Engine history question

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Thabet

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Was there an 511 cubic inch engine (upgraded 454) Special order from a dealer or a police package for the squarebody?
 

shiftpro

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Welcome Thabs,

I don't think there was such an animal... would have been so cool we all would have wanted one. Many of us still do!

If this engine option existed I'm sure someone here will know about it. Wait a bit and let's see..
 

bucket

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Nope. 454 was as big as it got for Chevy, until the 502 crate motors came along in the 90's.
 

Charlie

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:welcome:
 

1973c10

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Welcome
 

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Nope. 454 was as big as it got for Chevy, until the 502 crate motors came along in the 90's.


Not true.
Chevrolet had a 510 inch Big Block in 1972.
4.50 Bore x 4.00 in stroke.
Aluminium with no liners.
4 Bolt mains.
Would have been ordered under Special Service Package/Heavy Duty.
 
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bucket

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Not true.
Chevrolet had a 510 inch Big Block in 1972.
4.50 Bore x 4.00 in stroke.
Aluminium with no liners.
4 Bolt mains.
Would have been ordered under Special Service Package/Heavy Duty.


You mean as an over-the-counter crate engine, right? Intended for boats maybe? There can't be many of those around. That's my next question, was it ever actually available and sold, or was it just supposed to be available?
 

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You mean as an over-the-counter crate engine, right? Intended for boats maybe? There can't be many of those around. That's my next question, was it ever actually available and sold, or was it just supposed to be available?


Yes, they were actually sold.
Chevrolet offered limited numbers of aluminum big block cases with 4.44 and 4.50 cylinder bores both with or without cylinder liners from 1969-1975.
The bare block weighed 98 lbs. a weight saving of 102 lbs. These blocks also had four bosses in the lifter valley for cylinder head hold down studs.
Provisions were made in the block castings for oil coolers and dry sump lubrication systems.
These lightweight alloy cases accepted all Mark IV big block components.
 

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Was there an 511 cubic inch engine (upgraded 454) Special order from a dealer or a police package for the squarebody?

No.


Intended for boats maybe?

Can Am racing.

Usually out of bounds for most truck discussions.

K

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Didn't they make a 509 and 511? One 2 bolt main and the other 4 bolt main.
 

bucket

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Yes, they were actually sold.
Chevrolet offered limited numbers of aluminum big block cases with 4.44 and 4.50 cylinder bores both with or without cylinder liners from 1969-1975.
The bare block weighed 98 lbs. a weight saving of 102 lbs. These blocks also had four bosses in the lifter valley for cylinder head hold down studs.
Provisions were made in the block castings for oil coolers and dry sump lubrication systems.
These lightweight alloy cases accepted all Mark IV big block components.

Ok, so you are talking about just a block or short block. Not even a crate engine, let alone something that would have been available in a truck.

So still, 454 was as big as it got for a factory install. Obviously there have been various over the counter blocks where the sky's the limit, nobody is disputing that. The only reason I even mentioned the 502 was because it was designed for use in trucks as well, and there was a 502 crate engine that was available for that specific purpose. It could even be installed by a Chevy dealer.
 

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