Throwing in the towel!

[NF65Fleetside]

So as most of you have read, lately ive been asking questions on 454 bbc swap and what kind of fabrication is needed for getting it into my 65' chevy c10. Since the 350 took a dump on me i was itch'n for something with power. Well I had finally pulled a descent 454 together and replaced water pump, fuel pump, intake manifold, headers, bling bling covers and got a new 750cfm edelbrock carb for it.
Did tons of research and even found a kat whos done the swap a few times himself that gave me the go that it would be pretty straight forward. So a buddy and I decided to tackle the project. Work conditions were a bit of a ***** though, ghetto alley way, basic hand tools, super obesee parking enforcement harrasment, and not enough time in the day. The 350 came out with ease and the old girl actually looked pretty good other than her insides being a milk shake. So the moment of truth was stuffing the huge 454 into the 65'. After musceling the hoist and motor over to the truck, i was somewhat shocked that YES the big ***** did actually fit AND almost directly lined up. The problem, dark came upon us before really being able to get going on it. So i was left with just the motor sitting in the engine bay but not bolted to tranny or frame.
Since my buddy had other obligations the following day I was forced to try and finish up myself. With only the help of my gf whos about 4ft noth'n and a buck ten it was almost hopeless. One of those situations where it was close but no cigar (which i had to puff just to ease my nerves). After wrestling with the beast for several hours and not getting any solid progress I resorted to having the truck towed to a local performance shop who said they could definetly do it but in the process take me for every penny I had. So towed back to my pad and thats where she sits now. At this point Im resorting back to a small block just so I can get back driving, going from big to puny! Found a solid 283 that will go in this weekend (hoepfully) and will shoot for a bbc again later down the road. After all this Im contemplating on putting the truck and bbc on the auction block. Here are some pics, sorry for the long story but just thought Id vent my frustrations and share the project.....

[Dinos63]

to bad you are not closer bro, i would help ya

[NF65Fleetside]

The dirty girl herself, Trixxxie

side profile....

old 350sbc

[NF65Fleetside]

Heres the 454bbc as it looked before touching up....

Tearing it down for new goodies....

Cleaning up intake valley....

New manifold...

Bling Bling!....

[NF65Fleetside]

start of 350sbc removal...

Salazar44 get'n some action...

Almost ready.....

Hasta Luego Perra!....

[NF65Fleetside]

heres my gf, shes the best little tool caddy and drink getter ever! even got dirty with me trying to fight with the 454 the following day!

Ill post fotos of the 454 sitting in the truck later tonight or tomorrow, it looks sooooo mean! We'll see how things go, if $$$ comes my way then its finding a new home or other wise it stays on the stand for later in the future or a modified hotrod project.

[poorboy]

I'm with Dino. Think real hard about getting rid of it. Once it's gone it's gone and if you are like me as soon as it's out of sight you'll regret it and start looking for a new one.

[TimE]

C'mon, man, don't give up yet! You've just hit a snag, these kind of things happen sometimes. Give it a little more time and try to get your buddy to come back by and lend a hand. Big blocks are definitely more fun to drive and they also look really cool when you pop the hood. Aahhh, there's just something about a fat motor...

[joe231]

I agree with the others, take a break, get your head straight and reconsider selling and/or giving up on the big block power, just my $0.02
It will be so worth it the first time you drive it!

[greg64]

I can only agree with the others to "not give up". I've done enough of this sort of messing around that I know things always snag. (my wife never believes my time estimates anymore). But as long as you keep in mind that it IS possible, and take the work as you can take it (where you're not forced to finish by a certain date) you'll both complete the project and feel good about it.

Heck, I'd love to have a big block so I'm envious of what you're trying to do.

[62 short step]

Man sweet bigblock!! Don't give up!! I've been there many times too, wanting to give up. Like every one else said, chill out for a few days get a plan and get it done!! You will love that 454!!

[NF65Fleetside]

Thats why I love this forum, people are always posative and no bs'n. Thanks for the support fellas but if my situation was a little better as to storing the truck AND the fact its my daily driver then Id definetly get'er done. If I cant get the $$$ for the motor I will definetly hang on to her though and who knows by summer might have another truck project I could drop it in.
Its definetly tough, cause as you guys will see when I post fotos of it in the truck, its sooooooooooo close! hehehehe.

[leftcoast66]

I say don't give up. If it helps, I blew the motor last october on my daily driver, '91 bmw 318is. Shop wanted 4k to rebuild motor and get it back in a few weeks, I said hell w/ that I can do the newer 325i motor out of the next generation for half that and won't take long. Long story short, it just got back from exhaust shop after the first motor being bad and me having to tear it all back down. Hopefully the thing gets running this weekend. Just keep pluggin away at it and eventually it'll all come together.

[83burban]

Check your private messages. I live in LA and can help out for a day if you still need it.

[Iron-Butt]

the 454 is worth the trouble.

[jchav62]

Don't give up! I'm sure it will be worth the extra effort... Nice looking BBC by the way... Don't let the work on that motor go to waste...

[Chevy Fleetside]

If you need some later mounts I do have some that I got for my truck that I never used. At least I don't think I scrapped them.

[283 Man]

Im with everyone else,dont give up,its worth it all after you get in it for first time on new motor

[NF65Fleetside]

Ok, after looking at these pics Im sure getting this big sucker locked and loaded would be cake for some of you seasoned vets. Like I mentioned before, I pretty much almost had the motor in other than not being able to line up both sides at the same time. At one point where the trans and block were almost matted together, there was actually about .25" space between the heads and firewall, and that was using the original small block mounting location! Sooooo close!....take a look and let me know what you guys think.
I still am going to drop a healthy 283 in this weekend, but in the mean time going to get just a couple extra parts for the 454. I want to get the CPP trans xmember, proper fuel pump, and rear dumping short headers. (unless you guys give the ok to notch the frame some for clearance on current ones).....

Sitting in the truck...

Closer look....

[NF65Fleetside]

Heres some of the framerail shots.
Passenger side....

another...

Driver side...

closer...

[62 short step]

Yep, 454 is sweet!!!

[PrerunnerRob]

What is holding you up from fitting it in? It looks like you are there!
Question for you, did you leave the stock frame mounts (from the frame to the cross member)in on the truck when you did the swap, of remove them?

[ChiefRocka]

Hey man....Keep that Big-Block in there...

Now is the time to do what you wanted to do for a long time.

You'll be glad you did when it's all over !!!

You truck locks clean bro.....keep going !!!!!


Later

[Slammed66]

ok get that thing back in there

either start the tranny with longer bolts to suck it together and then replace them with the correct ones or,, pull the tranny and put them in together......


dont waste you effort only to do it again it can be done it WILL be worth it .....

[62ChevyStep]

NF65, I am with everyone else on this, you can do this, You SHOULD DO THIS!

How cool is that! That huge motor makes me long for that 427 I've been offered. Go for it Man, take your time things will work out, I would be surprised if a posse of fellow Forum members didn't make a road trip and come help you out. RALLY The Troops!!!!!!!

Looks great, there is nor replacement for DISPLACMENT!