86 454 T400 out of Motorhome with 32,000 miles for $600 "SHOULD I DO IT"

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Overland Suburban

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So here's the deal, I have an 89 suburban that I already picked up a used 350 TBI replacement engine for but I just ran across this 454 T400 deal! I told the man I would take it this evening and we were suppose to meet up but no word from him! Now just a few minutes ago he texts me and says he can deliver it tomarro if I'm still interested. My plan was to eventually build a 383 but honestly if I'm thinking stroker a 496 sounds more like it

If the fella would have showed I would already be the proud new owner. What say you guys? I have until tomarro morning to let him know. I'm assuming a 454 carburated swap would be fairly simple
 

Shorty81

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I purchased a complete 496 rotating assembly from Skip White Racing. Block is .060 over. Best BB I've ever owned, great low end power. Do it man, don't look back.......

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bucket

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With only 32k on it, there shouldn't be much machine work need to overhaul it. Honestly though, with that little bit of miles on it, if the short block checks out good, I'd run it. Just cam/heads, etc.
 

DoubleDingo

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You'd be crazy not to. Go for it
 

Overland Suburban

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Hopefully this fella will get back to me tomarro! If he does its a done deal and I will have a used 350 tbi for sale..Lol
 

Overland Suburban

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Is that the guy with the 73K5 on one tons?

Wasn't he wanting to swap em for 10 bolts? o_O

The 454 isn't for the K5 it would go in an 89 suburban I'm building and yes I'm swapping the 1 tons out of my K5 into my suburban and the 10 bolts into the K5.

Not being a smart ass and I'm kind of new at this square body stuff but is there something I'm missing or a reason why I should leave the 1 tons under a 73 K5? From what I've been told the 73 is worth a lot of $$$ so my thinking was 1 tons with lockers and offroading might not be the best idea. My plan was to eventually return it to Dana 44 and 12 bolt when I can find a set and restore the 73



Tracy
 

Craig 85

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I'd go for it. Try to get all the accessory brackets with it too.
 

da_raabi

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I went through this a couple summers ago. Went down to the woods and pulled a 454 out of an old RV and stuffed it in my Camaro. It was the craziest redneck crap I've ever done, but I ended up with a solid 454 with 60k on it. Runs like a raped ape in the Camaro.

Be ready to do a little refresh. The carb will likely need to be de-gunked if it's been sitting with fuel in it for a while.

Also, the RV motors had the RV cam, so it will have a little more low-end grunt.

Watch to see if the T400 is the HD version. It's a tad tougher, but I've heard they whine a bit due to the gears.

Here's that old RV 454 in the Camaro...

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Some pics from pulling it:

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DirtyDYT

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Do it. I scored a mystery 454 out of a C30 with alt/wp that dates to 1985 crate motor but has 1977 781 heads and a mild cam. Sounds super healthy and looks it inside too. That price is too good to pass up.

For that mileage you should drop it right into a truck. Run it til it pops before you rebuild. Get your money’s worth and then some.
 

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