I've not been happy with a few of the compromises I've had to make with the 401 and 700R4 conversion and with the oil consumption, excessive heat, and a few other things, my long term plan is now to drive it until I can do another swap.
I know everyone says just do an LS swap. And I've thought about it. But this is Truck Norris. I'm thinking bigger. I really don't want to go diesel because I just don't feel like it. What I'm settling on is going big block Chevy. I've been reading up on what limited information is out there and I'm aware of the fact that there will be some tweaking to make it fit. I already have a hydroboost system ready to go in anyway and I can deal with the other things.
The truck already has J20 axles so I know they'll handle a mild 454 with no problem, including the weight.
I will need to pass emissions and my plan is going with factory or factory-like equipment from the donor. As long as it's 1986 or newer, it will work in my truck.
Thing is, I can go a couple different routes:
- Go full custom with a reman block, aftermarket fuel injection, and build up a 700R4 to handle it. But the emissions passing is questionable.
- Grab a TBI 454 out of an existing older truck and do a built 700R4 (because I want overdrive with the axle gears I already have so a TH400 isn't really an option.)
- Grab a Generation V (1991-1995) with the 4L80E and t-case. Take everything I need from a donor truck and sell the carcass.
- Grab a Generation VI (1996-1999) similar to the Gen V.
- Grab a Generation VII (2000-2006) 8.1 with the Alison trans and t-case. Again, taking everything and keeping most of it.
Full custom with aftermarket injection may make it harder to get through emissions so that's lower on the priority scale.
A TBI 454 would work but it's down on power compared to newer versions.
My preference would then be either the Gen V or Gen VI. I can get pretty much everything I need from a donor truck and swap it in as a unit. There is enough of an aftermarket that dyno tuning it would be possible.
Like I mentioned above, I'm pretty well sold on aluminum heads no matter what, just to get weight down. And I'm not looking at trying to get 1,000 HP out of it. I just want a mild build that will give me decent reliable power running on pump gas.
So those here who know about the big blocks, what advice can you offer? Anything to look out for from a given generation of the engine? Any real benefits to one over the other?