The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 454 into a 61 half ton?

Would it be a realistic goal to try and put a 454 into my 61? I found yet another guy to trade a motor with. He has a 1983 454 and th400 out of a dually that runs good and is complete.

Am I going to have to do a bunch of custom fabrication to make this happen? If all I needed was some custom motor mounts then I could live with that.

Has anyone done a big block swap into a half ton?

I am curious cause this is a good deal and a big block would be fun. It would make my truck into a weekend toy but I can handle that cause I don't drive it during the week anyways.

Is this a frivolous endeavor? I am apprehensive cause I think it would be a lot more work than a small block but if it is feasible then I would like to do it.

Thanks in advance,

Kyle

If I had to step over to the dark side, it would have to be a big block as opposed to the bellybutton motor. JK I know and understand the 350 willgive you the best bang for your buck. I just wish I had a buck for every person that has come up to me at a show or wherever I have my truck and say, "I had/have a truck like that and we swapped the 6 for a 350". I you take count at most shows, there are 20 bent motors for every inline.

Anyway, I think a big block would be cool. What do ya have planned for the brakes/tranny/rear?

I would be getting a th400 tranny and a floor shift for it. I was kinda hoping that my stock rear would hold up to it for a while? If not then probably a 14 bolt semi-floater out of something newer. As far as brakes I was gonna run the stockers for now...but that is a lot of power to control so I would need to upgrade them eventually.

My main concern is that it would be really complicated to put a big block in the truck.

Sorry to keep posting on my own post but here is the donor truck.

Model year: 1983
Drive: 2WD
Engine: 454 V8
Series: 1 ton (30/35)
Body: Four-door cab
Plant: St Louis
Serial #: 527200

In addition to my 54 Chevy with the tweaked inline, I also have a 64 straight axle, short bed FoMoCo that I thought would be neat with a 460+ Lincoln. The install was a challenge but that baby will haul buggy. I put a lot of time and money into getting it set up just right! Issues such as cooling the beast, steering, boxing the frame, brakes and suspension upgrades to make the truck safe and dependable on the road, were a real challenge. It is a hoot to drive, BB power is awesome. The problem is that it sits in my shop, under a cover and I find myself driving my more economical and showable 54 with the 235. It gets a good deal more attention at the shows, is more fun to "drive" and it doesn't cost me a dollar a mile to operate. I doubt seriously that the BBC will be a whole lot more economical but once the thrill of endless burnouts wears out, you'll wish you'd chosen another path.

Now understand, I'm just speaking for myself....you may be able to justify the time to solve all the problems of a physically large engine in a relatively small space. You may find that the pure thrill of awesome torque is just your cup of tea! In my case, after a year, the thrill had worn off and reality had set in.....I had created a hungry monster that took a bit out of my wallet every time I cranked her up!!!

I'm sure there are folks out there who will disagree....but I think a person should be made aware that BB power may not be all it's cut out to be.

Dave

Excessive or custom fabrication? I would not think so. I had a 60 that had so much room in the engine compartment I could actually ride under the hood while a friend drove it and I adjusted the carb. BTW I was a crazy teenager.

Go for it! I love driving a big block truck.

But you may want to install an auxillary fuel tank too. My modern big block truck has a 35 gallon tank, and won't go as far on a tank as my small block truck with only 24 gallons.

Nothing is a frivolous endeavor and if you realy want to do it, then get it out of your system and get it done and don't forget to post those pix. Otherwise you will be wishing, "what if". I don't think there will be that much more work.

I like having a driver, weather it is once in a while or every day and all I need these days are 6 cylinders. In my opinion, the dressed up 6 with some speed goodies beats everything else out there. They just look so good and different these days.

Isn't that what makes it a stovebolt to begin with?

Dave

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am still contemplating but it sure would be fun!

WELL NO THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR CURIOSITY GOING, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU DECIDE...AND PIX, DON'T FORGET THE PIX...LOL

Dave

Hi Kyle: I really enjoyed reading about your truck and how you came by it in the Gallery. Your a good writer and that always makes a story interesting.

I sure hope you've hung onto that oil bath air cleaner because I think you'll end up keeping it a real StoveBolt with it's original six and using that original breather again. A lot of times I wish I'd kept my 216 in mine.

BTW, did you ever get it painted? If so we'd love to see the updates. Good Luck on whatever you decide.

I had a 250, an SBC and an LS-6 454 in my 66 GMC... all three pretty much bolted in... I kept the NP 4 speed manual tranny tho... no issues with the rear end holding up, even with more than a few hole shots with an extended burnout... eh... sorry officer, my foot slipped off the clutch!!

Moneypit,

Thanks for the compliments. I really do enjoy the old truck quite a bit. It has been a lot of fun to own so far. I did keep the oil bath air cleaner, it's sittin' in the garage right now on a shelf next to some other parts.

I can't decide what I want is part of the problem. I just talked to a guy at a local hot rod shop and he said he would put it (the 454) in for $1500. But I am not sure I want to spend that much money right now. The six is on it's way out in the not too distant future and if I have to spend the money of a rebuild or an upgrade I would rather upgrade. Anyways, thanks for the replies everyone. I will keep you all posted on the progress.

Kyle

Is the 454 injected or carbed? I would think the swap itself would not be that hard(if you haver the tools and equipment needed)but if you are dealing w/ a computer controlled motor and trans, that's a horse of a different color.

Well if you do decide to get rid of that 6 I would be interested.

How does it run?

Dave