73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mike Phillips on August 10, 2008, 02:05:30 am
-
Hi everyone,
I found a 1986 2-wheel drive Suburban with a great running rebuilt 454 engine and automatic transmission.
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g292/modelerguy1983/2.jpg)
The 350 small block in my 1975 Jimmy has started to go south with at least one burnt valve and I want to remove it and install a big block Chevy engine. I can get the Suburban for $800.00 cash with a clear title. I just test drove it and it starts and runs great. (Bone stock as far as I can tell).
The idea was to take the complete engine out of the suburban and install it into my Jimmy along with any other beneficial item like the 4 core radiator.
Then maybe have the heads rebuilt on my 350 small block and install it into the Suburban and sell it.
The small block is coming out of the Jimmy no matter what, so now it's just a matter of getting a big block to put in her.
Anyone have any insight as to any conflicts with this swap? I need to let the guy know tomorrow morning if I want the Suburban so I'm hoping to get some feed back from you guys ASAP
Thanks...
Mike
-
I dont see any conflicts with the swap at all, should be a direc bolt in and go.
thanks
pat
-
That rear end in that 86 is a full float 14 bolt, worth $400 alone. Good buy. I would do it if it were me.
-
Good deal all right. Are you swapping trannies too? The Burb probably has a TH400. ?
-
Good deal all right. Are you swapping trannies too? The Burb probably has a TH400. ?
My Jimmy has a 700R4/NP208
If the Turbo 400 is a short shaft I will keep it and look for an independent transfercase and run a divorced system.
:)
-
My 76 camper special had a 454 in it factory. I swapped it out for a 350. I really didnt notice any difference at all in power but gas mileage went up with the 350. I guess pulling torque was probably significantly different but I never used that truck to pull anything when it still had the 454 in it.
-
Go for it! Great deal!
-
Sold!
Just drove it home. Seems to run really good. It's almost a shame to pull the motor but that's what the future holds for this thing. This truck was smogged just a few weeks ago and passed with flying colors, oil pressure is great and everything works but the air conditioning. The owner says all it needs is charged. My truck didn't come with air conditioning so I guess those parts will stay with the truck.
Right now the plan is to pull the 454 out, clean it up and install it into the Jimmy and then take the 350 in the Jimmy and put it into the Suburban and put it up for sale. When I get the 350 out I'll do a compression check and at least see where the miss is coming from.
I'll take a few pics and post them.
Mike
-
That rear end in that 86 is a full float 14 bolt, worth $400 alone. Good buy. I would do it if it were me.
I'm a car guy and pretty good with a wrench but to be honest I don't know the full meaning or value of what it means to have a Full Float 14 Bolt Rearend?
I do know that my Jimmy came with a Full Float 14 Bolt Rear End out of a 1980 3/4 ton 4x4.
:)
-
My 76 camper special had a 454 in it factory. I swapped it out for a 350. I really didn't notice any difference at all in power but gas mileage went up with the 350. I guess pulling torque was probably significantly different but I never used that truck to pull anything when it still had the 454 in it.
My Jimmy does okay on flat ground but going up hills it bogs down. I just bought a boat and when I pulled it up the pass it was straining in 3rd gear and overheating too.
It has 4:11 gears and 31" tall tires, but still it seems to be way underpowered to the point that something needs to be done. I had a 3/4 ton 1971 Chevy 4x4 with a 402 BBC and 4:11 gears and 44" Swampers and it had tons of power for pulling boats anywhere. So I have great memories of what a big block did in that application. Don't remember the cam the engine had but still, it was a fire breathing dragon.
I want to look into installing an RV type cam in this 454 before installing it into the Jimmy.
:)
-
Just so you know a full float axle means the axle and hub are two separate pieces (the axle shaft is splined on both ends and slides into the hub). Here's (http://www.desertrat.com/images_products/3718.jpg) a shot of a full float axle assembly.
-
That rear end in that 86 is a full float 14 bolt, worth $400 alone. Good buy. I would do it if it were me.
I'm a car guy and pretty good with a wrench but to be honest I don't know the full meaning or value of what it means to have a Full Float 14 Bolt Rearend?
I do know that my Jimmy came with a Full Float 14 Bolt Rear End out of a 1980 3/4 ton 4x4.
:)
GM used to put them in all 3/4 Tons but in the early 80's they only went in the 454's, diesels, and the one tons. I bought a Suburban just for the rear end because I had a bent hub on mine.
-
Sounds like a great buy, this way you will have all of the brackets, pulleys, etc. for the swap and will not be chasing parts. What camshaft are you thinking of going with?
-
Sounds like a great buy, this way you will have all of the brackets, pulleys, etc. for the swap and will not be chasing parts. What camshaft are you thinking of going with?
A fellow big block chevy buddy of mine recommended to go with a Crower Baha Beast...
-
A full floating axle doesn't support any of the weight of the vehicle, it's just a mechanical coupling from your differential side gears to the hub assembly. The nicest thing is if you break an axle you won't lose a wheel.
-
Good deal all right. Are you swapping trannies too? The Burb probably has a TH400. ?
My Jimmy has a 700R4/NP208
If the Turbo 400 is a short shaft I will keep it and look for an independent transfercase and run a divorced system.
