We could always call auto zone and see if they have a 454 in a K5.
CK5
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why was there no big block k5 blazer?
- Thread starter wazzabie
- Start date
No regional package came with a special engine. That much I can guarantee. Regional packages were apparently done through a dealer, and were pretty common in the late 70's early 80's apparently. Often they were little more than an emblem stuck to the back of the vehicle, but sometimes they would include more distinctive things like body decals, or other flashy trim added.
"Light duty" vehicles (10-30 trucks) had to pass federal emissions (and CA if destined for there), the drivetrain options available were not something you could order as you saw fit. Every different drivetrain cost GM money to certify through the EPA, plus all the costs associated with development, maintenance, training, etc. Drivetrain options gradually shrank because of this.
Export, and military are different matters, neither had to meet federal emissions standards the same as their US-bound counterpart vehicles.
Have a gander at the various years here: http://brochures.slosh.com/ Some are illegible, but others list what drivetrain options were available. In my signature is a link to all the vehicle service manuals, they also have the VIN/RPO break downs.
"Light duty" vehicles (10-30 trucks) had to pass federal emissions (and CA if destined for there), the drivetrain options available were not something you could order as you saw fit. Every different drivetrain cost GM money to certify through the EPA, plus all the costs associated with development, maintenance, training, etc. Drivetrain options gradually shrank because of this.
Export, and military are different matters, neither had to meet federal emissions standards the same as their US-bound counterpart vehicles.
Have a gander at the various years here: http://brochures.slosh.com/ Some are illegible, but others list what drivetrain options were available. In my signature is a link to all the vehicle service manuals, they also have the VIN/RPO break downs.
I am very aware of what is supposed to be offered. Everything that I have ever read has said that the 454 was not available until 1981 in K30's. However I have owned enough of them to know that they are out there. Most if not all of them I bought from the original owner and they were not the kind of people that do engine swaps. Most were old cotton farmers.
Understand. Picture of VIN and complete stamp on engine block with partial VIN is the only way it will be proven, since no GM documentation known to exist supports the claim. I suppose some previously unknown GM documentation would work too, although GM documentation has been known to be wrong as well.
It's not a personal attack. If you've been around long enough, you've probably heard plenty of myths and rumors.
If it was factory installed , there would be supporting documents .
It would have a W Vin code
It would be on the RPO sticker
There would be Service bulletins
It would show in factory parts books
Even if it was a "COPO" it would still have the correct VIN code , and other supporting documents
The Emissions hose schematic and belt routing sticker would have 7.4/454 on it
Finnally, it wouldn't have small block mounts .
It would have a W Vin code
It would be on the RPO sticker
There would be Service bulletins
It would show in factory parts books
Even if it was a "COPO" it would still have the correct VIN code , and other supporting documents
The Emissions hose schematic and belt routing sticker would have 7.4/454 on it
Finnally, it wouldn't have small block mounts .
I didn't take it as an attack at all. I have seen lots of people claim to have a "unicorn" and they are almost always proven wrong. I know what kind of wall I am trying to climb by trying to prove something exist that is very well documented as never existing.
I understand the skepticism as I am the same way. If I had never seen one, I wouldn't believe it either. If I had only came across one or two I probably wouldn't be very sure either. But I haven't seen one or two. I have owned probably at least 8.
I have seen several conversions that were probably done when the vehicle was new and they were pretty easy to spot as not being original. The military had several armored 3/4 ton suburbans with 454's. They weren't factory they were a conversion. They had an aluminum intake and a Holley carburetor. They also swapped in a 2 wheel drive full floating 14 bolt. 2 wheel drives have longer shock mounts and the only 1981-1991 Suburbans that got the full floating 14 bolt was 2 wheel drive with a 454.
