I have a 454 that dates to around 1974ish, I'm looking at a 1999 camaro sale-2jgzq-2012780689@craigslist.org and wonder if the 454 would be a "fairly" easy install or if there would be crazy stupid clearance issues. we have a turbo 400 trans to go with the 454. could this be an "easy" project and what parts would be needed? thanks for any help. the camaro is a V-6 now.

 

it would be a crazy stupid clearance issue after another. the 350 is a very tight fit. the 6 has a engine bay, running gear and suspension that is designed for the 6, even the lt1 is not designed for a bigger motor so all would have to be fabricated to handle the big block.

 

thats all i needed to know thanks for the help, we were looking at an 89 that needed a motor and trans, would this be a bolt in deal? i have heard mixed comments about the motor mounts being different, and the 454 would sit higher on one side, the turbo 400 wouldnt bolt in right, shifter position would be off, most of that comes from a guy that wants me to buy his 79 but the 89 weighs close to 500lbs lighter. (or so i'm told) any views or comments there? I want to buy the car in the next few days but don't want to have to fab the entire front end just to get the motor and trans in.

 

there are a few 89's with big blocks. heres some info i found for ya.

http://koolenterprises.com/diff_sol/Fitmods.html

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/en...ap-header.html

http://koolenterprises.com/diff_sol/bbc.html

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/en...swap-info.html

 

A 1974ish 454 (as built) is not going to be a hot performer. I mean this was about the depths of the compression-reduced, emissions-choked engine era. About everything bad that could be done to an engine was being done; the catalytic converter was next. Even the 1974 Corvette's optional 454 (LS4) was rated at only 270 hp and that engine would be totally smoked by the base 350 in a mid-90s Corvette.
Do you know what the 454 you have is out of? Have you found the code letters stamped onto the block and researched them? You might have a truck 454 which would have an even lower CR and be rated at 210-235 hp.
As we all know "there's no replacement for displacement" but a 74ish 454 will need a complete performance overhaul to worth the trouble of stuffing in a 4th (or 3rd) generation F-body. And even then it'll be nose-heavy straight line car.
Just my .02

 

I found the casting number and put it through google and found that it was a truck motor, I'm not worried about the stock cr of this 454 as it has now gone to the machine shop for, .030 bore, align hone, decking, KB icon pistons, pro comp heads, scat crank, comp cam xtreme energy cam, eagle I-beam connecting rods, weiand stealth intake, holley 850, and an electric water pump. Not sure on what headers will be used just yet. As for the whatever year camaro I try to stuff this in its not ment for a canyon carver, around town some to and from the track. I have a TH400 backing it up with a ford 9" (not sure what gear to run yet) as for suspension I'm lookin at 90-10 front and 50/50 rear with frame connectors and at least ladder bars. I have put quite a bit of thought into this "project" but have yet to decide on what gen car to put it in, so far the options were a 79 that once housed the same set up, an 89 that had a 350, and the 99 that I'm not going to mess with now. The 89 will require a different crossmember to house the TH400 and thicker radiator along with a trans cooler, and steering box (or so I hear) the 454 has been in my garage waiting till I gathered the parts for the build before I sent it to the shop and just got the pistons in 2 days ago so I sent it off for the work today. Back to the gen issue, the 79 looks mean and is a clean car for the money but heavy and yes I know the 454 will add more weight, the 89 is 500 lbs lighter but would suffer from being nose heavy, again I'm not looking for a car to corner in I have bikes for. We managed to put a bbf in a 69 mustang that started as an I-6 car I don't feel like going through the issues of fitment and tweeking a ton of crap to get the motor to fit with ease and stress with the header clearance (cutting shock towers to fit),and heater box issues. Never worked on camaros so I'm not sure how this is going to go that's why I asked what years would be "easier" to work with. I was aware of the HP drop in the 70's with the gas issues but didn't realise they choked the motors down that bad, good thing I just needed the block. Feel sorry for the kids wanting to use stock ones. Any openions on what year to use as I said its a toss up now between a 79 and an 89. THANKS

 

68 C10 stepside dropped about 5 inchs with a 2" steel cowl hood, Paint it flat black and some old school baby moon chrome wheels and fat rubber, with the above motor/tranny.

But a camaro would be cool also

 

that would be one hell of a truck but as much as id love to make that happen I've had my eyes on another camaro for quite some time. And gettin them at a decent price is a plus. The guy with the 79 wants 1500 and needs a windshield, and tail light. The 89 is 1k and needs a new harwood hood as its spidered. I'm really at a toss up between the 2. The guy with the 79 put what looks like a late 80's dash in it so I wonder what kind of crazy sounds that makes over bumps. Its been sittin for about 2 or 3 years.