Future engine possibilites

[lochenjons]

I'd say that the "real" way to save money is to figure out what the horsepower objective is FIRST, and then pick the engine that most closely matches that goal without requiring exotic parts or machining....

What would the average stock (with dual flows and headers) 454 bb get me? And what am I probably getting with my basically stock 350 with dual flows (2.25" pipe IIRC) and headers?

My horsepower objective is always just a little bit more

EDIT: Oh yeah and what could I expect out of my current configuration but with heads, intake, other smallish upgrades?

 

[BGKYK5]

I feel it is my duty to suggest the most expensive and least practical option. I am annoying that way. Here it is: Go get yourself a GM Performance Parts LS-X block and build yourself an injected 500+ cid LS7-style injected small block. And since the block is good to 2500HP, feel free to add a blower and/or nitrous. Ok, now the rest of you can safely carry on a usefull conversation about the benifits of a 350 vs. 454.

 

[tumbleweed1002]

Get a seasoned 350 build a 383 out of it and you will be happy, don't get hung up on the high horsepower thing torque is what gets you moving and pins you to the seat when you accelerate horsepower keeps you moving. In a 4x4 torque is king. my 2 cents

 

[sandawgk5]

What would the average stock (with dual flows and headers) 454 bb get me? And what am I probably getting with my basically stock 350 with dual flows (2.25" pipe IIRC) and headers?

My horsepower objective is always just a little bit more

EDIT: Oh yeah and what could I expect out of my current configuration but with heads, intake, other smallish upgrades?

If you put a 454 in I have a bad feeling you will not be happy the first time you go to smog it. There are certain things you have to do in order to swap engines in California in a smog year vehicle (you are supposed to do them with any swap but if no smog no one knows). The engine has to come from the same type of vehicle of the same year or newer (in cali K5s are Passenger vehicles NOT trucks). The engine also has to have ALL of the appropriate emmissions equipment for that year of engine. If you use a 6.0 you have to have every sensor and module for that engine in your K5.

It can be done but it is kind of a pain in the ass. If you are set on a 454 find a 75 or older to put one in.

I would recommend building a 383 or a 355 and have a good all around engine. Might as well through some FI on it while you are doing it.

Dik

 

[Avery4jc]

You think you could punch an old 350 out to 383, run vortec heads and FI and be able to pass smog here in Cali?

 

[original balzer]

I'd agree with that statement...




I doubt anyone would agree with THAT statement.


100 extra cubes is a LOT more energy potential... all things being equal, the larger motor will produce more power in almost direct correlation to it's extra size (on a percentage basis).... in this case, the 454 is just about 30% larger than the 350, so the horsepower will also be 30% higher.

I'd say that the "real" way to save money is to figure out what the horsepower objective is FIRST, and then pick the engine that most closely matches that goal without requiring exotic parts or machining....

Sorry man but you need to look up stock Hp rateings. Since we are talking STOCK. Oh and cheating by looking up a 350 truck engine and looking up a 454 ss chevelle dont fly. Just compair apples to oranges but use the same tree.

Balzer

 

[JEBSR]

But then you need to look over one column at the torque ratings and compare those as well. Big blocks were never known for the killer Hp #'s from the factory (in trucks), it was the torque #'s that made them king. And torque is what you need to push a 6,000 lb truck around.

 

[Greg72]

Sorry man but you need to look up stock Hp rateings. Since we are talking STOCK. Oh and cheating by looking up a 350 truck engine and looking up a 454 ss chevelle dont fly. Just compair apples to oranges but use the same tree.

Balzer

Sure.....compare a smog-crippled, low-compression factory 454 to a strong 350SBC.

Stock? Who here cares about "STOCK" anyway?


Unfortunately, the thread is becoming pointless.... the fact that the original poster needs to pass CA smog is a HUGE consideration, so I doubt that the 454 or Caddy motor is even a realistic option.

As I've said before, motor swaps like this in CA (in non-exempt vehicles) tend to create a lot of disillusionment later on..... people "talk tough" about swapping the motor out every two years for the smog check, but once they face that reality for the first time they realize what a mistake the whole engine swap was.

 

[bear76]

Sell it and look for a diesel. Aren't diesels exempt in Cali? Then you can put what ever engine you want in it.

 

[lochenjons]

Smog isnt a major concern. For one thing this isnt anything I'm doing anytime soon but something I want to think about for later. Worst case scenario i'll swap a different cab of k5 body on to my truck that is smog exempt. I asked you guys about that in another thread way back. And here in cali those are pretty easy to find even pre 76 ones. My truck right now isnt gonna come close to passing as is anyways.

 

[sandawgk5]

You think you could punch an old 350 out to 383, run vortec heads and FI and be able to pass smog here in Cali?

Yes most engines that are built properly will have cleaner emissions and make more power than an old worn out engine. There are several on here running 383s in smog areas. They look just like the original engine .

Dik

 

[Avery4jc]

Sell it and look for a diesel. Aren't diesels exempt in Cali? Then you can put what ever engine you want in it.

Yeah but if you get caught with a big gas engine in a truck thats supposed to have a diesel its going to cost you BIG time $$$$...

 

[4X4HIGH]

Let me set the record straight on engine swaps here in California. The law states that you are allowed to upgrade a vehicles engine AS LONG AS it is the SAME year or newer and also has ALL the required emissions equipment to go with it and any other emissions equipment that the vehicle originally had that is not on the donor engine. You cannot mix light duty truck with heavy duty truck. Once the engine swap is done you take it to a referee station and they will give an exeption for your swap and issue the vehicle a new VIN# and now any future smog test may be performed at any smog station.


I'm also going to add that if the vehicle in question had the option of the engine you want to install then you do not need to see a referee once the swap is done. Just need to make sure that all emissions equipment for that engine are there and hooked up and functioning.

Also to whoever said that a 454 will only put out 20-30hp more than a 350 you are highly mistaken.

 

[Kp]

I think the chart I saw for a stock 454 with peanut port heads(which is what I have), said hp/tq of about 290/330.
Honestly, nothing to really brag about.
I cant speak for the same truck powered by a 350, but I definitely dont feel like my truck is underpowered.
I also know that +400hp is acheivable with some pretty easy mods. A BBC with a 2 bolt main should be able to handle over 500hp, and I dont think you can say the same about a SBC.
I saw a build up that started with a 454 rebuilt to stock specs, and included, better heads, a cam, and an intake, and it supposedly dyno'd at about 400/450.
The heads they used were a repro of the GM 781's, or 049's. Not anything really special.
All that being said, if I had to smog in Cali, I would probably just build the 350, or a 383. Of course, I dont expect my 6000lb truck to be a race car.