BIG, HEAVY CARS NEED TORQUE.

BIG BLOCKS HAVE TORQUE!

Background, skip if youre not interested

I have a 1968 Parisienne 2+2 which came new from the factory originally equipped with a 275hp 327 cid 4 bbl,  3 speed turbo 400 trans, 2.73 10 bolt differential. In the 1980s (before I owned the car) the original engine had some unspecified issues and went away. It was replaced with a mid-70s, 350 cid truck engine, about 195 hp. When I got the car it had no performance at all. I never drove it hard but it could barely break the tires loose. The engine ran fine, but I wanted an engine project to entertain myself. I acquired a 1968 vintage 275 hp 327 cid donor engine to work with.

 

The stroker engine specs.

                I rebuilt the 1968 327 cid engine into a stroker with about 385 cid, 9 to 1 compression. I replace everything that rotated or reciprocated in the engine with new premium parts, forged crank, rods, and pistons. I went with a moderate Lunati flat tappet cam, double roller chain. I topped it off with a re-cored radiator. Total investment was about 6000$, mostly machine shop charges.  I left a lot of horse power and torque on the table by using the original cast iron heads and manifolds by I like the look of originality. I also did not touch the original differential with the anemic 2.73 ratio.

 

My opinion.

                Bottom line is I like the end result. The Parisienne is no performance muscle car but it can at least get out of its own way. If you step on it the tires will break loose and it is a lot more fun to drive. The positive side of this combo is the effortless highway cruising, 70 mph all day long. Would a big block 454 be better, yes I am sure it would be, but big block 396 would be about the same as what I ended up with. Cost wise if you want the fun and education of building your own engine it will cost more than a crate engine, but the result is worth it. I think a small block stroker would be a bit cheaper to build than a big block engine.

Have you given any thought on a 406 cu.in. small block? (400cu.in. small block 30 over) I have two of these engines. One is an inexpensive engine ($3,500.00) with 9.75 to 1 compression and old school angle plug heads(cast iron) inexpensive roller valve train, small 700cfm carb and makes an honest 415hp. and 364 lbs. of torque. The other one is pretty much a race engine (Brodix heads, 14 to 1 compression etc.) but makes 583 hp. and 476 lbs. of torque. You can squeeze a lot of reliable power out of a small block engine.

A 406 would certainly be an option if I could find a good 400 block. But what makes a 383 so intriguing to me, is the fact that so much is now available for that displacement. Not to mention the great breadth of information about it on the net. Without question, besides an LS, the 383 is the current hot SB power build. And its proven to easily make very good numbers. Another thing steering me this way is I can use a lot of stuff already in place with the HO350. Proven Cooling, accessory drives, charging, dist, fuel pump, headers, Trans, Converter, instrumentation, etc. And I even know a little about the SB as well.

I want to do this build myself, carefully, with my own hands, and the fact I can buy a nearly ready to build .030 over roller block for just over 700 USD seems pretty good. How much would it cost to have a 350 block done? 

I know 5K seems a lot, and it is, but understand, the HO350, although running nice, is not a new engine, and I have very little in it. But it still holds value towards the new motor, if I sell it off whole or as parts. There are ways to bring the build cost down. One would be to just rebuild and use the Vortec heads I have, and save at least $1400...but then I wouldn't have those shiny AFRs to admire.

Bottom line is the beautiful big car (thanks Carl!) is feeling pretty agile these days, and could really use at least 100 more of each...to start. And unfortunately, the smaller bodies just don't appeal to me.

Hopefully this makes some sense.

 

Cheers, Mark

 

 

Stroke a 454 BB to 496 and it'll scare you.It's a torque monster!!! But then again I'm kinda partial to BB's........

I changed my mind    

go with the best small block you can afford    

Install it and try it    

if you only need 100 HP  you may be OK ......       

Neighbour got a GM crate 383. It is very strong. He's got it in a long box S15 but truck is pretty much a side show with that engine in there. It can take the 440 Roadrunner another neighbour has but it can't get away from the 454 LeMans, must be my gears.  I'd say a 383 is on par with a stock 454 in torque. Torque is what you are lacking  not HP. 383 Should be able to work well in the big Grande. 

The other thing I point out is there are only a handful of engines that draw a crowd at a cruise-in, a HEMI is #1 but for shear wow power a Chevrolet Big Block is right there. Just saying. 

Well Mark
I am sure your heard the old saying, no replacement for displacement. Well that used to be the case, and for the most part it's still true. However, in todays world of engines, the buyer must decide how much torque he wants and at what rpm he wants to have it.
I am in the process of changing out a 350/290 hp that I purchased in 2009, mainly because of low torque at low rpm, bad curves for my application. I was going to use a rebuilt Mark IV 454 out of a 1974 Motor coach which according to my information would produce 185 hp and around 285 ft pds of torque. In todays market GM makes a small block 383 HT, which will out perform the old Mark IV 454 hands down. I just purchased one of these 383 HT's and it is rated at 435 ft pds of torque at 4000 rpm, however 400 ft pds of torque is reached at 3,000 rpm, hp is rated @ 345 hp at 4,500 rpm. I agree with the suggestion of getting a GM performance catalog and search through the choices, there are many. Good Luck

And gas prices dropped too!