (last year of the big block in the Chevelle) examples. Personal choice would be the 1969, which only came with a 396 (except for a few COPO 427's) but as the same frame received the 454 in 1970, the swap is direct bolt-in.

Big block Monte Carlos were around in 1970-71, and while they weren't common the parts to drop the 454 into a 350 example are still available. Again, factory bolt-in.

Finally, the Impala. The Impala wasn't much for performance in 1970 when it dropped the 427 and gained the 454, but it was still a big coupe with an attitude when so equipped. Furthermore, Impalas had the 396/427 engine stretching all the way back to 1965, so thusly it's incredibly easy to drop a built 454 into a big Impala's engine bay.

And, of course, the El Camino is simply a Chevelle with a bed. So the Chevelle comments hold for the Elky.

Also worth mentioning is that the C3 Corvette platform used the 454 as its top engine option from 1970 to 1974. C3 Corvettes are particularly cheap and plentiful so the swap can be done relatively inexpensively thanks to restoration parts, however be forewarned that the Corvette IRS has a tendency to break halfshafts with built big blocks producing the power. It's well advised that if you undertake the Vette swap, you go through the rear suspension and driveline THOROUGHLY.

[rydinturbo]

ok thanks u guys do u think it wil fet in a like 93 impala those r pretty big. the reson i dont really wont to buy and old car rite know is becuse they cost alot if there in good condition and i dont want to resote 1 rite now. my dream mucle car would ne a 1969 camro, but what newer cars like 80s up will they fit in

thank you

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, Tim Allen did have a 502 powered Impala with a Borg-Warner six speed built, so it's obviously possible. I even think that the big-block Impala is a GM Performance Parts kit.

However, don't quote me on that and understand that once you start futzing with cars that have tons of electronics and vacuum piping and the like you start to get into pain-in-the-ass territory, especially if you're putting in an engine never intended for the car.

[stanger42]

i had a friend in high school who had a 68 galaxie 500 that he put a 454 in...but with enough blood, sweat, tears, and money you can get a 454 to fit damned near anything

[calgary_redneck]

Originally Posted by Layla's Keeper

The big block Camaros were 396's and a handful of 427's for the first gen and the second gen cars never received anything bigger than a 396 from the factory (there were the 454 Baldwin Motion cars, however).

A 454 swap into the 1st and early second gen cars isn't too difficult. The biggest hang-ups are transmission tunnel clearance, motor mounts, and exhaust routing, as well as spacing against the inner fenders. Also, it's advised that you check and recheck the upper control arms' range of movement as you progress with the swap as the arms sit practically beneath the cylinder heads on big-block Camaros.

However, a Camaro is not the ideal recipient for a 454. Their unibody chassis have a tendency towards twisting around a built 454 and their longitudinal leaf spring rear suspensions lead to extreme wheel hop under full throttle launches.

454's are most at home in Chevelles, Monte Carlos, Impalas, and El Caminos, the cars that received them from the factory. Big block Chevelles are particularly easy to find as 1968 to 1973 (last year of the big block in the Chevelle) examples. Personal choice would be the 1969, which only came with a 396 (except for a few COPO 427's) but as the same frame received the 454 in 1970, the swap is direct bolt-in.

Big block Monte Carlos were around in 1970-71, and while they weren't common the parts to drop the 454 into a 350 example are still available. Again, factory bolt-in.

Finally, the Impala. The Impala wasn't much for performance in 1970 when it dropped the 427 and gained the 454, but it was still a big coupe with an attitude when so equipped. Furthermore, Impalas had the 396/427 engine stretching all the way back to 1965, so thusly it's incredibly easy to drop a built 454 into a big Impala's engine bay.

And, of course, the El Camino is simply a Chevelle with a bed. So the Chevelle comments hold for the Elky.

Also worth mentioning is that the C3 Corvette platform used the 454 as its top engine option from 1970 to 1974. C3 Corvettes are particularly cheap and plentiful so the swap can be done relatively inexpensively thanks to restoration parts, however be forewarned that the Corvette IRS has a tendency to break halfshafts with built big blocks producing the power. It's well advised that if you undertake the Vette swap, you go through the rear suspension and driveline THOROUGHLY.

I have done many bb swaps on 1st and 2nd gen camaro's and nova's
-inner fender clearance has never been as issue these cars where designed to fit bb's
-bb engine mounts are easily bought and bolt in where the sb ones were, sb mounts will work too btw
-trans tunnel clearance isn't a problem if you keep the th350
-I have never seen one with stock suspection have clearance problems from the upper control arms
-exhaust especially headers can be a tight fit depending on brand

[stanger42]

I've also now seen a 454 shoehorned into an old Datsun 240Z.

[MagicRat]

holy ancient threads, Batman. I think this thread ran its course about 5 years ago.
Thread closed.