[the98softail]

Thinking seriously about taking the 454 from my 76 Suburban and putting it in my 2 wheel drive 72 Jimmy. I know that no such thing existed from the factory but they did put a big block of some cid in pickups of the era. Issues I have thought of include drive shaft, motor mounts, and springs. I want to put tranny and all in. The Suburban only has 65,000 miles on it. Unfortunately the body looks like 165,000. So can anyone else think of any issues I will be dealing with? :neutral:

 

[icemncmth]

You will need to change the exhaust. The motor mounts can be a pain unless you are a good welder. Your oil pan on can be an issue and you may need to get a different one and that would be a short pan. You would have to get a different oil pickup in the pan.

Most of the 454s had a 4 pass radiator so you might run into problems with that. I would ditch the mechanical fan and put on 2 electric fans. That would give you plenty of room to play with. Your fuel lines will be a problem if you are still running solid lines. You will probably have to buy a longer power cable to the starter.

It is the little stuff that can be a pain on an engine swap. I had a 73 Jimmy that had a 427 that I put in it and I had to hammer back the firewall a little to make things fit. I had a second 73 Jimmy that had a 454 I put in it and I had it dropped in and running in less than a day. The 427 took me a week to get running because I had to make headers for it.

 

[the98softail]

Good stuff... thank you. Perhaps the post should have said something like.... for sale 1976 3/4 454 Chevy Suburban with 65,000 miles.

 

[vncj96]

Not to mention that the rear end would need some attention as well. It would need the rear end from the suburban, also the front end would need to be beefed up to handle the added weight of that big cast iron bitch that you are about to drop in it. Most likely the tranny mount for that 454 may not line up for the original tranny in the jimmy so either you would have to buy some or make them yourself and having a heavy duty tranny to handle the 454 it may be longer then the tranny that was already in your jimmy and you would need to have a driveshaft custome built and balanced fo rwhat you need. i would just get a replacement motor for your jimmy and drop a cam and headers into it and it should be very close to a 454 output (of the &0s for a truck) with a small block weight and rev capability.

 

[icemncmth]

Not to mention that the rear end would need some attention as well. It would need the rear end from the suburban, also the front end would need to be beefed up to handle the added weight of that big cast iron bitch that you are about to drop in it. Most likely the tranny mount for that 454 may not line up for the original tranny in the jimmy so either you would have to buy some or make them yourself and having a heavy duty tranny to handle the 454 it may be longer then the tranny that was already in your jimmy and you would need to have a driveshaft custome built and balanced fo rwhat you need. i would just get a replacement motor for your jimmy and drop a cam and headers into it and it should be very close to a 454 output (of the &0s for a truck) with a small block weight and rev capability.

Agree...I would get a crate motor from GM. Most of the newer crates actually put out more HP than an old 454 and would come with a warranty.

Now don't get me wrong the 454 could work but the cost vs what you actually gain my be minimal.

 

[the98softail]

Convinced

Well you guys have convinced me. I now have a 1976 Suburban for sale. If you know anyone have them contact me.