The one my friend has, the history of it is still known back to the dealership getting it in and selling it as "new" with a 454. I was however mistaken about it being a one owner. Another guy from the same town owned it for a little while. It has stayed in the same town as the dealership that sold it. The only major thing that had been done to the engine before my friend got it was it had head work done to it. I don't know if they replaced the heads or just reworked the stock ones. The ones on it when he got it were 781's. The engine he pulled out and rebuilt and put in his 1984 K30. It has since had a catastrophic failure and when or if he removes it, I will try an get the numbers off of it.
Everything about it looks to be correct for a factory installation except the motor mounts. It was on propane and did not have the factory air cleaner installed on it. I asked my friend if he knows where the air cleaner is and he thinks he may have it.
The VIN shows it to have come with a "X" 400. I remember one of the 4 wheel drive magazines writing an article about a pre production Duramax in a 2000 body and frame. What kind of vin would that have? I am sure that it was probably crushed because of legal reasons. I have always thought they probably sold some of the pre-production models before all of the liability started to be such a problem. I thing there are some muscle cars that were 1 of 1 produced that were probably similar to what I think this is.
I have been around enough square body one ton 4 wheel drives to know what to look for and am convinced the 1980 K30's that I have owned and the one my friend owns came from GM with a 454.
vandelay industries
1/2 ton status
i have to speak my peace here:
The reason why there was never a big block blazer is because GM is, was, and always has been even up to the present day, a conservative company.
How many times has gm come up with an excellent product, only to soon discontinue it?
i rest my case and wish to move on.
The reason why there was never a big block blazer is because GM is, was, and always has been even up to the present day, a conservative company.
How many times has gm come up with an excellent product, only to soon discontinue it?
i rest my case and wish to move on.
I don't think the zr1 is very conservative but I digress
vandelay industries
1/2 ton status
Aside from the corvette and a FEW other products, GM is a very conservative company in general. Always waiting for Ford and Chrysler to make a move------THEN countering with their own moves.I don't think the zr1 is very conservative but I digress
My 1974 Data Manual shows there was no option for BB for the Blazer...period. The El Camino had several options including BB's.
I was just being devils advocate, I agree completely, and it has always annoyed me too.
Why didn't GM offer 454's in Blazers..?
Short answer...they were stupid...
..
I bet they would have sold like hotcakes...
Short answer...they were stupid...
..I bet they would have sold like hotcakes...
I had a 1980 K30 with a 454 in it. Towed my burb to BB with it also.
I have now a 78 C10 with a 454 in it.
I have now a 78 C10 with a 454 in it.
I have a 80 K20 with a big block , but GM didn't install it .
I had a '74 C-10 that came factory with a 454...bought it from the family of the original owner,a nephew sold it to me,his uncle bought it new..always thought it was weird a 1/2 ton 2wd could have a 454,but no 4x4s..
GM did some weird stuff in the 70's and early 80's...
I saw in person a '77 Monte Carlo being worked on at a gas station that had a factory "experimental" 305 V-8 with a strange cast iron intake that had two Rochester Dualjet 2 bbl carbs mounted in diagonal fashion ,it also had a matching factory air filter housing that covered both carbs...
The owner claimed he bought the car from a local GM dealer,who had to order it and it was delivered a few weeks later..then after he owned it for about a month,a factory rep called him saying that car was never supposed to be sold,it was to be driven at a test track in AZ,but somehow it snuck by on the assemble line..they offered him more than he paid for it ,plus the "same car" with the usual 305 in exchange,and he refused to sell it back to GM...supposedly less than 100 such engines with that intake were made..
The owner raved about the fuel mileage,he claimed it would get up to 22 mpg on highway trips and had "great power" for a small V8..
I wish I had noted the VIN # off it,it would have been interesting to see what it had for an engine code..
GM did some weird stuff in the 70's and early 80's...
I saw in person a '77 Monte Carlo being worked on at a gas station that had a factory "experimental" 305 V-8 with a strange cast iron intake that had two Rochester Dualjet 2 bbl carbs mounted in diagonal fashion ,it also had a matching factory air filter housing that covered both carbs...
