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454 Vs 383

K5-CJ5

K5-CJ5

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I currently have a 74 K20 350 (with vortec heads) TH350/NP205. I have another 350 and a 454 on an engine stand ready to be built. I'm vacillating between going 454 or 383. I have a 99 K3500 for towing so im not concerned with heavy loads but want the power to tow small loads quads, utv, boat etc when I do take this truck (also not my DD so gas mileage is not a big issue) I do some over-landing with it now as well.

Thoughts on 454 vs 383

I read conflicting info on weather the TH350 will hold up behind a 454.

I have the option to use an sm465/np205 as well.

Any thoughts would be great.
 
Dump it all and go 6.0/6.2 ls. Lightness of an aluminum headed small block, power of a big block, with the reliability of a modern car. Just kidding, I know that wasn’t an option or desire you presented.

The question is how much do you want to spend? A hot 383 is a blast and will have good reliable power. A mild 454 will be more manageable in terms of drive ability and likely more reliable given comparable power to power levels. To me, a moderately built 454 with aluminum heads would be the way to go. Again, desired investment being the issue here.

Regarding the th350. Welp, depending upon gearing and tire size either of the above potential builds will kill a th350 in short order unless it’s built to handle the power and tow loads you want. If the th350 is stock, it’s likely worth while to go ahead and look towards something else. Th400, 4l80, nv4500, etc transmissions “stock for stock” are all better options. If investing in building a th350 to handle the kind of abuse we are talking about, at that point I would have a 700r4 built up or another heavy duty trans. 700’s can be built to handle decent power when done right, and gain the benefit of overdrive and a nice first gear.
 
For your criteria, the small block doesn't make any sense.

The TH350 will hold up for awhile or indefinitely, depending on its current condition. If it dies, they are cheap and easy to rebuild.

Of course, the SM465 would be a nice upgrade over any slushbox.

Martin
 
2 ways to go . . .

old school 454

or new 6.0 or 6.2 LS swap and do the trans with it to get the best of both in 1 swap .

i can say i have done a lot of towing and play time in a few trucks from stock 350 sbc 250hp L31 vortec and a built 400sbc . loved the 400 sbc but she is long gone . now i have a work truck and its got the 8.1L vortec engine and nv4500 5 speed . WOW big block for the win as a work truck .

my friend had a 99 suburban 350 vortec and towed a 24ft bumper pull camper and it was o.k. he traded it for a 2011 denali pickup with the 6.2 LS and said it was night and day . now he has a big 5th wheel camper and same truck and still super happy with it .

i have my BUDGET BEATER build truck i use as my daily driver and i can say i sure wish i had just done a LS swap and been done with it in the end over the std old sbc and aftermarket efi .
 
My vote is big block. There isn't a small block out there, new or old that builds torque down low like a properly set up big block.

6.0/6.2's are great engines. But they do not build torque below 2,000 rpm like a big block does. Plus saddling one of those engines with a 3speed th350 is a waste. They need to rev and multiple gears to keep the engine in it's torque band. Which is why the 6 and 8 speed transmissions came out. If you like revving the engine to the moon to get the power out of it, a LS will do the job. Just gear the axles accordingly to keep the engine wound up.

A 454 with decent heads/cam and a good aftermarket fi system will pull stumps down low and run like any modern setup for driveability.
 
sweetk30 said:
2 ways to go . . .

old school 454

or new 6.0 or 6.2 LS swap and do the trans with it to get the best of both in 1 swap .

i can say i have done a lot of towing and play time in a few trucks from stock 350 sbc 250hp L31 vortec and a built 400sbc . loved the 400 sbc but she is long gone . now i have a work truck and its got the 8.1L vortec engine and nv4500 5 speed . WOW big block for the win as a work truck .

my friend had a 99 suburban 350 vortec and towed a 24ft bumper pull camper and it was o.k. he traded it for a 2011 denali pickup with the 6.2 LS and said it was night and day . now he has a big 5th wheel camper and same truck and still super happy with it .

i have my BUDGET BEATER build truck i use as my daily driver and i can say i sure wish i had just done a LS swap and been done with it in the end over the std old sbc and aftermarket efi .
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I have driven a 454 Vortec in a service truck that was stock but was at just a little past GVW and it would tow a house all day and get the same mileage. Nice manageable power, always. 4wd was okay. No lockers. Tended to eat transmissions. F250 at work has a bazillion speed auto with a 390, also at just past GVW and it's a gutless wonder and gets crappy mileage and the 4wd sucks and shakes like a wet dog past 65. The Jimmy has a semi built SBC 400 at GVW, T350 and has more power than I need, even when towing. Ate 1 driveline and 2nd gear in a trans that was supposedly rated at 500hp. Locker in the rear. 4wd with a NP203 is just plain fun. In 4wd, this thing will pull hard.

