If it were your truck ????

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bobby v

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Thanks for the replies fellas, some I like and some not so much but that's what opinions are huh lol.
The 700R4 has been beefed up BTW and I drive rather conservative anyways. Im leaning towards, as I said, the ZZ 454 which no one had comments on , reasons ???? It should be a straight forward swap shouldn't it and the price isn't too bad for a complete motor. Im assuming I could sell the motor in it now for a little something.
Thanks as always
 

Gramps

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I’d stick with the 454. Go zz crate if you must. Not that there’s anything wrong with ls swaps but I don’t care for how gutless they are on the low end. Plus you don’t have to redo half the truck to make it work.

I am curious - is this swapping thought brought on by your idle/miss problems?
 

Hipster

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Thanks for the replies fellas, some I like and some not so much but that's what opinions are huh lol.
The 700R4 has been beefed up BTW and I drive rather conservative anyways. Im leaning towards, as I said, the ZZ 454 which no one had comments on , reasons ???? It should be a straight forward swap shouldn't it and the price isn't too bad for a complete motor. Im assuming I could sell the motor in it now for a little something.
Thanks as always
You couldn't have one built for that parts and machine shop labor. That being said a stock bottom end with a set of heads or headwork, and the right cam could surprise you
 

skylark

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Honestly I would do the LS3 with a 6 or 8 speed auto. Your 454ss value is gone due to the original 454/th400/wheels/suspension/bumper/tailgate handle all being gone. You obviously liked the LS3 and you have so many options. The zz454 to me is ZZZZzzzzzzz. I don't believe that an allison fits the 400 without a body lift or major transmission tunnel mods.

Edit; your truck is like the playmate of the month, looks hot but not original. Enjoy her and be happy with her.
 

bobby v

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That's what you are for Pete lol, we'll see, this is just the beginning stages

Keep in mind you'll have to swap ECMs and tune it!

I’d stick with the 454. Go zz crate if you must. Not that there’s anything wrong with ls swaps but I don’t care for how gutless they are on the low end. Plus you don’t have to redo half the truck to make it work.

I am curious - is this swapping thought brought on by your idle/miss problems?

Gramps, no this is just a want of more HP actually, its running pretty well now, as you may have read a dastardly fuel filter was a major player in my troubles on that front.

I actually like the custom look to all that say its not "OEM" for an SS454, in fact I personally think they are quite ugly left stock, well not ugly but certainly not my desire. It just happened to be an SS454 that I liked what had been done to it and thats why I bought it, I don't give a rats ass about the OEM thingy. But keeping it a BBC does make sense to me, its a toy for week ends and not a daily anyways, just something for an ole man to tinker with, take to shows once in a while and cruise around our little burg, just with more power needed than in present form. :cool:
Maybe the best way is to have the motor in it built even thou its not the original one.
I see that with one of the "top end kits" that they can add another 100+ HP and that would suffice my desire for
"MO POWER"
I realize that you can never please everyone with what we do to our trucks/cars and take all opinions with the perverbial grain of salt just as you do with my rantings, in the end if we as owners of our things are happy then the world is at peace, for me anyways.

Thanks
 

Schurkey

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If it were my truck, the first thing I'd think about is getting rid of that 700R4. Adding any more power/ torque than you already have in front of that transmission is a recipe for disaster in my honest opinion.
Thanks. Saved me a lot of typing.

8,1/Allison is appealing. I'd probably go 454/4L80E, just based on cost. I bet a Vortec 454 is all the power you'd need.
 

bobby v

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Well heres the story Shrk; The trans was just rebuilt before I got it and done with up graded parts (servos & bands) and so far it performs very nicely so I wont be getting rid of it just so I can say I got rid of it, ya know what I mean $$$$$ :confused: That would be crazy IMO. So Ill continue with it till something goes wrong and then decide what to do one way or the other.
I do like your idea thou, Im sure that would get my old ass moving just fine
Bobby V

Thanks. Saved me a lot of typing.

8,1/Allison is appealing. I'd probably go 454/4L80E, just based on cost. I bet a Vortec 454 is all the power you'd need.
 

Sam Cooper

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That's what you are for Pete lol, we'll see, this is just the beginning stages



Gramps, no this is just a want of more HP actually, its running pretty well now, as you may have read a dastardly fuel filter was a major player in my troubles on that front.

I actually like the custom look to all that say its not "OEM" for an SS454, in fact I personally think they are quite ugly left stock, well not ugly but certainly not my desire. It just happened to be an SS454 that I liked what had been done to it and thats why I bought it, I don't give a rats ass about the OEM thingy. But keeping it a BBC does make sense to me, its a toy for week ends and not a daily anyways, just something for an ole man to tinker with, take to shows once in a while and cruise around our little burg, just with more power needed than in present form. :cool:
Maybe the best way is to have the motor in it built even thou its not the original one.
I see that with one of the "top end kits" that they can add another 100+ HP and that would suffice my desire for
"MO POWER"
I realize that you can never please everyone with what we do to our trucks/cars and take all opinions with the perverbial grain of salt just as you do with my rantings, in the end if we as owners of our things are happy then the world is at peace, for me anyways.

Thanks

Bobby,

I have had many big block trucks (duallies) as well as big block cars and race cars. Of course I have also had my share of small blocks. I have played with carbureted and injected motors. That said, I will offer some simple budget friendly thoughts.

You would be amazed at how much a 454 will wake up will small chamber heads (around 100cc), a good valve job, a nice R/V style cam and a decent intake system and MSD ignition.
Nothing else is really needed.
This first time I did this on a ccdw I increased my power by a ton. It shocks the heck out of people when you light all duals. I also increased my drivability and fuel mileage. I didn't even freshen the 50K bottom end.
That truck pulled really heavy trailers without a second thought. Always started right up and ran like a highly efficient beast.
The heads I would look at are oval port heads with small chambers, like 65 or 66 chevelle heads or the 279 vortec fast-burn heads. They will kick the compression ratio up nicely and still run on pump gas.
For a cam, I would look at hydraulic roller setups with moderate lift and strong vacuum. There are numerous quality suppliers. I have always had excellent results with Lunati and Crane. Don't be afraid to call them and ask for what you want like more power, drivability and reasonable economy, or whatever. Be sure to dial the cam to 110 degrees btdc on the intake.
For intake: you could stay with the factory TBI which is 670 CFM, or.... There is a company on Ebay which opens up the tbi to 750 cfm for about $400. The stock intake is okay or maybe a Performer 2-O with adapter for the TBI. This requires no changes to your stock ECM. Or you can go with a four barrel tbi like Sniper or FAST.

If you do these things you will have a very happy truck without breaking the bank.
I also prefer the 4L80e over the 700R4/4L60e for a high torque application.

Happy motoring
 
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