4 Bolt or 2 Bolt????

[1986K5Wa]

Okay I need some help figuring out what my engine is . It's a 88 454 tbi but converted into carb. I'm looking at buying a built 454 bored over .30. I have a manual 4 speed transmission. Just want to make sure the engine is going to bolt up. Thanks
There's also a 383 stroker for sale also bored over .30. What would you guys go with. The price is about $500 difference.

 

[1986K5Wa]

Ok I got a little bit more info on the engine. It's a two bolt the guy says it willbolt up to my housing that 4 or 2 bolt right up. It's a 1969 chevelle bolt with pre-emissions closed chamber heads.. what doyou guys think..?

 

[MadOgre]

4 bolt or 2 bolt refers to how many bolts hold each main bearing cap to the block inside your oil pan.

Any small block or big block will fit your bell housing between what? 67-96 I think. cant remember what year the bell housing changed but its in the late 90s.

Both small and big blocks used the same bell housing pattern. That's why people love old chevys. You can have pretty much any engine/transmission combo you want.

 

[MadOgre]

Coincidentally the 6.2 and 6.5 diesels also use the same bell housing bolt pattern.

 

[highdesertrange]

and the straight sixes. highdesertranger

 

[1986K5Wa]

Sweet.. just wanted to make sure not real experienced..Thanks for your responses. What do you guys like 383 or 454...

 

[MadOgre]

I personally like the small block stuff. a little easier to find. a little bit cheaper. still make good power while burning a whole lot less fuel.

I think these old square bodies ride a little nicer on the front suspension with the weight of a big block but a good heavy winch upfront can do the same with a small block.

small block 350s are a dime a dozen and cheap to pick up. Ive always found rocking deals on next to new 350s. my current one I paid $100 for.

I have been contemplating my next small block being a 383 from GM.

You have to be carefull with 383s built out of 350 blocks. a lot of guys do a really good job putting them together but every now and then some body seems to forget to clearance the block properly or the crankshaft is ground a little out of specs.

A new GM 383 is where its at. One piece rear seal, 4 bolt mains, performance center bolt heads, and a good usable cam. And its all brand spankin NEW.

But Hey if you got lots of money to blow on fuel BIG blocks are great for insane tourqe and power and absolutely awesome for muddin

 

[Driver4r]

Also, our older transmissions somewhat bolt up to the LS engines. I was looking at bolting my th350 up to my ls2, and they will bolt up, the only difference is the lS series is 7 bolt, and older is 6. So all in all, basically all chevys will interchange.

 

[MadOgre]

Where is the 7th one ? right in the middle ?

 

[Driver4r]

Where is the 7th one ? right in the middle ?

Yup, top most point.

 

[MadOgre]

I love chevy. That's freakin cool. So pretty much anything goes with anything ?

 

[Driver4r]

I love chevy. That's freakin cool. So pretty much anything goes with anything ?

Exaclty, its the most universal brand ever.

Soooo much better than Ford or Chrysler.

 

[MadOgre]

don't get me started on those damn ford things

 

[1986K5Wa]

Thanks guys... Yeah the 454 I'm looking at is priced at $1300 but he said cash talks so we'll see if Icanget it closer to $1000

 

[HotRodPC]

This must be close to a new motor, or have some mods done to it. I see used 40,000-80,000 mile OEM reman 454's for $800 around here. 100,000 miles or so are around $600. Prices also depend on if they're long block or include all the bracketry and such. Brackets aren't cheap these days and as Mad points out, Big Block stuff is not near as easy to find. Very very rarely do you see a Big Block in a DIY U pull it yard. An employess has usually gotten to it before it got put out in the yard. And if you do find one, you better be on it the second it was set down or it's already been raped, molested and even a few counts of sodomy done to it.