I have a 3rd Generation Camaro (89) and it currently has a carbed 350 that has been bored and stroked out to a 383 stroker. Recently though I was able to get a steal on a 454 with a 4 bolt main. I had the motor bored .060 out and added some new TrickFlow Heads and replaced all bearings and gaskets of course.

Now for the interesting part. I have never gone from a small block to a big block and don't know what is involved with this and what I will need to watch for as far as things that might get in the way or things I should do to prevent problems. As excited as I am, I am equally as nervous. The car isn't a daily driver but is a needed car and is driving regularly. I am wanting to gather as much info as I can to keep the exchange down to a minimum in time down.

So any suggestions and helpful tips that you can provide is appreciated. As soon as the car is done we will post pics.

Thanks

 

You're gonna need a big shoehorn!
Sorry,never been involved in a 3rd gen big block swap so I'm no help.
No 3rd gen ever had a factory BB of course so it might as well be a Ford you're putting it in except that it's been done by others who hopefully will chime in soon.
Looking forward to seeing the finished product,should be a bad ****.

 

i dont think anyone makes headers specificly for the swap, but you can have a set made. i think it requires you to fish the steering shaft between the tubes. i would also invest in a set of iridium spark plugs as you will not be able to change them with the engine in the car. the only other things needed would be engine mounts and a trans and rear that will hold up (which im assuming you have covered).

 

I'm betting you'll have an easier time changing spark plugs with a Big Block than you did with the 350! The plugs are easier to access on a big block, and the small block engine mounts will bolt right up to your big block engine.
Now the clearances with steering and headers, plus the hood clearances and power brake booster clearance, are all things I can't tell you about.
I know the engine will bolt right up to the mounts and the bellhousing or tranny, but you might end up having to use stock cast iron exhaust manifolds to clear the steering, and maybe get a small booster for the brakes to clear valve covers.
And most likely a new hood, or a cowl section added to your hood.

 

Here ya go,look what I found........
A big block engine swap into an F-Body (1982 to 1992) Camaro was performed for Hot Rod magazine for the October 1982 issue. This was what was required to make it work:
http://www.camarotech.com/Gen3-BigBlockSwap.html

 

Looks like they went with manual brakes, so no booster interference. Interesting that the distributor wouldn't clear? I didn't think the distributor set any differently on a big block vs. a small block?

 

I had problems with my Accel dualpoint hitting the firewall in my '69.
Only when the engine was torquing over hard but I cracked a couple of caps before I took a hammer to the firewall.
An HEI would have been worse with the huge cap,I'm thinking the dizzy sits back a little bit more than in a SBC.

 

Nice links! This will definately be an interesting undertaking...... I'm diving into 1 myself here shortly!

 

i am doing a bigblock 427 swap myself...and it will bolt right up but booster..firewall..and radiator cleances i think r a little issue..i know for sure headers r made for this they r like 100-200$ range by hooker headers..and ur hood will deffinatly have to go..and u r going to have to move brake lines at the proportioning valve.