I am kind of stuck as to where I want to take my car. I am trying to decide whether to go with a 383/396 LT4 with nice heads/big cam and possibly spray it. Or whether to go with a nice 427 SBC (I know BBC, but I believe Motown just released a 427 SBC) and build it up.
Now, I don't have any experience with old Gen 1 SBCs, but I am sure I can research and find out what parts would work best for my goals.

This would be going into a 1994 Trans Am. So obviously the BMR LT1/SBC swap K member would be needed.

I want a good cruiser, something easy to tune, something rather respectable at the drag strip and also a little WOW factor from fellow gear heads.

So what do you guys think? Which would also be cheaper?

 

Both will be expensive. Just depends on how expensive you want to go.

BTW, you can build a 454 SBC now. You can nearly get 500 CID out of a small block if you've got the $$.

 

sheeyte theres 472cid SBC's out running around

overbore and stroke potential go to the gen1 SBC hands down, especially an aftermarket block

 

So a 427 SBC will DEFINATELY fit in a 4th gen engine compartment with no other part needed besides the BMR K-Member.

 

You would either have to cut a whole in the firewall and probably the dash too so you could get to the distributor or use a crank trigger and get rid of it altogether.

 

So, what is the ideal block to go with when building a 427ci SBC? What exactly is a crank trigger?
Thanks

 

there's someone on the board that put a distributor on his LT1, kinda slick. he didnt need to cut his firewall or cowl, but I believe he had to drop the motor slightly to put the distributor in and same for taking it out. a SBC might have more potential b/c of the variety of heads available for it...but then again, could have SBC heads converted for reverse flow and use with the LT1.

 

The gen I SBC in a 4th gen can certainly be done, but it's far from "plug-n-play". You planning carb or EFI? That will make a huge difference in the cost and complexity. If you want to use EFI you will need a completely new engine management system.

The question as posed is very general. If you had some sort of a budget in mind, that would help. Gen I could mean anything from a worked over boneyard 350 with a carb to a Dart or Bowtie block with SBC 2.2 heads and a sophisticated EFI system. You could spend anywhere from a couple of thousand to $30-40,000 or more. So, it's very hard to give you any advice without knowing how much you plan to spned and how much you can do yourself.

Rich Krause

 

Exactly. Budget is everything. SB2.2 heads/intakes and tall deck, raised camshaft, big bore small blocks don't come cheap. So unless you've got a fabled money tree in your basement, you may want to give us a money figure that you deem acceptable.

 

I personally like Iron Eagles and Little Ms.

Actually you can get a used set of professionally ported ones including a matching intake and pistons off ebay for like $2k.

 

How much $ you got?

A 427/434 can make 600-650 hp at 62-6500rpm, 550+ lbs-ft torque with 23º heads and a cam that'll idle all day at 900rpm. If you want more, you just add better heads. That's the beauty of cubic inches like this.

A small cap distributor will fit just fine. No, you wouldn't be able to pull it while in the engine bay but there is enough clearance. A tall deck block might present a problem though... may need a bit of firewall massaging to make that work. The short crank trigger distributors would also fit just fine.

The real bugger in the pudding is the fuel injection setup (if thats the route you want to go). As Rich said, this is where the $$ comes into it. Lots of options but none of the ready-made ones are cheap.

-Mindgame

 

Well, first off the budget is kind of complex. It's not really like I have a budget set right now, I am just trying to think whether I want to go all out on a LT1 block or spring for a custom SBC Gen 1 setup.
I would definately go carb with a single plane manifold. I know that will bring the cost down some over a EFI setup. I was thinking something like a decent block (nothing TOO extranvagent), a nice set of heads (don't know what degree head to go with), single plane with carb, and nice valvetrain with a nice lopy cam.

Basically, I am trying to decide to go different than everyone else (SBC) or go with what I got and stroke the LT1.
My goals are a weekend cruiser, some time drag use, unique, and somewhat cost effective (most horsepower for cheapest $$$).

 

Go find a 400 SBC that can go .030 over and build 406. Cheap, reliable, and powerful.

 

What is the stroke and bore of a 400 SBC?

 

Bore Stroke
4.125" x 3.75"