Next time around, I will go with full roller in the 400 and not think twice.
 
I have an aluminum head 383 SBC and an Aluminum head 454 BBC.
At this point I am gonna go with the 383 over the 454. My Blazer is being overbuilt for daily driver status. I wont be pulling anything so all the BBC torque isn't really needed. The 383 small block will be more than enough.
 
I'm a poncho guy, so chebbies aren't my Forte, but no replacement for displacement. Bbc will add 200 or so lbs over the sbc. Now, in regards to the th350, I have had th350's that suffered years of abuse behind a powerhouse of a 455 Pontiac (think diesel-like torque), and never had one fail. Auto cross at Charlotte Motor Speedway, weekends of 1/8 and 1/4 mile abuse, and just general dumb kid street abuse. They are *almost as tough as a th400, and won't force-shift into 2nd gear like a th400. Of course, sm465 is the way to go... 6:1 first gear can be a godsend in certain situations.
 
Its still a viable option. I have the 454. Just needs a basic rebuild. The big things about the 383 SBC is it is a direct bolt in and is sitting on a stand ready to go. My dad is a die hard BBC guy. The aluminum head 454 is going in our 71 Nova.
 
I’m weighing these two options as well. 1990 v2500 Suburban. I’m leaning towards the 454. I’m looking at a new crate from Chevy and will have a price on it tomorrow. I’ve spoken to a well respected guy that can build my 350 to a 383, but he doesn’t pull it or install it. I have no experience or interest in doing it, and I’m not crazy about having two independent people working on the same project. That sounds like it could turn into months and ultimately two people pointing fingers at the other. I like the idea of a factory warrant, I know in the service department at the dealership. One of the guys is a squarebody guy. I think they can do it in a reasonable timeframe and I like the accountability. Does anyone have any experience with the crate 454? Thoughts?
 
DRYANKNPULL said:
I’m weighing these two options as well. 1990 v2500 Suburban. I’m leaning towards the 454. I’m looking at a new crate from Chevy and will have a price on it tomorrow. I’ve spoken to a well respected guy that can build my 350 to a 383, but he doesn’t pull it or install it. I have no experience or interest in doing it, and I’m not crazy about having two independent people working on the same project. That sounds like it could turn into months and ultimately two people pointing fingers at the other. I like the idea of a factory warrant, I know in the service department at the dealership. One of the guys is a squarebody guy. I think they can do it in a reasonable timeframe and I like the accountability. Does anyone have any experience with the crate 454? Thoughts?
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Make sure that you have the accessory drive and brackets. Also make sure that the technician is aware and good with how everything should be.
 
I have a built 406 with roller cam, AFR heads, Proflo4 injection, etc. I miss my big block torque but I'm talking more about the built 496ci torque. The 454 with small peanut port heads was a slug. Heads on either makes a huge difference.
 
DRYANKNPULL said:
I’m weighing these two options as well. 1990 v2500 Suburban. I’m leaning towards the 454. I’m looking at a new crate from Chevy and will have a price on it tomorrow. I’ve spoken to a well respected guy that can build my 350 to a 383, but he doesn’t pull it or install it. I have no experience or interest in doing it, and I’m not crazy about having two independent people working on the same project. That sounds like it could turn into months and ultimately two people pointing fingers at the other. I like the idea of a factory warrant, I know in the service department at the dealership. One of the guys is a squarebody guy. I think they can do it in a reasonable timeframe and I like the accountability. Does anyone have any experience with the crate 454? Thoughts?
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If I was paying someone to do it, I would stick with the small block, due to the direct drop in.

Martin
 
A big block will do most everything better and last longer doing the same work, but the parts cost a little more and it uses a little more fuel, but not much. Most of the fuel cost in these trucks is driving a big wall down the road with tires that don't want to roll, regardless of engine.

It's also harder on drivetrain parts because of the torque.

I would go big block every time if you got the means to do it, it's a night and day difference in feel when you drive it.
 
Yeah.

When I get the opportunity I will be putting a big block in my truck.

If I am only going to get 8 MPG, I sure as shit ain't sticking with a sbc.
 
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