built 406 or mild 350 w/whipple

[b454rat]

My biggest thing is a don't know anything about em. Yeah I've talked to people and read posts and looked at vids, they all say its the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have no personal experience, but sat shotgun with stock vehicles, only one haven't been in was the 8.1. None of then impressed me, stock. Don't know how good he is or if he's a good talker, but Richard Holdener dyno'd a shitton of em, and small blocks, with good results. He put a turbo on a basic 4.8 and made close to 600 horse. The power goes up as the motor gets bigger, as the saying goes "no replacement for displacement". I've looked on marketplace, and only found one 454 reasonably priced, even found another 400. But local junkyard is literally flooded with them. So, if I get one and it's junk, be a pain, but i could go pull another one for a couple hundred bucks. Wouldn't need the accessories. When LS first started getting popular years ago, buddy put one in his Camaro, kinda like a test mule. He went carb'd with a turbo, but when something happened to the motor, he just go get another one, for a couple hundred bucks. He found what works, what didn't, then I think he built a 6.0 turbo and making stupid power. What's killing me is I can't do anything till garage is up. Luckily getting put up the 17th, but with no concrete till spring prolly, still cant do much other than storage.

 

[b454rat]

But I still plan on building the 406RJ for the Yukon tho....

 

[618 Syndicate]

So all the typical hot rod **** still applies. An LS is an air pump like any other engine. Depending on your budget, focus on what needs to be done to make it live at the power level you want. You can do valves, valve springs, cam, pistons, heads, headers, intake, etc.
Or, open up the ring gaps, boost it, send it, and see what happens!

A 4.8 is a good idea if you're gonna boost: cheap, flat top pistons and a shorter stroke than a 5.3
As you've discovered they're almost disposable, about 1/3 the price of a 6 liter. That being said, if you have a line on a cheap 6.0 go for it.
Hope that helps.

 

[b454rat]

Im pretty sure I can get a 5.3 or a 6.0, reasonably cheap I think, and would be whole vehicle. Im leaning towards the 6.0 since would be 4L80 already. It wouldn't be for a while for boost anyways. Need to get all the pieces, and with the money I make (should say don't make) it's gonna be a while. I'm hoping with what ever I get, I can clean in up, change cam/springs, install and run it. Don't wanna do all that **** just to run a turbo...

 

[badco]

bore stroke

366T = 3.935" x 3.76"
396 = 4.096" x 3.76"
402 = 4.125" x 3.76"
427 = 4.250" x 3.76"
427T = 4.250" x 3.76"
454 = 4.250" x 4.00"
496 = 4.250" x 4.37" (2001 Vortec 8100, 8.1 liter)
502 = 4.466" x 4.00"
572T = 4.560" x 4.375" (2003 "ZZ572" crate motors)

T = Tall Deck

ALL production big blocks used a 6.135" length rod.

The 496 uses a 4.37" stroke crank, and IIRC nothing is the same. I had one that I wanted to build, couldn't find any info on it. Rayler in Commifornia has parts for em, they told me even the cam won't work, I believe the firing order was different. Found a vid of one of their employee's trucks, of course with a 496 with a ZZ502 cam. I said WTF, you told me nothing will interchange, and then told me the firing order change. But theres no aftermarket for them, one reason I got rid of it. Raylar is the only one that i know of that does anything with them, and they are ******' expensive. Can do with a Vortec 454 and get more out of it. ****, 060" over and a 4.25 crank and have a 496....

Crank will fit in 454 just have to clearance it and get correct pin height on pistons. The 8.1 is a tall deck if go by the deck height. I had one and all we used was crankshaft in a newer 454 block with diamond custom pistons.

 

[618 Syndicate]

Im pretty sure I can get a 5.3 or a 6.0, reasonably cheap I think, and would be whole vehicle. Im leaning towards the 6.0 since would be 4L80 already. It wouldn't be for a while for boost anyways. Need to get all the pieces, and with the money I make (should say don't make) it's gonna be a while. I'm hoping with what ever I get, I can clean in up, change cam/springs, install and run it. Don't wanna do all that **** just to run a turbo...

If you can get a 6.0 cheap do it. They're bringing 12-1500 around here.

 

[Supercharged111]

If you can get a 6.0 cheap do it. They're bringing 12-1500 around here.

Same here, it's insane. When I was a kid back home you could get an 8 year old V8 from the junkyard for $800. Not so today.

 

[b454rat]

Engine (Gas) "No Str,Alt,P/S,A/C" $204.09 $35.00 core

Thats the price of a motor at a local junkyard. Only problem is have NO idea if it's good or not. they have a tag they put on the side of the vehicle with year/make/model/VIN and whether engine/trans is any good. I've seen stuff come in and can tell it's been sitting a LONG TIME, says motor/trans is good. Gonna go to another yard maybe tomorrow, see what they have. Buddy that has the 5.3 and 6.0, I talked to him today but didnt chance to ask him, we were kinda venting bout work lol. Talked to a tuner today, they do this stuff all the time. Had an 03 maybe newer truck there with twins on it, big Caddy 'burban type deal waiting for a supercharger. They have a chassis dyno there, so can tune it rather than a bench tune. Told em what I wanted n said it's no problem. Just really ******' frustrating that I know what I want n can't do it right now. Think I need to start hangin' out on street corners for some extra money.....still prolly won't get any.....

 

[618 Syndicate]

I've seen and bought 4.8s and 5.3s for under $500, but 6 liters rarely show up for less than 1k, when they do they're gone almost immediately.
I think you'll get where you want to be if you're patient.
Remember the old adage in performance stuff:
You can have it done right.
You can have it done quick.
You can have it done cheap.
Pick two....

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

You can have it done right.
You can have it done quick.
You can have it done cheap.
Pick two....

No, you usually wind up with one