Chevyguy04

I have a 427 bbc truck block, is it possible to build it up to like 450HP? Can i throw some nice heads on it and put some new pistons and a nice cam in it? It is a 4 bolt main. Anyone ever build one up or have any information?

ulakovic22

iTrader: (12)

You can easily build one up to 450HP with no problem, just depends on your budget. Typically you can use some ported oval port heads with a whatever cam that fits your needs. What is it going into and what are your goals for the car/truck?

mrdragster1970

Are you asking if it's strong enough?? or how to do it??

I made 1050 HP with a tall deck truck block. We love them.

That's what we looked for before we all started using big bore blocks.

You have a great piece for what you're trying to build.

xdamxincx

iTrader: (1)

u could build that motor to 450 hp with ur eyes closed and both arms tied behind ur back.

ZL1camaro

helll yeah....450hp would be a mild build ...id kill for that motor!

1badnova496

iTrader: (19)

450hp is no problem but i would buy some longer rods so that you can use regular 427 pistons instead of those heavy 4ringed pistons that they come with

Chevyguy04

Thanks for the replies, The motor is going into a 55 Chevy Pickup hotrod. There is a 427 copo motor in it currently, running aprox 425-450 HP, but when we are done building our 1969 camaro in about a 8 months to a year, it is goin in there. We got this truck 427 from a friend for $200, so we figured we could build it up. I don't know much about the truck blocks so any information is greatly appreciated. you know Any secrets or ideas. Like i said we are looking for like 400-500HP.

Hrod382

Sounds like some sweet rides man.

Like mentioned above, the BBC's can take a lot. Hell I'm running low 9's with a 2 bolt main 454 (granted the block is really the only thing stock).

Chevyguy04

Does anyone know of any good websites for big blocks?

Fasglas

The truck block (due to it's taller deck height) allows you to run a longer stroke crankshaft and still have good rod angularity. That's why in the past people looked for truck blocks when they wanted to build a large displacement motor. These motors mostly came in dump trucks and the like (not pickup trucks). As mentioned above the truck block has a taller deck to allow the use of pistons with extra rings for heavy duty industrial use. If you aren't planning to build a large displacement motor (longer than stock stroke) the truck block may not be worth the trouble.

The main areas where you will have to do something different are with the piston/rod combo and the pushrods, intake and distributor. There are a number of ways you can get around the intake/distributor problem. Because of the taller deck on the truck block a regular big block intake won't fit. It will be too small and will have air gaps between the intake and the heads. You can either use special spacers made to fill the gaps between the intake and heads and also get a special distributor to accommodate the taller deck. Or you can get a performance aftermarket intake which is made larger to fit the truck block. Some of these aftermarket intake manifolds also locate the distributor lower so you can use a stock distributor made for a standard deck big block.

Chevyguy04

THanks for the info, i feel sorta dumb just because I have never dealt with a Tall deck. I've been reading the books, I know a lot about the regualr big blocks. SO any usefull infor or secrets would be great.

andereck

Header fitment may suck or be seriously compromised depending on the cylinder head choice. The block being taller will move the headers higher and farther apart. Many aftermarket heads now have raised exhaust ports which will do the same thing. Keep that in mind.

mrdragster1970

good point, I had custom made headers, and left room for short deck & tall deck blocks on my slow car. .400 is not that much with custom headers, standard set might hit. I also had 2 tubes over frame, 2 under. So there was plenty of room. Any head I would ever use has raised exhaust, so we didn't worry about that issue.

Like andereck said, keep all that in mind. Oh yea, don't forget midplate, if u have 1 or plan to in future.

I also am pushing E-85 & bio-diesel

andereck

That's excellent. We just got our second E85 station in the metro area and its 5 minutes from the shop. Hopefully we'll get rolling on some experiments soon. My new project will be dual fuel capable via the XFI and I hope to tweak a daily driver to be able to switch on the fly, might have to be my own. $1.76 / gal here. Probably closer to E70 this time of year.

EPP

iTrader: (22)

That will be an interesting experiment, Mark. Let us know how it works out. Bob