A friend of mine, in his ultimate wisdom, has decided to purchase a 454 with its paired transmission and then find whatever car he can to stuff the powerhouse into. He's leaving it up to finding whatever car he can with as little rust as possible and minimal mount adjusting. Basically he wants everything to bolt right in.
Does anyone have any suggestions I can share with him? Positive or negative, I really don't care. Not my car. Praise it or flame it and tell me why.
Not all 454's were powerhouses. If it were me, I'd find the smallest econobox (like a starlet) and a Holset turbo and enter the Challenge, but it's not me.
If he wants it to bolt in more or less, he's obviously looking at cars which were available with BBCs. If I had to choose without spending a ton, I'd be all over an el camino.
I like your thought process there, tuna. He's on a tight budget, but he wants a powerful car. I want to hear more about the difference between the 454s that had power vs those which didn't. I don't know these engines.
If it has to bolt in I think you would be looking at any year Impala/Carpice but you will have to fight the Donk crowd for these.
A Mid 70's Malibu/Cutluss, etc would be a fine choice.
Camaro/Firebird of the Smokey and the Bandit era as well.
Look no further than Wikipedia, some years had 230 HP!!!!
454
The big-block was expanded again for 1970 to 454.2 cubic inches (7.4 L) with a 4.251 in (108.0 mm) bore and 4 in (100 mm) stroke. The 1970 Chevy Corvette LS5 version of this engine produced 390 hp (291 kW) and 500 lb·ft (680 N·m), and the LS6 engine was rated at 450 hp (340 kW). It has been suggested that the LS6 was substantially underrated and actually produced well over 500 horsepower (370 kW) as delivered from the factory, although there is no empirical evidence to support this claim. Indeed, the AHRA ASA Class record holding Chevelle LS6 for the 1970 season posted a record setting trap speed of 106.76 mph (171.81 km/h) "1970 ASA LS6 454 Records", which suggests something on the order of 370 "as installed" (SAE Net) HP for a 3,900 pounds (1,800 kg) car and driver combination.
A 465 hp (347 kW) and 490 lb·ft (660 N·m) version of the 454, dubbed LS7 was also designed but never went to production. However, a handful of LS7 intake manifolds were produced and sold by a few Chevy dealers as performance parts. The LS7 was later offered as a crate engine from GM and advertised at 500 hp (370 kW).
Power began falling off after 1970, with the 1971 LS5 producing 365 hp (272 kW) and 465 lb·ft (630 N·m), and the LS6 option coming in at 425 hp (317 kW) and 475 lb·ft (644 N·m). Only the LS5 remained in 1972, when SAE net power ratings and the move towards emission compliance resulted in to 270 hp (200 kW) and 390 lb·ft (530 N·m). The 1973 LS4 produced 275 hp (205 kW) and 390 lb·ft (530 N·m), with 5 hp (3.7 kW) and 10 lb·ft (14 N·m) gone the following year. Hardened valve seats helped allow these engines to last much longer than the earlier versions, even without the protection previously provided by lead from fuel. 1974 was the last year of the 454 in the Corvette though the Chevelle offered it in the first 1/2 of the 1975 model year. It was also available in the full size Impala/Caprice until model year 1976.
GM continued to use the 7.4 L (454 cu in) in their truck line, introducing a new Vortec 7400 version in 1996. GM also introduced the 7.4 L 454 EFI in 1990 (known as the GEN V; the previous generation was known as the Mark IV produced between 1965–90; the GEN prefix was used since Ford Motor Company owns the Mark V naming rights since it was used on a Lincoln automobile between 1977–79), which was electronically fuel injected giving more power and torque. The 454 EFI version was rated from 230 hp (170 kW) to 255 hp (190 kW) and from 385 lb·ft (522 N·m) to 405 lb·ft (549 N·m) of torque. The 7.4 L 454 EFI was found on GM 2500 and 3500 trucks throughout the early 1990s until replaced with the Vortec 7400 (GEN VI) in 1996.
It is one heavy bastard of a motor/trans combo. I'd put it in a boat and go find an LS to swap into a car.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: It is one heavy bastard of a motor/trans combo. I'd put it in a boat and go find an LS to swap into a car.
