tall deck BBC

[smokeyco75]

Hello again folks. Can anyone tell me which donar vehicles to avoid when looking for a big block chevy and what the difference is exactly? Im pretty knowledgeable about smallblocks but never dealt with a big block before.

 

[smokeyco75]

Sorry forgot to say I am avoiding tall deck motors. Heard they are undesirable.

 

[choppedtop]

Tall decks can be stroked a bit more than short deck. They are about 60 pounds heavier. Most cars would have had the short deck, where most larger trucks would have the tall decks. Unless you wanting 500 plus ci, i think for the average street car, a short deck would be the more desirable. Just make sure which one you get/have before ordering parts.
Lee

 

[Mike]

If this is for a T, then about any big block you get your hands on will be a good choice. Obviously, as you mentioned, avoiding the tall deck blocks, so you're not struggling with things like adapter plates for aftermarket intakes, and the like. I wouldn't fret about 2-bolt and 4-bolt main blocks, as that is going to make very little difference in a street car. Heck, we ran 2-bolt blocks in our old A/ED, simply because they were lighter. The secret to getting a big Chevy to live is to be certain the rear main cap is aligned properly. We made an aluminum plug to line the cap up on the block. Once it was lined up, we would torque it down and then drill the cap and block for dowel pins, to be sure the cap would always be right. Otherwise, they can burn up a thrust bearing pretty quickly, with a loose converter.

The 289 casting 454 block is pretty desirable, as it will go .125 over, to build a 482, with the stock crank. Would I go out of my way to find a 289 casting, then dig that deep in my wallet to purchase one? Not with the aftermarket blocks out there, I wouldn't. And particularly not for something as light as a T-Bucket.

 

[Golly]

I think the only big block to avoid is the 366" truck motor, and as Mike said no need to use a tall deck block , as you then need to buy adapters to put a decent intake on it , and a distributor for a tall deck etc. Not worth the trouble unless you can get a smokin' deal on a complete tall deck motor in good condition. grab it.

 

[smokeyco75]

So most trucks had the tall deck blocks? If so the donor truck I found is out. 87 dually

 

[RPM]

An 87 dually is not a big truck. Think something like a full size school bus. The 454 in the dually should be a perfect choice

 

[smokeyco75]

Ok cool thanks for the help!

 

[TriodeLuvr]

Just a thought if you're building from scratch... Much as I love the 454 - and I often think about swapping one into my bucket - the additional weight concerns me. I was reading the other day about the big Caddy motors, and someone said the 500 CID with an aluminum intake only weighs 25 lbs. more than a 350 SBC. Now I don't know for sure if that's true, but if it is, that's a BIG difference in weight. It's made me totally rethink what I would do if the day ever comes that I decide to go for more cubic inches. Like I said, just something to consider...

Jack

 

[bigblk1177]

Plus the caddy engine has boat loads of grunt down low in the rpm range. Would really move a T right along, as would the 454

 

[RPM]

A caddy 500 is what we have in the T Truck, if I can ever find time to finish it. Gettin close to 2 years now.

 

[TriodeLuvr]

That's gonna haul!

 

[Screaming Metal]

Yes, the tall block would only be good if you were wanting to add a stroker crank and play with your rod length to stroke ratio....and add some decking with some special pistons....And usually the tall blocks of yesteryear don't have the raised cam locations, so, you'll have rod interference after such and such a stroke is achieved. The avg. rodder don't need all that. Way too complicated and way much overkill
Its best to go with the good old std Rats and build a good, solid HotRod Motor....
Big Motor in a really small, light car (not much bigger than a go-cart), big, huge tires on the rear to hook it up....Big smile, big eyes, big acceleration, Big Looks and Big Fun....

Caddys are great motors....

 

[joecool]

We used a 500 Caddy in a frugal bracket racer years ago. If you want to keep it pretty stock its a good cheap torque motor. BUT if you want to start modifying it the parts are very pricey.Check prices on the intake and some other parts before you buy one. And ,although a lot of people will argue with you the only cars that came with the 500 cubic inch version were the front wheel drive Eldos. We probably checked 40 of the sedan and coupes de villes and never found one 500 ,all 472s. The only for sure way to know is check the stroke.The earlier heads ,I think 1968 and 1969 are the best ones.You can modify a 460 Ford intake to fit but they are not cheap either.Headers are available,I know Speedway used to have them.We kept ours stock (with 200,000 miles) and shifted it at 4200 rpm and it would have lasted forever I think.