:)
I know I'm probably going to get flack for this, but Personally I would have the 700R4 Back the new to you 454.... Sure the 400 is a Tank of a Tranny, but really so is the 700R4, when you have a Towing Shift Kit added, and be sure to use a good Trans Cooler to go with it.....
-
I know I'm probably going to get flack for this, but Personally I would have the 700R4 Back the new to you 454.... Sure the 400 is a Tank of a Tranny, but really so is the 700R4, when you have a Towing Shift Kit added, and be sure to use a good Trans Cooler to go with it.....
10-4 on that, had a shift kit installed and don't plan on changing the current system for years to come.
:)
-
Think this truck has a Throttle Body Injection system, not sure, thought it was carburetor model but a mechanic friend of mine said if it's a 1986 and sold in California new, then it should have the TBI system. Just got back from the lake, so before it gets dark I'll go out and look for some kind of identifying codes or numbers.
If so, what complications will I run into trying to run this fuel system in place of the small block with the 4 Barrel QuadraJet Carb?
Mechanic buddy of mine said there was a conversion harness available but it was also possible to wire it up myself?
Hmm...
Have to keep this conversion low-buck so hoping I can wire it in myself. Current plans are to do the swap this coming Labor Day weekend, have a access to a Cherry Picker and will buy an engine stand to help out with cleaning an pre-install prep. Feel free to drop over for the weekend and turn a wrench.
:)
-
Okay...
Here's what I have... small block Chevy engine with stock intake and QuadraJet 4 Barrel Carburetor.
(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/EngineSwap001.jpg)
Here's a shot looking down at the engine with the air cleaner off... looks like a carburetor to me...
(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/EngineSwap002.jpg)
(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/EngineSwap003.jpg)
(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/EngineSwap004.jpg)
It's kind of a shame to take this Suburban apart for the engine and accessories but I did place an ad on Craigslist for the last 3 weeks and parked it in front of a friends house with a For Sale sign on it in case anyone wanted it as it is. Actually have 2 guys interested from Craigslist but so far no deals.
Plan for now is to remove the hood this week and start un-hooking accessories and then Friday night or Saturday morning start yanking the motor.
:)
-
Will the tailgate with the electric window directly bolt onto my 75 Jimmy?
Here's the "Options Tag" for the Suburban...
(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/86SuburbanOptionsTag.jpg)
;D
-
ya thats carbureted alright. Im no expert but I didnt think these trucks went to fuel injection until 87.
Does your existing tailgate have a manual rear window currently?
-
It's a carb and should be a simple unbolt and replace.
87 was the first year for the TBI, some VERY late 86's (that were early 87's ) had TBI.
A Blazer and a Suburban have completely different tailgates, they won't swap.
-
I see that stock air cleaner has that same silly permanent 'inner filter' thing that my 81 Jimmy 305 2bbl had. Wonder how much that chokes airflow.
-
I see that stock air cleaner has that same silly permanent 'inner filter' thing that my 81 Jimmy 305 2bbl had. Wonder how much that chokes airflow.
It isn't going on the Jimmy... ;)
-
I see that stock air cleaner has that same silly permanent 'inner filter' thing that my 81 Jimmy 305 2bbl had. Wonder how much that chokes airflow.
Isn't that the Air Cleaner Flame Arrestor, to keep the Filter from catching on fire should a Carb Back-Fire occurs??? ***In my Best Bevis Impression*** "FIRE! HEHE! FIRE! HEHE! FIRES COOL!!!" ;D :P
-
Yes it was used on systems with a.i.r.
-
Here's an update...
First... I got a late start due to circumstances beyond my control.
Second... I'm not as fast as I used to be, or at least as fast as I remember I used to be... ;D
Starting about 1:00pm today the first thing I unbolted was the battery, (safety first), and next was the upper bracket that holds the radiator in place. As of right now I have everything removed and unbolted including exhaust back to the rearend to allow me to pull the engine. I've placed all bolts into ziplock bags with scribbled notes as to where they came from to help with the reinstall into the Jimmy.
This thing has the funky pulleys and belts that have ridges, and the first thing I'm wondering is if there's a bracket that will mount just the alternator instead of the massive bracket that holds both the alternator and what looks like some kind of smog pump?
The Turbo 400 is indeed a short shaft so that's going to be kept for a future upgrade to a divorced transfercase setup.
I don't like the exhaust manifolds with all their smog components so I'm going to look for a set of headers for now and later upgrade to some Sanderson units.
I know some people would look at this project and shrug their shoulders and wish for anything else to do, but I actually like working on projects like this, I find it very relaxing when the hardest thing I have to do is figure out if I need a 5/8's wrench, or a 15/16 millimeter wrench. (Looks like they used a combination of standard and metric bolts on this thing?).
I've taken some pictures of the process and was thinking I would start a dedicated thread for this engine swap so that it might helps others in the future. I look at this as a tribute to Al Gore as I take the 454 out of a Suburban and intall it into a lighter weight 1975 GMC Jimmy to help reduce my carbon footprint by reducing the amount of GVW the 454 has to push down the road.
(http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/images/smilies/028.gif) (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/images/smilies/028.gif) (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/images/smilies/028.gif)
Time to get the grease and grime out from under my fingernails...
(http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/images/smilies/028.gif)