what can I keep?

[possum70]

If I swap from a 350 to a 454 BBC what accessories can I keep? what years can I go to and actually, maybe, improve gas mileage? hoping on that one. I have a 350/350/203 12bolt/dana 44 3.73 running gear.

Things like alternator, power steering, carb etc...

possum

 

[dremu]

Problem isn't the accessories, it's the brackets. Alternator and power steering pump don't change per se, but the brackets holding them on do.

Popular wisdom is a TH350 won't hold up behind a big block. 1/2 ton axles are also debatable if you have a heavy right foot.

Carb will move across, assuming all else is equal (i.e. manifold on both engines is hot air choke or electric, and same bolt pattern spread or square bore), but might want to be retuned for the larger engine.

And never, ever use the words "gas mileage" in same sentence as "big block." (Also never use the word "cheap". This is the voice of experience. A happy experience, in the end, but a very poor one, especially at the gas pump )

-- A

 

[possum70]

Well, I'm looking into getting a new engine (necessity, not choice) and I was wondering about a newer LS or something then maybe a BBC, I thought . The newer one would be great but the thought of all those wires and computer stuff just frightens me. I've been reading a lot but nothing is making it make sense. Now if one just fell into my truck I would be ecstatic but then wouldn't everyone.
Can a newer LS motor be put in w/o all the new stuff and still improve performance and gas mileage?

possum

 

[Stomis]

No not really. And the investment to run an LS on a carb is nearly as much as just hooking the computer up because you need to setup a timing box which basically costs the same as a wiring harness.

Hooking an LS up isnt very difficult. You just plug everything in and you actually wire about 2-3 wires.