So I bought a Big Block....

[munice]

Okay guys I finally decided to take the plunge and go big block! My truck is an 87 V10 4x4 with 350TBI and SM465 and the new engine is a 89' 454TBI out of a 2500 crew cab with 80k on it. I've done a lot of reading on this forum and I think this swap should go pretty smooth. The new engine is coming with the full throttle body and complete engine harness + computer, starter, mounts, alternator w/ bracket, PS pump w/ bracket, water pump etc.. I've also got a manual trans flywheel for it. One thing I don't have yet is the bigger rad Is it possible to get by with the small block rad? I think I've got everything else covered, did I miss anything?

Here's the truck:


350:

[fiddy9apache]

i would go ahead and find a rad in the wrecking yard and take it to get pressure tested and cleaned.

and welcome to the dark side...

[munice]

Anybody know the going rate for a decent used rad? or a new one?

[SevenSeries]

I got one pulled out for a 454 BBC in my local pick n pull for 50$ and got it all cleaned and worked pretty well. Eventually upgraded to a BeCool Rad for a BBC

[munice]

Okay I finally, got the engine today... It was a hell of a chore sliding out of the back of the pickup with the cherry picker... raise, slide, re adjust, raise slide... but here it is in all of its 700ish pounds of dirty glory:










So all in all its not too bad I don't think, definitley the rear main is leaking and the pan, but thats no biggie while its out. tomorrow I'll pick up some de-greaser and start to pressure wash the thing, It'll be going on a rotisserie stand after that. And upon looking at the accessories, it seems I've also got an air pump ( I believe) now because I won't be needing it, can i still run the serpentine belt? or will I have to change the pulley setup?

[munice]

I was on the kijiji today and saw this ad for a pair of Diesel rads, I emailed the guy about them, cause he did'nt post if theyre GM or not. And I can't tell from looking at them ... anyone know? I'm waiting to hear back from him

http://sarnia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic...AdIdZ194593805

cheers, Andrew

[munice]

Okay, so i sort of abandoned my own thread for a while... got busy with work and such, but this last weekend was the big swap date. the engine is now in and pretty well ready, getting the new rad on Tuesday and the exhaust is hopefully going to be plumbed up tomorrow. Only thing left is the stupid engine harness, I've got a couple other threads going looking for a color code for the bulkhead connector, cause im trying to mate the 89 harness to the 87 connector so that i can use my under dash wiring and fuse box... but anyhow I've got a friend trying to pull some favors at the GM dealership to get some diagrams for that. but here's what has happened since I first got the new engine:

here's a pic during the dissassembly of all the accessories, I did'nt do a full rebuild just a new pan gasket and a few other little things


small pan leak:


4 bolt... nice

i thought it look'd pretty decent in there cylinders too



cleaning it up:


paint!:


getting the 350 ready to "vacate the premises"


me


ready to go in, (that tiny breather ain't stayin forever)

[munice]

350 out!


454 in!








still got some work to do:

[STOCKISH]

The 454 looks great. You'll love the low end torque of that thing. Your truck looks awesome and I cant wait to see more pics of the progress. Good work.

[79gmc5.3]

WOW! Very nice Truck and engine looks great! Keep the pics coming.

[munice]

Thanks guys! should have more pics after work

[69face]

I now crown you the engine paint KING! looks good!

[munice]

Okay another big pause in the "play by play" but a lot has happened since my last update.... IT RAN!!!! but then it knocked... did some valve adjustment, and then did some listening with the stethiscope... rod knock... so after much cursing and kicking and such then engine was pulled out. I tore into it and found the # 2 connecting rod bearing to have little metal chunks ground into it.. but the crank was spared... not a mark on it. so after checking the others (all okay) I got a set of connecting rod bearings and bearings for the main caps. Timing chain was also a bit loose so threw on a new set with the metal gear instead of that chinsy plastic one.and then re sealed everything and buttoned her back up. Also changed the dist. cap just for the heck of it... So she's a brand new machine now! And the thing was I got this engine out of a junkyard but it was under their warranty (just to make sure it runs) so I told them about the knock and that it was there from the first time we got it to fire, and they were really cool and said we would definitely be compensated. I really liked this engine as it was super clean inside and everything else about it was perfect, and around here you dont just stumble upon complete TBI 454s, so we worked out a deal for them to pay for the parts and labour for the bearing sets and all is well now! Its rained all day here and is supposed to all day tomorrow aswell but I'm gonna setup a little tarp shack and try to get the engine back in and plumbed and maybe do all the finishing wiring on sunday I'll get more pics up soon aswell!

[Jonboy]

Right on. It looks right at home in there. The only thing I would add is a bigger air filter. You gotta let it breathe!

[p_rubottom]

Glad to hear the yard took care of you, its kinda rare to hear. Oh and I'm diggin the Rage Against the Machine T-shirt!!

[palposity]

Great job on the swap man! And way to clean that engine up. Sorry to hear you had to install it twice though.

[munice]

Right on. It looks right at home in there. The only thing I would add is a bigger air filter. You gotta let it breathe!

yeah... about that piddly little thing... a tall 14" chromey is on the way!

[munice]

Okay more pics!!

but first an update:
had to change PS pump cause it the shaft in it snapped internally? (im guessing they set it on the ground at the yard... so I robbed the one off of the 350 and swapped the pulleys, no biggie. Got the distributor back together, changing a cap is one thing, but when the tiny little screws are rusted to $%#@ and break off it becomes a different story... Put the water pump back on and bolted evything up.. finally got the dibstick welded up (snapped in half) and put it back on. BUT ITS FINALLY BACK IN!! She's all bolted in, exhaust hooked up, fuel lines vaccuum lines etc, just need to throw the starter on and drop the rad in. The new owner of the 350 is gonna come to take it away tomorrow so that'll be some junk out of the drive way and some cash in the pocket (or probably just into the stupid truck...) And I'll try and do all the final connecting tomorrow after all the mothers day stuff.

but enough talk here's some pics of the carnage:


guts:

the crank was okay:

but this bearing was not:

#1 main cap bearing:

garbage:


dip stick tube all patched up:

[munice]

new dizzy cap:

new old PS pump:

water pump back on:

right side up!


heres the old crappy pump:

broken pump shaft, i guess theres a first for everything:

[munice]

and heres some pics of LAST TIME when it was installed with the rad, its too rainy today for new pics anyways:

[munice]

more pics! BACK ON THE ROAD!! ready to intimidate ricers...

new breather:




putting in my tach:






interior back together:


under side:

[Mattsch18]

looks good what did you pay for the 454?

[Manbearpig]

Did you do heads or a cam upgrade?

[54Caddy]

where did you get that little tach at i like that

[munice]

looks good what did you pay for the 454?

1700 from a friend at the junkyard... pricey yes, but apart from the bearing issue it turned out to be a really good engine