I know this has probley been beat to death but I couldnt find the info I was looking for. I talked to a guy that said he had a 454 73-75 truck block. I was looking for a block to start my 496 build. Do you think this would be a good block to start with. I really dont know advantages/disadvantages of deck hight etc. Are there any blocks I should stay away from. thanks in advance.

Justin,
That block will be fine. Contrary to what some people think, there is only one deck height for 454 blocks. They are all "short" deck. The only tall deck engines were 366's and 427's in Heavy Duty (over 1 ton) trucks. Your 73 block will be a perfect foundation for the 496.

Sorry guys big learning curve here. If the crank is usuable, could I not just get the block bored for 468, pick up a set of oval port iron heads and have a valve job done, and with the right cam, intake, get over 500 horse on the cheap.

In a word , yep.

454 4 bolt blocks in 97 up and can be great start for 468, look for old higher hp ovals like 390 hp 454 or use the vortec head on these 97 up 454's, they do ok, i rebuilt one about three years ago for a repo truck, made 330 hp w/tbi. another good source for 4 bolt 454 is mercruiser marine, they have standard and reverse rot motors, all 2 bolt 454's are good stuff too, i have put the old 2 bolts to the test alot, like bore em .100 and big domes and .725 lift rollers in bracket stuff, they just keep on going. don't have trouble with up to about 550 hp. over that we put the 4 bolts on. i have seen those old 2 bolt blocks get the heck sprayed out of em even with stock rods. if i did it, it would all be on the track.

My '75, "TSC", 454 P/U block that I made my 496 out of had a good set of -781's on it, but it's stock CR. w/ flat-tops was terrible! Probably 7.9 to 1 if that much.

EXCELLENT 496 making block, imho..

pdq67

I agree with everyone, The block is a great foundation just dont pay too much...........

I had a friend who just bought a complete running 85 suburban engine for $1000 only to put another $700 in machine work. All he used was the block and for a couple hundred more could have bought a brand new aftermarket block and built a 540 for the same money. It happens a lot.


Good luck and go with the cheaper 500 hp 468.....You'll never know the difference in a street car :thumbsup:


JMO of course.....




bob

Are there any recent books on big blocks that discuss these things? Like what blocks and heads to look for (casting numbers) for a stock looking 496 project?

Sure, H.P.BOOKS old book, THAT'S STILL A GOOD ONE by me, "How to Hotrod BB Chevrolets"!

Then a much newer book...................

Ed Staffels great book, "How to Build Max Performance Chevy Rat Motors by CARTECH.

And this one that will make your mouth water!!

Hotrods, "How to Build Monster Chevy Big Blocks" again by CARTECH.

And there's others too, but these three will get you going!!

Have a good read.

pdq67

aren't all 454 blocks "truck blocks" when someone is trying to sell one?
i've got a 4 bolt 454 "truck block" sitting out in a barn that i should really find a use for...

Right, b/c I figure there were more 454's installed in P/U's and such than all the rest of the 366, 396, 402 and 427's put together!

pdq67

Have a good read.

pdq67

Thanks pdq! Been running mouse motors since 1973, know them inside and out, but time to learn how to build a rat!

I had to also!

pdq67

I'd still get the casting numbers off of the block to make sure it's not a tall deck 427 block. They'll work, just more trouble with intakes, distributors, headers, etc. and the regular/pass/short deck block has a lot more available for it off the shelf.

Easy way to check is to look how high the decks are above the top water pump bolts?

3/8" or .40" or so = 9.8" block, and about 3/4" or a schosh more = a 10.2" block, tall decker...

pdq67

im doing a 496 now the bolck is 3999289 71-79 for the money go 496