1992 chevy half ton 4×4 Please: 350 or 454 tbi?
Hey guys, i am picking up a nice 1992 chevy half ton with a stock 350 tbi 4×4 5 speed. Now it has 33's and i will prob put on a narrower 35 in tire. The owner told me that the engine is weak and will need to be replaced. Here's the question. I want the most bang for the least buck so i was wondering since i was changing the engine any way why not put in a big block?!? I love the idea but can a newly rebuilt 350 with a few performance parts be as good or better than a big block. I have found a few 454 suburbans or trucks online, what year would i look for?
The truck will be used for work, play and maybe an occasional jump in the mud. Please break down reliability, economy if i drive it smart, and power. Thanks.
Also, what is the stock horse power for each. Early 90's 350 tbi and 454 tbi engines?
In stock trim, the 454 isn't much of an improvement over the 350.
But if you plan on doing modifications, there is no substitute for cubic inches.
But building a big block isn't cheap. A good place to start would be a top end kit. Newer stock 454's are really choked down. A top end kit would give you better heads, cam and intake. It would also shed about 100 pounds of weight by replacing the cast iron parts with aluminum ones.
Be prepared to spend about three grand for one of these kits.
Go to the Summit Racing site and search item Edelbrock 2095 for an example of one of these kits. This kit should be good for about 430 horse power. Summit Racing has about a dozen of these kits in various price ranges.
Also, keep in mind that when building a big block, they build their power at a lower RPM. So choose your parts accordingly. Plan on not going over 6500 RPM and look to build your peak power at about 5000 – 5500 RPM.
Or you could get a 454 crate engine. For about $5500 you can get a 454 HO rated at 425 HP, Summit item 12568774
For about $6500, you can get a ZZ454 with all the goodies rated at 440 HP. Summit item 12498777
Your wallet is your limit.
If you get Spike TV, on Trucks, they are doing a Truck Wars series. One of the trucks involved is a SS454. Maybe you could get some ideas from this. See second link
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In stock trim, the 454 isn't much of an improvement over the 350.
But if you plan on doing modifications, there is no substitute for cubic inches.
But building a big block isn't cheap. A good place to start would be a top end kit. Newer stock 454's are really choked down. A top end kit would give you better heads, cam and intake. It would also shed about 100 pounds of weight by replacing the cast iron parts with aluminum ones.
Be prepared to spend about three grand for one of these kits.
Go to the Summit Racing site and search item Edelbrock 2095 for an example of one of these kits. This kit should be good for about 430 horse power. Summit Racing has about a dozen of these kits in various price ranges.
Also, keep in mind that when building a big block, they build their power at a lower RPM. So choose your parts accordingly. Plan on not going over 6500 RPM and look to build your peak power at about 5000 – 5500 RPM.
Or you could get a 454 crate engine. For about $5500 you can get a 454 HO rated at 425 HP, Summit item 12568774
For about $6500, you can get a ZZ454 with all the goodies rated at 440 HP. Summit item 12498777
Your wallet is your limit.
If you get Spike TV, on Trucks, they are doing a Truck Wars series. One of the trucks involved is a SS454. Maybe you could get some ideas from this. See second link
References :
http://www.summitracing.com/
http://www.powerblocktv.com/sites/trucks/
Gas Prices.
References :