Author Topic: 1988 454 a good motor to build?  (Read 2254 times)

Offline 80stepsideguy

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1387
1988 454 a good motor to build?
« on: July 29, 2006, 08:54:00 PM »
Hi all,
today a good friend of mine stopped by to see my progress on my stepside.He is taking the 350 and tranny for his sisters 87 he is building.I was telling him about a 81 regal i found on ebay that has a 454 in it and the guy is pulling the motor and tranny and wants to sell me the car dirt cheap.Its a sweet ride and its done the right way.But heres the twist, after i told him about the car he said a friend of his just bought a 88 suburban with a 454 in it and doesnt want the motor just the body.So he said the motor runs good and no smoke and wants to do a trade and cash with a 700r4 for the 350 and th350 i got.My question is since i am going with a big block would this be the way to go rather then a 396 or a 402?Are the late 80`s big blocks low compression motors that need alot to get up in HP?

thanks
pat

1980 Chevy c10 restomod:  350/700r4 12 bolt 3.73 rearend iris blue metallic
1998 Chevy 1500 S/B 2wd
1970 cougar convertible: triple white 1 of 1
2014 Hyundai Tucson Limited(my daily driver)
2023 Kia Sportage X Pro (her daily driver).
2017 Hyundai Tucson Limited(her everyday driver).

Offline roundedline

  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
Re: 1988 454 a good motor to build?
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2006, 01:53:00 PM »
That would be a perfectly good motor to start with.  You don't want alot of compression with todays gas.  You can make alot of power from a BBC with easy changes like the heads and camshaft and intake.  They were built to tow, not to race, so there is a lot of potential there.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project