hey i am looking at an 84 camaro, it has a stock 4 bolt 350 in it. I was thinking about putting a 454 in it. Would that fit alright, and how would the frame hold up? My choices are building a 350 into a 383 or dropping a 454 init. I want a fast street car and am wondering how much hp can be made out of that 383 and is it relatively comparable to a slightly built cammed 454?

 

I don't think any of the 3rd gen, or even 2nd gen camaros had 4bolt mains. I'm not 100% sure on that though.

Second, the BB is going to take a lot of work to shoehorn into that bay. It is doable for sure, but very time consuming. I think a properly built 383 is the better choice. I am right in the middle of putting in a brand new 383 in my 87. There are plent of guys/companies that can make reliable high HP strokers. Expect to pay 7K+ for a 450HP complete turn key setup though. It is still a huge chore, there is nothing easy about swaps at all. I have a lot of hours and $$$ into it and its not even together yet. Just make sure it is built correctly and you are mating it to a proper transmission. Then, be prepared to re-do your suspension. PS. there is no "frame" to to worry about as its a unibody, so make sure you have proper braces and connectors throughout.

 

first chevy didnt make a 350 for our body style until 86 with the iroc and still it was an option and didnt come stock. and they didnt make a 4 bolt main either. make sure its not a 305.
second i had a 427 in my 89 and it took ALOT of work and bracing. and if u have ttops ur gunna have to put in a cage to keep it from twisting. ur gunna have to have some custom headers made for the drivers side bcuz of the steering. and maybe beat the firewall so the distrubter will fit. but its doable as the dude above me said. good luck

 

Actually the 350 did not arrive on the scene until 1987. 4 bolt main were only in chevy trucks and some monte carlo ss. There are conversion kits to make 2 bolt main 350's into 4-bolt mains, but u talk about a pain in the nuts! Your better off my man takin a 350 and turning it into a 383. less expensive and no cutting and relocalizing in the engine compartment. I personally would not go past a 400 cid in a third gen. Good luck on the 454! I hope you have deep filled pockets my friend!

 

i reading it as "his 350 is stock 4 bolt". being it a 84, maybe some one pulled the 305 and put a stock 4 bolt 350 in it place some time in the last 25 years?

i'm new to the camaro's but not to swaping engines in my other toys and putting a 454BBC, looks like more work, than just getting a factory or aftermarket 400 SBC and put 4inch stroker crank in it. that would give you 427 and you would not have the change andthing because it would bolt in the same place as your 350.