The owner claimed he bought the car from a local GM dealer,who had to order it and it was delivered a few weeks later..then after he owned it for about a month,a factory rep called him saying that car was never supposed to be sold,it was to be driven at a test track in AZ,but somehow it snuck by on the assemble line..they offered him more than he paid for it ,plus the "same car" with the usual 305 in exchange,and he refused to sell it back to GM...supposedly less than 100 such engines with that intake were made..
The owner raved about the fuel mileage,he claimed it would get up to 22 mpg on highway trips and had "great power" for a small V8..
I wish I had noted the VIN # off it,it would have been interesting to see what it had for an engine code..
vandelay industries
1/2 ton status
UPDATE:
i would like to rescind my previous comments and amend them to:
If big blocks were equipped in Monte Carlos and Chevelles (which are not fullsize cars) AND especially if they were installed in Novas, then the question as to why big blocks were never available in Blazers is legitimate and worthy of further investigation.
However, i personally don't wish to pursue it due to time constraints and lack of interest. (i think running a big block on the street is financial suicide even with $2/gal gas, but this is another topic)
HOWEVER, i suggest somebody contact this guy:
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/intro-from-an-old-assembly-plant-guy.13399/
Here is someone who worked at GM when the trucks in question were being produced and is still with GM today and has inside information and insight. Not just why no big block in Blazer, but a whole encyclopedia of knowledge concerning gm trucks.
i would like to rescind my previous comments and amend them to:
If big blocks were equipped in Monte Carlos and Chevelles (which are not fullsize cars) AND especially if they were installed in Novas, then the question as to why big blocks were never available in Blazers is legitimate and worthy of further investigation.
However, i personally don't wish to pursue it due to time constraints and lack of interest. (i think running a big block on the street is financial suicide even with $2/gal gas, but this is another topic)
HOWEVER, i suggest somebody contact this guy:
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/intro-from-an-old-assembly-plant-guy.13399/
Here is someone who worked at GM when the trucks in question were being produced and is still with GM today and has inside information and insight. Not just why no big block in Blazer, but a whole encyclopedia of knowledge concerning gm trucks.
If you really think about it Dodge is the oddball , Ford never offered its big blocks in 4wd's until 80 .
The FE engines , (352/360/390/410/428 ) only the 360 was available in the 4x4's where the 390 was availble in the same era 2wd .
The 385 series engines (351/400m 429/460 ) the 460 was available in the 2wd but not the 4x4's
And after 1980 Ford only offered the 460 in 3/4 ton and 1-tons
The 1980 redesign (with the new 36" axle pad width) was done in part to widen the frame to accommodate the 460 and 6.9 diesel , and to also incorporate the crappy TTB
I just don't think there was a high a demand for big block trucks , and even less for big block 4x4's
Dodge has had factory 4x4 trucks since almost immediately after the WWII but Ford and Chevy really didn't get into that market until the mid 60's and even then it was in limited numbers .
Dodge and International where both much much sooner to offer 1-ton (and bigger ) factory 4x4's as well .
GM and Ford have always been more mainstream , Dodge more on the fringe . Hell even today Dodge is the only one with a Manual Transmission in their trucks .
The FE engines , (352/360/390/410/428 ) only the 360 was available in the 4x4's where the 390 was availble in the same era 2wd .
The 385 series engines (351/400m 429/460 ) the 460 was available in the 2wd but not the 4x4's
And after 1980 Ford only offered the 460 in 3/4 ton and 1-tons
The 1980 redesign (with the new 36" axle pad width) was done in part to widen the frame to accommodate the 460 and 6.9 diesel , and to also incorporate the crappy TTB
I just don't think there was a high a demand for big block trucks , and even less for big block 4x4's
Dodge has had factory 4x4 trucks since almost immediately after the WWII but Ford and Chevy really didn't get into that market until the mid 60's and even then it was in limited numbers .
Dodge and International where both much much sooner to offer 1-ton (and bigger ) factory 4x4's as well .
GM and Ford have always been more mainstream , Dodge more on the fringe . Hell even today Dodge is the only one with a Manual Transmission in their trucks .
