467-Ratman

Picked up my big block motor today from a friend who owns a high performance boat shop. It is a 454 with steel crank, Merlin rectangular port heads, boy those suckers are big!!!! It also has a GM aluminum high rise intake with Crane hydraulic cam and Crane gold race roller rockers. He told me the motor was really strong, he thought about 475hp. I am planing on using my Holley 780 carb. Really appreciate any suggestions or comments about your experence with big blocks. My car is a 71 coupe.

PRNDL

Congrats! A boat shop? hope the engine turns the right way !! Just kidding... sort of... don't they make marine engines that turn the opposite way for use in twin engine applications? (Helps keep the big racing boat going straight!! also prevents boat from tipping over when you floor it off the line :) ) Is your car originally a smallblock? MJ


[Modified by MNJack, 9:49 PM 12/6/2001]

73 LS-4

Really appreciate any suggestions or comments about your experence with big blocks. My car is a 71 coupe.[/QUOTE].

Be prepared for mountainous amounts of torque :D and get some sticky tires if you don't already or you'll be all over the road :yesnod: you'll love it. Are you going to get a different hood to clear the intake?

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

67HEAVEN

Welcome to Big Block Country......it's startin' to get crowded over here! :cheers:

lbell101

Tom!

Cool deal on the BB!
I tried to email you but it bounced back. If you get a chance head on over and join the registry. I need your info!

467-Ratman

Yes I do have the big block hood for my coupe, it was built by the previous owner to be just like an original LT-1. I am going to join the 71 registry soon. I have to get my vin number and paint and trim numbers. Long live the wave! I also forgot to change my email in my profile. We had the @home cable internet that just changed to Charterpipeline. New email ttjr@chartermi.net.

je68

Bigger Carb

Wrencher

Amen on the bigger carb. Your gonna need an 850 or so, depending on the cam. Better to err on the rich side than take a chance on detonating that new engine with a lean mix....

Hans

Techno

Boat blocks have the casting numbers upside down. look above the bellhousing area. No big deal just trivia you might want to know. They also drive of the fan side.

Ask the guy if it has a boat cam in it and if its going to work for you. Boats have different needs than cars and it not be what you want.

I bought 1 of 4 blocks that came out of a boat with 10 hours. I was told this was a lot of hours, but considering how a boat of this size is driven I was right. The bores were honed just because. Idle, mid speed, full throttle. Theres no stop and go traffic for a boat.
The guy went to 540s

I also played with mech. weights and springs. I went back to the light, throw 'em out immedialty set. Maybe some one else has other advice.


[Modified by Techno, 6:16 AM 12/7/2001]

Turbo-Jet

only 780 cfm?
that's what I thought. what is max rpm?


[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 12:00 AM 12/7/2001]

467-Ratman

je68, Could you email some pictures of your engine! It looks awesome. Is that a BeCool radiator? I have one in my car now that is polished, works great. Thanks for the info on the carb, I will be shopping for a 850. Any suggestions on what brand? ttjr@chartermi.net

Marks69BB

Hot damn! We got another stump-puller!

Congrats on the new engine! :cheers:

INTIMIDATOR ZO6

There is no doubt you are going to have some fun! :D Welcome! :cool: :cheers:

467-Ratman

I have a big block hood now, was wondering what kind of intake will work with the big block and still fit under my hood. I have a chrome air cleaner with 3" K&N filter. I would love to have the big L-88 hood, but I think my wife might not like it!

vettesite

Old proud owner of a small block! :lol:

Congrats. If I had the time and money I would love to get a monster block like that.

Have fun! :cool:

67HEAVEN

And you point is.............? :D

Juliet

Ya mean you got one of these? :D



Actually, they're 476 Hp Mercruisers (Chevy blocks, not Merlin). ~Juliet

467-Ratman

Just got back from the engine shop, I found a casting number on the block the number is 14015445 any ideas what year it is? The motor has 4 bolt mains and a steel crank with merlin heads. They are going to pull the heads Monday to check out the size of the valves. Sure is awesome to look at!!! Cant wait until summer to burn some serious rubber!

Marks69BB

To get ready for the mountains of torque you're gonna have, you may want to replace all of the u-joints (especially if you have ones with zerk fittings) with spicers or brute force and replace your u-bolts with the bolt caps used on BB cars so your drivetrain will be ready for it. Visions of flailing halfshafts will remain just visions! :yesnod:

Also, you may want to replace your sway bars with the ones that were used for big blocks and get some new poly motormounts while you're swapping engines. Also, not sure what you need to do with the front springs since you will have more weight up there. To use your hood you can use the GM 454 LS6 intake which are for sale used on ebay and elsewhere; not sure about aftermarket.

That casting number is for a Gen IV 454 with 2 or 4 bolt mains and was made for GM trucks from 1978 - 1990. We can help you with an intake when you find out what heads you have (oval or rectangular ports) if you post the numbers off of the heads here. BIG BLOCKS ROCK! :cool:


[Modified by Marks69BB, 4:06 PM 12/7/2001]

L71

a tripwr setup would look ba BA BAD