I just bought a 68 Camaro with a 6 cyl/pwr glide. I've got a 72 402 block and some oval port closed chamber heads, but that is it.
Pricing everything I'll need to make the big block work isn't looking to good. To put this car in the 12's would I be better off budget wise to go with a small block?

 

the main advantage of a big block is torque they make alot of power but usually cost a little more to build ..so a good option for you might be a small block stroker motor relatively cheap to build and make good power

 

Those oval port closed chamber heads flow great. Think about what you will have to pay for equivalent heads for a SBC. Decent compression, good cam & intake , 750 carb will be enough to put your car in the 12's easily. If your chassis can put the power down.

Besides, small block Camaros are common.

Eyewash value of a big block is considerably greater.

 

agreed.........

 

If you already have the 402 block and heads might as well build it. I ran a sb that beat many bb, but it had to be geared high (for daily driving) for it. BB's are cool because of the gobs of lowend grunt. Don't have to gear them as high to move the car as fast making a more street friendly package.

Right now I'm running a 3.08 gear and would love to have the torque of a BB.

 

I'm huge Big Block fan myself, although both my 1st gen Camaros have been small blocks. (Why is that?) Heck, I'd do the 402 and dress the thing up to look like an SS... and while you're at it, instead of a common SS clone, why not make it a Yenko SS clone? (Much less common and better resale value.)

 

big block of course! camon do you really even have to ask this question...

 

if you already have the big block than it will surely be cheaper to build. But if you had extra money I would go small block, why would you want all that extra weight when a small block can easily be built to make the same or more power than any big block. The replacement for displacement is efficiency.

 

I've read about several BB vs SB build ups. I hate to say it, but all things equal the BB wins every time. It isn't THAT much of a weight diff. The BB usually has a better torque curve also.

 

No a SBC can't be built to make the same or more power than any BBC. A SBC might be able to beat a mild BBC, but mod for mod there is no comparison. The BBC wins every time + has much better street manners.

Build the BB

 

Thanks to all for the input! Now I have to convince my wife! Since this is her car. My car is too original to have fun with, so I have to live vicariously through her. She might let me drive it once in a while. hahaha!
How long can I expect the power glide, 10 bolt mono-leaf set up to survive? I know of a complete 12 bolt set up, but it will cost me. yah yah I know, projects always take twice as long and cost twice as much. But I'll dream right up until we actually start tearing this car apart.
Here is a short list of parts I believe I'll need for the conversion; coil springs, frame eng. mounts, fuel lines, trans and rear axle/springs, heater core/box. Anything else?? This car does have a 3 core radiator.
Thanks again, need all the ammo I can get.....

 

The 8.2 isn't horribly weak; I've seen guys run 11's with prepped units. Consider getting a better 8.5 diff out of an early 70's Nova. Same dimensions as 1st gen, but will have multileaf pads.

 

yeah you can pretty much do anything with anything, I prefer big blocks. Yeah ,sure you can make a sb run with a bb. Then you can always make a big block run faster. My next project , at my work im going to build an 850 ci aluminum block,aluminum intake and heads. Id like to see a sb run with that.

 

brett -check out the latest chevy high performance magazine they have some good write ups about small block chevy's with lots of displacement and big time grunt. plenty of power to get a to get a 68 camaro into mid 12's. i think the issue was tailored to your project. have fun and post updates and pictures about the projects

 

Lots of great info, thanks! I'm getting all wound up early on what to and not to do with our new toy! I still have a 14 hour drive to go and get the new addition. I'm all out of vacation time so it has to wait until June 1st when the vacation bank is full again. Until then I'll solicit advice and amass some more parts to fill the bursting at the seams garage.