Old school BBC Gen Vl engine question...

[zeek]

I found a low mileage (30k) Chevy 454 engine for sale. I can get it for around $600. Suppose to be a factory roller, 4 bolt main engine. Two problems....I cant here it run and it came out of a motor home. Im not too concerned about the running part, but is there any down side to a motor home engine??

Here are some pics of the actual engine.

[DJ_Critterus]

It probably has a cam ground for more lower range rpm power.

[zeek]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

It probably has a cam ground for more lower range rpm power.

Im thinking about putting this in my '65 Coronet gasser project. Might be good for those big burnouts then...

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by zeek

Im thinking about putting this in my '65 Coronet gasser project. Might be good for those big burnouts then...

You might want to do a refurb on it, then.

[zeek]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

You might want to do a refurb on it, then.

Still not answering my question.....any downside to a motorhome engine in a street driven car?

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by zeek

Still not answering my question.....any downside to a motorhome engine in a street driven car?

a motor is a motor. You won't get a lot of high end out of it if it was set up for a heavy vehicle like that. It'll jsut be a heavy big block in that car.

[RonC5]

Originally Posted by zeek

Im thinking about putting this in my '65 Coronet gasser project. Might be good for those big burnouts then...

How can you consider anything but an injected Hemi with those 12" tall injector tube?

[Grey Ghost]

I would probably figure on a rebuild before putting it in a car. With that...better heads, cam, etc...I would want to make sure the block and heads had no cracks. Someone spray bombed it black for some reason...it's a pig in the poke. I figure low factory compression and not built for any performance from factory. You will need to add new parts if you want it to perform.

[Rodnok1]

Older BB chevy truck blocks were different than car blocks.
Only issue I'd see is accessory mountings on heads. Possibly different oil pan etc.
I'd make a good start but a dog i bet HP/torque wise as it sits.

[Bill]

The big thing that seems to be attracting you here is the price and the purported miles, but after you spend the money to go through it and change out stuff like a cam designed for a heavy load, maybe you'd be better off just looking for something that came right out of a performance truck in the first place?

Just my $ 02's.

[allthrottleandsomebottle]

Originally Posted by zeek

Still not answering my question.....any downside to a motorhome engine in a street driven car?

No down side with a 4 bolt main unless a cracked block....motor homes sit and thats a 91'-95'....

[zeek]

After reading all yall's posts....I think Ima pass on this one...thanks for the input...

[snide]

Originally Posted by zeek

Still not answering my question.....any downside to a motorhome engine in a street driven car?

What's the difference between a truck engine and a motorhome engine? Nothing, other than the cam.

[markids77]

Find a 400CI Mopar core. They have decent heads and a hell for strong block.
Stroke it to 500CI, cam it a bit, add either a FItech or similar injection system and do 450HP burnouts to your heart's content on pump gas without huge expense.
Seek the "Hot Rod Garage" episode where they drop that combo into a full size wagon and terrorize the streets.

EDIT: the motor comes out of a project they named "roll smoky" if you have difficulty finding the build.

[86RAG]

The heads on those motor home big blocks are the peanut port variety. Not a whole lot you can do with them for high performance. Not sure heads are interchangeable with MK 4 models, but it is already set up for a roller cam

[GTOguy]

Putting a BBC in a vintage Mopar is ****ed up. If you're on a budget, buy a used 413/440 out of a Winnebego camper. Cheap and way cooler than a late model BBC. You know better than this, Zeek.

[Dan47]

Originally Posted by zeek

Still not answering my question.....any downside to a motorhome engine in a street driven car?

My FIL had a BB 427 that was built for some type of commercial use. I can't remember what? He said there was a problem finding aftermarket parts, oval port heads and square port manifolds or such? And the stroke was longer to produce more low end.

He put it in his Dad's pickup didn't like how it ran and now his truck is being restored and getting a ls1 conversion.

[markids77]

Originally Posted by Dan47

My FIL had a BB 427 that was built for some type of commercial use. I can't remember what? He said there was a problem finding aftermarket parts, oval port heads and square port manifolds or such? And the stroke was longer to produce more low end.

He put it in his Dad's pickup didn't like how it ran and now his truck is being restored and getting a ls1 conversion.

Passenger cars got a "short deck" (good) block and trucks or other commercial vehicles got a "tall deck" (bad from a performance standpoint) block. There was no "tell" by visual inspection... you had to disassemble the core and measure stuff.
The two engines were really two distinct but related power plants which shared precious few internal components.

[Dan47]

Originally Posted by markids77

Passenger cars got a "short deck" (good) block and trucks or other commercial vehicles got a "tall deck" (bad from a performance standpoint) block. There was no "tell" by visual inspection... you had to disassemble the core and measure stuff.
The two engines were really two distinct but related power plants which shared precious few internal components.

Makes sense. He was trying to fit an intake manifold to heads that had different ports. I can’t remember which had which but one had oval and the other square ports. Ran like shit.

He’s not stupid, very sharp in relation to the classic car market but I think he had a senior moment buying that 427. I thought he’d bought a crate motor from Chevy initially but I think he didn’t want to admit he screwed up?

It’s his deceased dad’s truck and he’s having it completely restored. Gonna be sweet when it’s done and I hope they hurry as he isn’t getting any younger.

[zeek]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

Putting a BBC in a vintage Mopar is ****ed up. If you're on a budget, buy a used 413/440 out of a Winnebego camper. Cheap and way cooler than a late model BBC. You know better than this, Zeek.

Three things....first, I was also told that Mopar engines (I guess any engines) taken from motor homes have similar problems to this 454.

Second thing....it's a hot rod not a resto mod...there fore anything goes...

Third thing....It's MY build and I can put a Toyota 4 banger in it if I want to...

I suppose you think I fuked up by putting a SBC in my '32 Ford highboy build ...

Oh yeah....but thanks for your input....