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Small To big Block swap  
1968SS 1968SS
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 06/05
Posted: 06/18/05
11:35 PM

I have a 1968 camaro SS 4 speed with the SS *snorkle??* hood. I have got my hands on an corvette 427 that has been built up and i would love to drop it into the camaro....and put the stock 350 in a crate and store in.


Q: how much work needs to be done to do the swap?
Q:Am i going to have 2 change my hood or move my heater hoses?
Q motor mounts......will i need to move them
Q: besides a better clutch and that stuff how she going to fit to the tranny? *munci M22*


 

 

 
oldBogie oldBogie
Guru | Posts: 1195 | Joined: 08/03
Posted: 06/20/05
05:18 PM

You'll need 67/68 big block frame mounts and engine mounts. The engine will sit an 1 inch or so to the right of the SBC, you'll have to accommodate this at the rear cross member by adjusting rear mount hole location after installation. It does introduce an additional angle to the U-joints.


You'll need the big block clutch xfer arm and may have to relocate the frame side of the pivot so be prepared to make adjustments. Same goes for the throttle linkage.


Sometimes the damper and pulleys are a crossmember and swaybar problem so be prepared to adjust the fit.


You'll need a big block radiator and hoses. The heater box is not the same, you'll need a BBC unit for 67/68 or "adjust" the one you have. you'll need a short water pump, possibly a new shroud, I don't remember about that.


Power steering will require different brackets and pulley but you can reuse the SBC pump.


Airconditioning will require a BBC evaporator core case for rocker cover clearance.


An M-22 is up to a big block.


All this should fit your hood.


Outfits like Vintage Reproductions have the parts if you can't get them from the factory or out of the junk yard.


Frankly, by the time you're done I don't know if you aren't money ahead to build a SBC 383 or 406. The BBC puts a lot of weight over and moves the engine mass further ahead of the front wheel. This adversly affects handeling, weight transfer, and braking. For all the noise a big block makes smoking the tires, it can't catch a 302 SBC in the same car. Now if this BBC is aluminum there's a different story, but cast iron just makes a squirrelly handleing car out of the Camaro.


Bogie 





Edited 6/22/2005 9:02 am ET by oldBogie  

 
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