I have a fairly nice '73 K5. Long story, but my sb 400 has a cracked block. I found a really clean '75 3/4 ton chevy 2wd with the original 454/th400. It's a little cold blooded, but runs and shift perfect. Looks stock, has everything there including radiator, trans cooler, a/c. I know I would need to mod my exhaust, but CRAP!!! From what I have read here is that I really shouldn't have many issues with pulling off a swap. I could even use the silverado door panels, center console, wood dash, basically everything. If I were in the market for a 3/4 ton 2wd truck, this is one I would buy and maybe put some paint on it eventually. If I part this thing out, I could even use the bed and make a nice utility trailer to finish her off. Is this going to be as easy as it sounds? Engines I understand, but tranny's are foreign to me. What is the difference between my current th350 and the new th400 thats behind the 454. I almost feel bad about hacking up a perfectly good truck. What would you do?
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
I really want this 454! And I need advice NOW!
- Thread starter rman45
- Start date
just bolt the motor in and run the th350. if need be get the th350 remaned with good kit. my buddy runs a 350 behind his 454 no problems.
and pickup trailer is nice i got one. also mounted a inbed truck tool box on the front tounge area to get more storage and still have full 8ft bed inside .
and pickup trailer is nice i got one. also mounted a inbed truck tool box on the front tounge area to get more storage and still have full 8ft bed inside .
never made factory k5 454. so this will start the slipery slop of mods that will be the end of your cash and time. but = lots of fun in the end.
and best part is you will have the doner vehicle next to your k5 to make the swap super easy .
and value is in the eye of the buyer .
and best part is you will have the doner vehicle next to your k5 to make the swap super easy .
and value is in the eye of the buyer .
YZEATER
1/2 ton status
are you planning on selling it after the swap? if not, who cares about the value??
COCHEV
1/2 ton status
yeah, there's really nothing you can do to increase the value of these old rigs. once you start dumping money into them it never comes back. you have to decide you like em and its worth something to you...
as a side note...454s are always cool
as a side note...454s are always cool
I guess you guys are right. Even if it were a total virgin truck, the market on these may never be hot. I made the guy with the truck an offer tonight, but haven't seen a reply yet. I think I can use the wood trim inst. cluster, door panels, original center console, etc to make it something that I would like. The 454 ideas is getting kinda cool, and I'm excited to get started if I can get the truck bought at a reasonable price. Just seems like a shame to make a donor out of a perfectly good rig. One question I have is how do I separate the trans from the transfer case on my BLazer? I crawled under there tonight, but it wasn't an obvious task to me.
CGT80
1/2 ton status
The th400 stock is better built than the th350 stock, but they are both good. Th400's use an electric solenoid for the downshift rather than a cable like the 350. The gear ratios may be different by a little, and the 400 used more of the engines power to rotate it resulting in a few less horsepower to the wheels.
I run a very built th400 with a gearvendors overdrive, behind my nicely built, smog legal 385 small block in my C20, but that is a heavy truck (loaded with tool boxes and ladder rack) used to tow a 7-8000 pound toyhauler trailer.
I went with the 385 (350 bored .40 over and stroked) because it was easy to do when I had the engine rebuilt vs. a swap. I like it, but I would love to have had a built 454 instead. There is no replacement for displacement.
It sounds like you would make good use of the donor truck. Go for it.
I have an 88 k5 in california, on the other hand. A 454 swap for me is would only fly if it was OBD I like the 454SS trucks from the early 90's. They said that a later model 454 is no good because the engine was heavy duty and the k5 is light duty emissions. Stupid California... I envy you a bit.
Good luck.
I run a very built th400 with a gearvendors overdrive, behind my nicely built, smog legal 385 small block in my C20, but that is a heavy truck (loaded with tool boxes and ladder rack) used to tow a 7-8000 pound toyhauler trailer.
I went with the 385 (350 bored .40 over and stroked) because it was easy to do when I had the engine rebuilt vs. a swap. I like it, but I would love to have had a built 454 instead. There is no replacement for displacement.
It sounds like you would make good use of the donor truck. Go for it.
I have an 88 k5 in california, on the other hand. A 454 swap for me is would only fly if it was OBD I like the 454SS trucks from the early 90's. They said that a later model 454 is no good because the engine was heavy duty and the k5 is light duty emissions. Stupid California... I envy you a bit.
Good luck.
Keep in mind that the 2wd trans won't work in your rig unless you tear it apart and install the 4wd output shaft and then you would also need to tear the t-case apart and install a 32 spline input shaft in it and then find the proper t-case adapter as your existing one is not correct.
