it's an experience i'll tell ya that. Recently went for a ride in a 68 with a 472 BBC in it. pure violence!

 

go go gadget big block

 

I had the pleasure of driving a 67 396/375hp Indy pace car, (1 of 2, no bullshit) Was'nt too impressed except for the tremendous body flex, but hell it's a convert. I'll take a 442 or Stage 1 Buick personally over a first gen. I do understand that I'm comparing stock for stock, the OP is talking about a modified BB, which I can respect to a point, however, IMO it just gets old seeing a BB in the frame rails of a first gen. IMO go LSx. Initiate flame.

 

there's that aspect to it, if you pop the hood and somebody sees a LSX and a lopey idle they know the car means business. But I like the fact you can make BBCs look like a bolt on 396 and tell the street rats exactly that. 588 low deck anyone?

 

not flaming I guess I just misunderstood the yawn was there wasn't the shock factor of seeing a lsx in an old car

I only yawn when I see a sbc, big blocks still make me smile

 

lsx 6 speed 411 12bolt posi & a stack of tires far more fun than a bigblock

 

I still disagree, at least in a muscle car...

even without playing with them, the aura of a big block just feels right...sitting there with a loping cam, blipping the throttle and the whole car torquing over, the rumble and instant torque off idle

it just makes me smile

but of course in the next couple weeks when I finally get to start my ls1, my opinion might start to change some

 

Just took a BB out of my 69 Camaro, lots of lookers, lot's of rumble, lot's of tire smoke,lot's of attention at a Cruise-in or show,but,,,,,,, now in the process of puting in LSX, haven't been this excited in 4 years of owning the car. Funny been to 4 recent shows, not the first LS in a Muscle Car, yep BB's, but heh, been there done that,drove a 67 with a LS1 in it, SOLD, fast, power, milage, gee no more Running at 210+, no more loaded up after a few weeks of down-time,,,,If your doing a Stock Theme, go BB, like me, modify, modify, when I took the BB out, we weighed it, full dress 675#, LS1 w/manifold 375 #, we drive-em, beat um hard, LSX all the way, Will post LSX conversion when done

http://www.rascalsrodsandcustoms.com...showpage&pid=1

 

Stroker LSX..

 

Ls def. I have a 650 hp dynoed big block and now installing a lsx. Cannot beat technology.

 

Somthing no one has mentioned,When you remove an iron big block and replace it with an all aluminum lsx motor and an aluminum radiator you are taking around 350 lbs(ballpark)right off your front end.Thats got to work wonders for the car.I love big blocks,I have a 450-500 hp 454 in my 67 camaro and its a blast but I plan to replace it with a ls7 or big cube ls motor with the same or more power and 350 lbs off the front end and 20-25 mpg opposed to 8-10 mpg from the 454 with much better drivibility.Can't be a bad thing im thinking.

 

X2. Not to offend anyone but now days, plain old stock LS1's in 1st gens are pretty boring, IMO. I like to see strokers, turbos, and all that goof stuff. Personally, for the Camaro I would go the stroker LSX route. And on the topic of BBC's, I think that saying you have a 540 sounds alot cooler than saying that you have a 502, or 572. I see alot of guys build their own motors that put out more HP than the 572 for less money, but I guess they don't come with warranties.......

 

My chevelle came with a 400 small block. I built a 500hp 454 for the car to make a nice cloned SS car. After driving the car a bunch with the big block I liked the small block much better for all around driving. Yes the big block makes crazy awesome power but the 400 was no chump either. The extra weight on the front end decreases the handling.

Also the Chevelle has a full frame and has a better structure and support for a big block. You can put subframe connectors on but in my opinion Camaros should be small block cars since they are a unibody. I know tons of people run big blocks and love it, If you are pushing that big block in your camaro you will be punishing the car. There are all types of problems like twisting the body so the doors and properly shut from launching. Usually in drag cars but I have heard of street cars having similar problems.

I am very excited to get the LS2 swap done in my chevelle. Hope some of my experience helps. Very excited to have more of a daily driver car again. It depends on what you are looking to do with the car and your expectations. I know the LSXs can make every bit of power the big blocks can but there is something sweet about seeing that huge *** engine between the fenders. Either way you will be happy.

 

Wow, that's a tuff choice, but if it's not a daily I say go with the biggest big block you can afford with a nice set of brodix heads. I had a 454 in a Holden Sandman panelvan, and damn I miss that car. That being said, I am planning an LSx swap into my 88 GTA, since a BBC won't fit under the hood without a cowl and the weight would effect the handling

 

Hi, I was faced with this decision, and I went the LS route.
I removed the 468 monster that I had on my Chevelle, mainly because somebody offered to buy it.
But truth be told I was contemplating swapping a "newer" Vortec headed small block into it. I know this sounds crazy, why would I do that? The fact is that I used to enjoy my 350 mild build on my Nova than my BBC 70 Chevelle, and way more often.
Yes I went a bit overboard in my choice of cam and induction (Team G with a 1150 Dominator) and the exhaust always "made you cry" with the rich fumes, the torque was fenomenal, and I had a NOS Big Shot system too, but I could never spray the thing because it only would have increased my traction problems.
I also had an old shool Muncie M-22, Rammetallic sixpaddle clutch and 2800 lbs press. plate. It sounded and looked terrifying, I beat up many guys without racing, only by opening the hood -which honestly was a good thing since with no traction all the power in the world means nothing.
Desktop dyno predicted 620hp before the spray (sorry no real dynos in Sonora).
I'm sorry if I am ranting, but I had to jump in.
When I had the money for the BBC in my pocket I started looking at the LSX option, and sure I got an '02 LQ9, I am getting there, I barely have time to work on the thing, but once I made up my mind I am enjoying every minute of it, I cannot wait to go and work with the harness and all these things.
Now, my new goal, and the final test, is to drive about 7 hours (from Phoenix, AZ, to Hermosillo, Sonora) and beat my buddy's BBC 69 Chevelle, call it revenge because he got me first. And I hope to do it this summer.
Go bold, embrace the dark side.. I mean the new! go LSX!
Luis H. Corbala
Phoenix, AZ
70 Chevelle
6.0 LQ9 GMPP intake, Edelbrock 3848 elbow, NOS Cheater, long tube headers, stock everything else (so far)

 

daily driver and want to take on long trips ls

just for all out fun BIG BLOCK

 

dont see why big blocks equals fun and LS equals long trips... you can build a 600 rwhp ls based engine you can use as a daily driver.... not really an option with a BBC....

i have two big block muscle cars.. a 66 impala ss and a 32 roadster with a stack injected 454... and after having tried the smooth power if an ls based engine im NEVER building another BBC, its expensive heavy and hairchested rough to drive.. with the LS you get better manners, cheaper parts and less weight AND you get more power and better mileage...

but if fun is rough... put in a 25x degree cam with 62x list and 110 LS in an LS7 and see power few big blocks can match....

the only reason i can think of to put a big block instead of an LS based engine in a 1. gen was to make it look stock...

 

I would say LSX motor for sure.

 

Exactly..my 402 Stroker has layed waste to several built BBC's, and it leaves them guys wondering WTF I have when I explain to them that it's a 402 Small Block that gets over 25mpg..with STOCK Heads that out-flow theirs.

That's why I vote Stroker LSX..I have a very simple build and it's pretty fckn nasty for what it is.

 

IMO when I get to the 1500+ hp level I will build a BBC for aftermarket support. Until then I will stay LSx, especially after hearing mine fire up.