Smokeyz28

so i got a 1987 z28 camaro with a 86 chev malibu 305 5spd and im looking to build up a new engine.. in a previous post i mentioned a 350 and got estimated around $3800 CDN..

since i am in a quest for power, is a 455 to much? im not trying to make a dragster here, it's going to be a car i will drive daily (somewhat) and take to the track here and there. but not to much abuse. i just want raw power, something that can give a new z06 a run for its money.

and for those experiance fellas.. how fast in the 1/4 mile would i get with a 350 and a 455?

would i have to get a new diferential if i went with the 455?

constructive input is welcome

thanks,

smokey

stevem

small blocks rule

aziroc

is it out of the question... no. would i advise it.. not really. I have seen a few 3rd gens with BBC's in them.. 454 @ 502's mainly. it can be done, but i beleive u have to do alot of suspention work to that front end so it can handle the extra weight, plus u will need a new hood *sowl hood* cause more then likely that BBC ur looking at is carbed so the aircleaner wont fit. ur best bet is to do some sort of 350. 350, 355, 377, 383, ect. if u want the cubes *and have a bit more $ to spend*do a 400 or 406. if u have money to blow just do a SBC 422 or 427.. or hell, buy a C5R block and go from there.

anywho.. as far as 1/4 mile times.. it all depends on how u build each motor, traction, ect. there are alot of different things that play 1 main roll. a good rule of thumb i use for how much HP an engine can take n/a is to use 1:1. ie 350 cu in engine can make 350 hp. a 400 cu in can make 400 hp. granted u can prob get more hp out of the engine (i use a max of 1:1.3) but thats what i use to guestimate till i get a dyno sheet done. *sorry got off topic* im not sure of ur age or income amount. but when i got my iroc at 17 i wanted the best of the best. but $$ wasnt there. so when my 305 went out i put ur basic 300 hp 350. it was ok.. till 1 day my tranny went out on the freeway and threw itself into 1st gear at 65 mph. *but thats another story* so u may want to look at maybe some GM crate ZZx motor and if u have TPI put it on the ZZx motor, because they are pretty chep engines and i beleive the zz4 engines have like 330 hp. so that be enough hp to play with stock and then mod it out. when i went from my 190 hp 305 to a 300 hp 350 i thought it was doing 11's all day.. well the first day so u may just want to go that route.

if ur on AIM, IM me @ falcon978

whiteminqua

I have a friend who put a mild 455 BUICK in his 86 Trans Am. Its a tight fit, but he hooked up everything including the air conditioning. The car can be changed back to the TPI 305 if he ever needs to do it. Nothing hacked or ruined. Fast? It runs high 11's consistently. Mild cam, no headers. free flowing 3" exhaust. He is running the 700r4. The suspension has been worked with a bit, I think he either has sub frame connectors or a lift kit set up. He has had a few people at the drags ask him if it was supercharged or NOS because its pretty quiet-and fast.

super83Z

A Big Block Chevy would be 100 times easier. THe only part of the front suspension that needs to be replaced is the front springs. I have seen people fit Big-Blocks under stock hoods. IT would be a hell of alot cheaper than a BOP 455.

DarthIROC

I dont know if you really ment 455 or if its a typo and you ment 454 but anyway I ll go with what you gave me.

First of all a 455 is NOT a big block. Its a Pontiac block or some call it a mid-block. And since you are trying to put it in a chevy you will prolly run into a few problems but it can be done. I belive the Pontiac wiring harness is on the oposite side that the Chevy one is on so you have to move that over, and other little diferences like that.

If you want to go big displacement just go pull a 454 out of an old truck or somehting and build that. In my experience old Pontiac motors like the 455 dont wind very high they are all torque monsters.

Smokeyz28

sorry for any confusion.. but i am going to go with a chevy big block, 454 i guess.. typed in the wrong thing, was looking at some pontiacs with 455 a couple min before i posted..

what kind of suspension work would be need to be done? i dont really care about getting a new hood. and i was thinking of doing some suspension work anyways. im guessing i would need stiffer springs and shocks?

what else?

thanks for the info so far

Smokeyz28

bump, wanna get some input regarding beefing up suspension.. do i really need to get a new hood? and how much can spring/shocks set me back?

what's going to happen if i leave the car as is (suspension wise) and drop in a 454?

l_bilyk

the front end will sag a little... handling will be reduced too


now the ideal swap would be an aluminum big block... i think this weighs a few pounds less than an all iron smallblock
unfortunately these are a little hard to find and tend to be on the expensive side


also, keep in mind, the extra power and torque of a 454 is nice, but if you don't do any suspension mods, you will never hook up

3GLT16speed

if you really want to roast the tires off, but dont care about having much top end, you may want to look at a cadillac 500. there actually not much bigger that a 350, not too sore about the weight but definnitly a lot lighter than a BBC. there is a company that specialzes in the big inch cad motors. they make massive amounts of low end torque. i think it was hot rod i saw it in, this guy had one in a 1st gen, the thing was "only" making like 300-350 horse but had like 600 foot pounds at like 1800 rpm. crazy. youd definitlly be different. just make sure you can afford tires for it

Smokeyz28

i really wanna go with a bbc 454.. probably bore it out and raise the compression 9:1 or 10:1.. and id get suspension mods for sure.. but what things should i look at replacing the most (suspension wise)?

i only got so much $ i wanna dump into the engine, and im thinking of i go with a bbc i will get more power outa it after my done up 350.. after all, there is no replacement for displacement

for starters should i just get heavy springs and stronger front shocks? eventually id replace all steering components and struts maybe

3GLT16speed

not really sure about that. probally just stiffer springs and struts. from what ive heard and read putting a BBC in a 3rd gen is almost bolt in.

Smokeyz28

sweet, thats what i like to here.. almost a bolt on

but i have a major concern about the transmission... i dunno exactly what type.. but its a 5spd that came with a 1986 chev malibu 305... do i need a new tranny? i know i'll probably need a new clutch with all the extra torque

whiteminqua

Dont sell the BOP or Buick, Olds, Pontiac 455 engines short. They are great performers and respond to hot rodding as well as any motor. I am not recommending the Buick 455. I just stated that my friends car has the 455, looks like a factory installation, and runs 11's. Big Buicks are cheap at the junk yards. Big Chevys are not. There are other bulletin boards out there that offer lots of information on various engines, from the ricers to American iron. Dont be close minded, take the time to look around a bit.

One more note, the Buick 455 weighs about 80 pounds more than a Chevy small block. What suspension rework....? Move the battery to the trunk for some balance. A glass hood. Etc...

l_bilyk

^i agree
a BBC isn't that much more heavy either

but better springs would help
if you are going the big block route, i suggest looking into some fat tires for the back... drag radials would be great
also look at getting a built up T5 or T56... better a T56 because the extra overdrive gear will really save fuel

how much power do you want to be making?