i'm in the process of removing the small block from my car and i have a bbc / trans ready to go back in. just wondering if anybody on here has done this swap? i'm looking for as much info as i can get on this (magazine articles, parts lists ,pics etc) . right now i'm cleaning the frame, and removing leaves and crap from the condenser housing. this car sat in a guys driveway for 14 years so it needs some work, but i did get it running before pulling out the engine. thanks for your input. my e mail address is [email protected] if you want to send me info.
installing a big block in an 84 vette
- Thread starter ripper
- Start date
SIXFOOTER
Well-known member
Can't help your question, but if ya want to pick up a few bucks that serp setup off the original motor should sell pretty quick
Twin_Turbo
Der Maulwurf
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It will bolt right in. The biggest issue will be fitting the induction under the hood and getting the cooling system to be able to cool it.
big2bird
Charter Member, Founder Bird-Run, Cruise-In Bird-R
I would rather see it posted here so that we may all learn. My 2 cents.
TheSkunkWorks
Well-known member
Agreed...
I once saw a BB C4 article in a mag several years ago, but don't expect I'd be able to put my hands on it without ransacking my entire home.
i wasn't sure how you share info on here, and for larger files it's easier to e mail directly. not trying to hog any info. there are elusive magazine articles out there and some are supposedly even scanned, but months of searching online and archives haven't yielded anything yet. i've talked to a rad shop about making me a thicker rad and my machinist friend will make the pulleys i want. i still need headers and air conditioning brackets. the original engine is for sale, but i would prefer to wait untill i have the car running, not sure if it will be injected or carbed.
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What damper are you using? A stock BBC damper will probably not clear.
Headers will be a tight fit and hood clearence too.
crazyhorse
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Local guy here installed a 454 in an early C4...he had to modify his hood for clearance...so he cut along raised portion on both sides and front, raised it two inches and glassed in gap....
Twin_Turbo
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Nice pics in Larrys link! bbc C4 yummie 
Jughead
Well-known member
There's a guy on chevytalk.com, grumpyvette is his name. I think he's done this swap before.
Twin_Turbo
Der Maulwurf
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Can you take larger pics?
a good day at home
i got more done today then months of tinkering on weekends. i'm on holidays for a week and today there was no one around to bug me. first of all i got the crank pulley from march after 5 weeks of waiting. the water pump is still missing. today i cut the frame, welded it and reinstalled the motor and pulley to check the fit. the cell phone pics are the best i can do( they are larger), camera pics take way too long to load and i can only load one at a time. here they are in order , i cut out a piece of the frame, and boxed it back in, the frame almost looks stock when painted, and the last pic shows the small gap between the pulley and the rack. tomorrow i'm off to the wreckers to see if i can find a smaller alternator, idler pulleys and air conditioning pump so that i don't have to cut the hood too much. there are a few more pics but i'll save them for the next post.
i got more done today then months of tinkering on weekends. i'm on holidays for a week and today there was no one around to bug me. first of all i got the crank pulley from march after 5 weeks of waiting. the water pump is still missing. today i cut the frame, welded it and reinstalled the motor and pulley to check the fit. the cell phone pics are the best i can do( they are larger), camera pics take way too long to load and i can only load one at a time. here they are in order , i cut out a piece of the frame, and boxed it back in, the frame almost looks stock when painted, and the last pic shows the small gap between the pulley and the rack. tomorrow i'm off to the wreckers to see if i can find a smaller alternator, idler pulleys and air conditioning pump so that i don't have to cut the hood too much. there are a few more pics but i'll save them for the next post.
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How is the clearance between the upper A-arms and engine?
