Thread: Big Block for towing

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Originally Posted by Mike P

I agree with Jerry as far as the diesel being the best way to go.

If you want to stay with a gas engine, personally I’d find a 500 CI Cadillac, do a stock rebuild and swap that in. Even the low compression regular gas engines from the 70s made 500 Ft Lbs of torque at 2200-2500 RPM and were extremely reliable. You would need an adaptor for the TH400 to fit the caddy engine but they are readily available.

Finding/buying a 500 Caddy engine and doing a quality rebuild would be far cheaper than a custom built BBC 496/511.

If you decide you want to stick with a BBC, Pat is definitely the one to talk to.

well he did not ask for a diesel or a caddy . hate to say it but mike caddy is fine it not cheaper by the time making things fit were 454and up CID is a bolt in. i would not use a 400 trans in back of a build like this 4 speed auto or gear vender on the 400. i can sell a cast steel crank hyper piston 496 engine @ 500 ft is not hard at all more close to 600 for the same as or less then doing a rebuild on a caddy part for part as the 496 is all most stock parts price .the 454 .582 is a bolt in ...will it use gas yes it will .i ask one of my customers what MPG he get pulling his 50 foot off shore boat with his bbc i am sure it not great but he had 454 with whipple blower on his gas bbc for 15 years going this way with a 496 would still be less $$ then a diesel if you add up your time and $$TQ numbers would be very good .if going diesel see if going to a new truck roller over use all part in your old truck shell alot of screwing around buy the time your done it would be less money to buy a lite hit new diesel turck and fixing it but you did not ask that