Are 427 Big Block truck "tall deck" motors any good?

Would one be worth putting in a car?

I am building a "grandma style street car" with COPO looks. I am doing on a budget and have access to one of these motors.

Thanks for the feedback.

No, The Tall Deck Is Only Good For A Stroker Engine Around 510 Inches.........take The Engine And Rob The Steel Crank And 4 Bolt Caps.the Tall Deck Has 4 Rings Per Piston Far From A Hi Po

I have heard rumors that you can run a 427 car piston with a longer .400" rod with these. Where you run into problems is most intakes for these are a tall single plane type. Also, header fittment and clutch linkage peices (because of the headers) becomes issues. I had a buddy with a 366 tall deck in a Nova. It actually ran pretty good. It had retangular port heads with a victor tall deck intake. He use to shift it at 6800 to 7000 RPMS all day. As far as I know he is still driving it like that. It had truck pistons in it with the four piston rings. The fourth ring I think is an extra oil ring. Remember these where in buses and HD trucks.

As said, intake, distributor and header fitment issues are the main concern's, otherwise it should bore out an 1/8th" over and you can then stroke them out to about 550" if you grind the lower end. IF you want a cheaper, big motor.

To me tho, I'd find an old mid '70's to mid '80's P/U 454 core motor and build a 460/468/489/496 motor..

And I have a 496 in my car now.

If I was to ever build another one, I would buy a Merlin Pro block or whatever one is on sale that will bore to 4.625" and then install a 4.375" crank and make a standard deck height 588" motor!! For STEALTH, He, He!!!! (Probably looking at 700hp with a big solid cam!!).....

The guys in the know would know it's not a 396, but I figure my big headed other B-i-L won't know the difference!!

pdq67

Does anyone else have any experience with building one of these for the street?

I currently have a tall deck 427 in my 68 Camaro. I use "car" pistons and rods that are .400" longer than stock. I have built a few of these for racing and for street use.
Email me if you have any questions about the tall deck motors.

If it were me I would either sell the tall deck 427 or rob the crank and caps and maybe the rods and build a car BB for the car. As pdq was saying GO BIG. You can pick up a 454 block pretty easy now days.