Is it worth to spend a bit more on a classic that will be used as a daily driver to have a big block? I am searching for a wagon at the moment and I might have found two nice examples from the same era, one has a small block and the other a big block. Both are in the same price range, but the big block car is a bit rougher. Full efficiency will be worse of course, power is better, parts are more expensive, but how about relaibility for instance? Any other comments? Thanks!
Yeah....it would be nice to know what the car is that you are addressing here. And I agree with Andy about a small block being a better choice for a DD. I love big blocks. A lot. But they do suck up the gas. Big time. If it were me it would be a hard choice with this dilemma. Do I want the power and great torque? Or do I want good gas mileage. The small block will likely still move the car around just fine (depending on what we are talking about here) and be cheaper to operate. I was never concerned about gas mileage and bought engines I liked which were often BB's. Times have changed and I no longer have the big bucks I once had. If you are still a working man and have a good income and can afford the gas at today's prices...then a BB would likely be more fun to drive. Again....what car and engines are we talking about here?
Times have certainly changed and gas mileage is an issue, but maybe more from range point of view and less from financial point of view. I didn't want to spoil the dilemma with the exact type of cars, as otherwise likings towards one car or the other is most likely influencing the comments but here you go: 1972 Mercury Montego MX with 302 vs. 1972 Olds Vistacruiser with 455. They might not be true big and small blocks but I think you know what I mean.
Oh a 455 is a Big Block and a thirsty one too. I would go to a 302 in that Montego there is a lot more support for a 302 and easy to swap to Fuel Injection.
Yeah....a LOT of stuff out there for the 302 and they are good engines. That would be my choice. There are tons of performance parts for them too. You could make the 302 just about as fast as you want to go. And FI, as Cliff mentions, would be nice in there too. Watch for rust on the Vista.
Flame Suit on: The Vista Cruiser with a 455 will always be easier to sell and for more money, in any condition. Also, the 455 is very reliable, and can be OK on gas if you have a 2-barrel or stay out of the secondaries. Headers and true duals will also help. Steve
Yes a 455 is reliable but lets face facts a 455 even with the changes you suggested he still would be looking at 12-14 HWY and even less in cities. Also there would be a lot he would have to make if any rust is present in the doors,tailgate, window channel and roof if there is rust all the way through. Also the support isn't there for a Olds engine like it use to be. If he wanted Fuel Injection would have to be custom built and costly. The ecm to manage all that isn't too bad. With a 302 everything to build Fuel Injection is off the self, parts are easy to get from the salvage yard all the way through the Ford Dealers and the prices are reasonable. I can say the same about Chevy the support is there compared to orphan cars like Olds,Pontiac,and early Chrysler products. others. They are either going Chevy or Ford.
Big blocks could run at higher speeds all day, especially on long trips like you make to Italy, from Northern Europe, and they don't need to rev as high as smaller engines, for hills and mountain geography, especially with a wagonload of family and baggage.
There would be quite a big difference in size (and weight) between a Mercury Montego anf the Olds VistaCruiser. Although both built on 'mid-sized' (for American wagons) platforms, the VC has an extended wheelbase that basically makes it a full-size wagon. Both wagons have their good points as far as the engines go. Lots and lots of aftermarket stuff around for the 302, and from what I've heard, the Olds 455 is very reliable.
That's true, Norm. Small blocks are built for high rev HP and long stroke BB's are built for torque. As most here know, I am pretty well schooled in the Olds 455 engine. I built 3 of them over the years and had them in wagons. I love the pull of BB's....there is nothing like it. The 455 is a torque monster but will be all in at about 4200 RPM whereas a small block will wind up past that still making power. This subject that Senri has brought up would have been an easy and simple choice for me years ago. I would just pull into a gas station, fill it up and go. Never thought about the cost. Today, I have to think about the money. I still love BB's but all that has been said here about the 302 is important. The 455 is losing ground as a performance engine for many reasons, one of which is expense. Another is finding an older mechanic that understands them. Finding parts for the 455 Olds compared to finding parts for the 302 is like night and day. So is the cost of each. I had the 302 HO in my Lincoln Mark VII and it had tons of snort. Best thing about it was ... I could get any part I wanted for it easily and cheaply AND I could get tons of performance parts for it too. With Senri living across the pond this issue becomes doubly important. The 302 is still backed up by the factory and after market sources. The 455 is not. The last year the Olds 455 was built was 1976. TA Performance still backs up the Buick 455 but the stuff isn't cheap and everyday parts are still, problematic. If I was Senri, especially living where he does, I would go with the 302. You can drive them stock or build them up any way you want. If money and possible down time are not issues, hell yeah, give me the BB torque every time!
Norm even you have to admit a Fuel Injected engine can run just as easily as a bog block if not easier. Bet you would love my big 300 I6 in my truck with fuel injection = good gas mileage and can haul 1500lbs in the bed without straining.
I've been tossing this around myself. Thinking about pulling the motor out of the wagon. What I'd really like to do is a 5.7 LT1 out of a Roadie or Caprice, preferably an interceptor. But I don't know anything about fuel injection. Option 2 is a 454 or other big block. It'd be a lotta bragging rights, and since the Caprice isn't my daily car anymore, the concern about gas mileage would be much less. Option 3 is just a plain jane crate 350. It would be reliable, relatively cheap and easy to get parts for. I love the Chevy small block just for the fact of available parts.
If I had a GM box wagon again and had the money to swap in an LT1....I would skip the LT1 and go right to an LS with more HP. As long as you have to change everything with both platforms you may as well go for the new tech and more power. As for the BB...the Olds 455 bolts up....the 454 doesn't but could be made to. Yup. You are right...the chevy 350 has tons of back up. Doesn't bolt right up, though.
