Opinions on the 454 engine that comes in the 1986 2-wheel drive Suburban?

[Mike Phillips]

Hi everyone,

I found a 1986 2-wheel drive Suburban with a great running rebuilt 454 engine and automatic transmission. 



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

[80stepsideguy]

I dont see any conflicts with the swap at all, should be a direc bolt in and go.

thanks
pat

[zieg85]

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.

[DnStClr]

Good deal all right. Are you swapping trannies too? The Burb probably has a TH400. ?

[Mike Phillips]

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.

[dumbucket1]

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.

[VileZambonie]

Go for it! Great deal!

[Mike Phillips]

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

[Mike Phillips]

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.

[Mike Phillips]

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.

[eventhorizon66]

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 a shot of a full float axle assembly.

[zieg85]

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.

[78BBSTEPSIDE]

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?

[Mike Phillips]

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...

[VileZambonie]

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.