Oh come on, it's not THAT bad - lots' of stuff was heavier during that time period... Plenty of lightweight drag cars use BBC power and go just fine.
mostly trucks. expensive camaro/chevelles.
but then, its chebbie and its off the radar.
Put it in a Fiero!
Or more seriously a Pontiac Phoenix if he can find one.
The answer is Miata!
Oh, wait, that may be a bit nose heavy. I'd like to put one in a 3rd generation Camaro or Firebird myself. Bolts right in and a great way to get in touch with your inner mullet.
It'll fit any '73 through '87 Chevy truck, and some prior to that
Almost any RWD Impala and it's variants
F-body's up to '81
G-body's up to about '77
Anything else if you want to bad enough. 
F- body's and some others may need the frame brackets swapped out if they are for a small block.
not a 454 but a few years back i think it was hot rod magazine stuffed a big block caddy motor into a chevette (?) and tubbed it for big slicks. they swapped to a different year head to bump up the compression ratio, and ran 10's on pump gas. i think they were into the project for near challenge money too
tuna55 wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: It is one heavy bastard of a motor/trans combo. I'd put it in a boat and go find an LS to swap into a car.Oh come on, it's not THAT bad - lots' of stuff was heavier during that time period... Plenty of lightweight drag cars use BBC power and go just fine.
I have a 396 BB in my Chevelle. It is a bear to muscle in and out with the hoist and it makes my super-heavy engine stand flibber. I had to build a front support for it out of wood so I could wrench on heads and intake w/o it buckling. An LS motor can make power from a much lighter and easier to manage package. A big consideration if you plan to put it right over the front wheels and then do anything like turning left and right.
In reply to Strizzo:
I remember that. It was the guy who looked like the "can you hear me now?" guy. I think it was Hot Rod Magazine. I remember seeing it on tv at some point.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:tuna55 wrote:I have a 396 BB in my Chevelle. It is a bear to muscle in and out with the hoist and it makes my super-heavy engine stand flibber. I had to build a front support for it out of wood so I could wrench on heads and intake w/o it buckling. An LS motor can make power from a much lighter and easier to manage package. A big consideration if you plan to put it right over the front wheels and then do anything like turning left and right.Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: It is one heavy bastard of a motor/trans combo. I'd put it in a boat and go find an LS to swap into a car.Oh come on, it's not THAT bad - lots' of stuff was heavier during that time period... Plenty of lightweight drag cars use BBC power and go just fine.
But he has a BBC. Use what you have and all that. Sure, better exists, but that's not the point.
tuna55 wrote: But he has a BBC. Use what you have and all that. Sure, better exists, but that's not the point.
Well, now all he needs is a boat!
find a 4 door early to mid 70's nova. they are around and the 2 door nova versions had them stuffed in all the time for dragsters in the 70's. parts for that swap are (or at least were) pretty plentiful. it would be a good sleeper.....
unfortunately 2 door versions are near impossible to find for a good price in good condition.
Drop it into (on) a rail and go bracket racing. Low weight means even a low power version will still be stupid-fast and under-stressed (reliable). Paired with an A/T you should be able to put down consistent ET's (important for bracket racing).
itsarebuild wrote: find a 4 door early to mid 70's nova. they are around and the 2 door nova versions had them stuffed in all the time for dragsters in the 70's. parts for that swap are (or at least were) pretty plentiful. it would be a good sleeper..... unfortunately 2 door versions are near impossible to find for a good price in good condition.
I use to have a 72 4door Nova. They make excellent sleepers indeed. I've been looking for one or a Ventura in good condition to hot rod again.
'58 Impala
berkeley it... forget the boat. Find a Chevette and shove it in there with zoomies sticking right up out of the hood.
They were factory installs in 77 and up Police Impala's. I saw an OPP cruiser with one.
Like someone pointed out - these cars are popular with the donk crowd from what I have seen or they are long since returned to iron oxide.
I have to agree with the person who said go LSx and I love BBC's. The tech on the newer ones have moved on.
Yugo?
Chris-Craft? 
You'll need to log in to post.
