87 Caprice 350 to 454 engine swap

[ernestmayhandsr]

I've got a 454 and a 400 trani ready to be rebuilt. I've got a '87 Caprice Landau with a worn out 350 in it. The previous owner swapped the original 305 out for the 350 which is out of a Suburban I was told. So I'm considering rebuilding this 454 and the 400 trani for the Caprice. Can you put a 454 in a '87 Caprice? Anybody got any tips, advice, or discouragements? Know of any products to make the swap more streamlined? Thanks, Ernest.

[CD Smalley]

Seen it done plenty of times. I don't the details though. I've got some pictures around here some where....

[ernestmayhandsr]

Thanks for the reply CD Smalley, I was certain that somebody's done it. I'm hoping there may be a kit that would help out. I'm researching all over the place. Ernest.

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

The great thing about Chevys are the interchangeability. It should mostly be a bolt together process. What is the 454 from? You will need an oil pan from a passanger car, truck pans are deeper. A high-rise intake and a tall air cleaner? Then you will need a cowl induction hood (speedcenter.com has some cool cowl scoops).
The only problems I can relate to is making an extra effort to keep the air conditioning and locating the proper radiator.
You'll need some specialty items like a proper exhaust system and a custom drive shaft. Can you relocate the stock crossmember? You will probably have to fabricate something there too.

It sounds like a cool project, and it is doable. If you think you can swing it, then go for it.
Keep us posted on progress.

[bobss396]

I think that it'll be easier than you think if the TH400 is a short-tail. Which will match up (length wise) with what the Caprice has. You should be able to use your driveshaft IF the TH400 yoke will mate up to it. The long-tailed TH400s came in some suburbans and wagons, you will probably need to get a drive shaft made up for it, which is not that expensive.

If you can sit the 454 and a 350 side by side with a tape measure, you'll probably answer most of your questions. I've never seen a kit for this swap but it should go pretty well.

Bob

[78capricecl]

One thing that I though of was the 454 is heavier than the 350, and you may need to go with 9C1 front springs. Another though, but it is expensive, you can get serpentine belt kits to make mounting your accerssories very easisly if you don't have brackets, or the brackets won't fit under the hood for the 454.

[1968 Pontiac]

Remove the sb. Remove the motor mounts from the sb and install on the bb. If your using an engine hoist plate that bolts to the carb mount on the intake, leave the tranny attached as the engine balances nicely for removal/install. (I've never used the lifting points attached to the engines, so I don't know how well that balances) You'll need a drive shaft yoke for each tranny to stop the tranny fluid from dumping out the tail shaft onto your driveway/floor. Go buy a new three core rad for your car. A new one for my 85 lesabre cost $5.00 more than the standard two core rad. You'll have to modiy the rubber red mounts to hold the thicker tanks, or go to the wrecker and find some on any vehicle with thick tanks. Think pick up/wagon. If you want dual exhaust for the bb, and you will, go to the wrecker and get a tranny crossmember from a 94-96 caprice/roadmonster/cadi brougham. If not you have to modify your crossmember, sinse it only has provisions for single exhaust. BB accessory brackets are different than sb, so you'll need them if you don't have them. If you have serpentine bb brackets great, if not get v-belt brackets. You can get short or long water pump systems. Go with long as they are the cheapest. They were used in cars (except corvette) from 1969 up, and light trucks from 1973 up. You should be able to re-use your power steering pump, alternator, and possibly your a/c, depending on which brackets you get. You need a new water pump. I don't know about headers. I did this swap in a 73 caprice, which was relativly easy since a 454 was an option on that car. You'll also want the larger rear diff if you have the 7 1/2" gears, as you'll destroy those with that bb. I didn't change the front springs in the 73 as the car sat fine after the swap. You be the judge after the swap.

[ernestmayhandsr]

Thanks for all that info "1968 Pontiac". Is there an easy way to tell what diff I have? What car can I salvage the bigger diff from most likely? Would a posi police diff do the trick? I'm finding this kind of stuff around:

"GM 8.5 10 bolt 3:42 gears from posi impala ss caprice"

Not sure what I need to be striving for though...

[silicon212]

Yes, that will work fine - an Impala SS/Caprice '94-'96 is a plug-and-play swap, outside of the driveshaft which will have to be shortened an inch or so.