Thread: 86 burban needs more balls...

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You need torque. Best way to get that is either a 383 stroker built from your current 350, 400 small block or a big block (454 or bigger). No replacement for displacement, except maybe a small blower.

Either small block would be easier since that is what is in the truck now.

The 454 would be a bolt in swap with factory parts, but would be a lot easier if you found another truck like yours that had a big block so that you had all the little parts needed to make the swap happen. Lots of 1 ton trucks had 454's and the same basic frame as yours. I would hunt down one of those if that was the direction I wanted to go.

If it's the 86 engine it's probably got low compression pistons and bad flowing smog heads. Find a late 90s Vortec 350; much better engine; roller cam, good compression and great heads. Bolt on a Vortec aluminum intake plus your headers and Edelbrock carb.