$200 Craigslist 454 Big Block Engine Rebuild: Purchase and Teardown (78 Firebird Ep.13)

Is it a good idea to go out and buy the cheapest big block that we could find in local listings? Probably not, but only one way to find out exactly how poorly it could go! We found an ad for this “88-89” Suburban 454 (7.4L) in need of a rebuild, and couldn't resist the $200 price tag. Our 1978 Pontiac Firebird has always been begging for some sort of muscle car street cred and the easiest way to get there is a dirt-cheap big block swap. The plans don't end there, certainly, but every story has to start somewhere!
Dates of filming: November 27th, 2019 (Cylinder Head Removal)
December 19th, 2019 (Short Block Disassembly)
Song List (Order of First Appearance):
0:01 Freedom - Dan Lebowitz
4:00 Jeremiah's Song - Dan Lebowitz
9:20 Summer Love - The 126ers
16:28 Succotash - Silent Partner
20:22 Traveller - The 126ers
(All music provided by KZbin's Audio Library royalty free.)
Thanks for watching, and joining us on this adventure! Please let us know what you think! Consider supporting us via Patreon as well! / fuzzydiceprojects
Follow our Instagram for more pictures and teasers: / fuzzydiceprojects
Check out our second channel for a variety of other content: / @fuzzydicepastimes

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

In the last video we had a vote in the comments on which video series you would like to see next, and this one won by a large margin! So, this weekend we will be working on and talking about this sad engine and its questionable future. I have no idea how many videos this build series will be, but hopefully we can keep things moving and get through the many challenges that we will face faster than it has taken in real-time! This engine swap was supposed to be finished to have the car ready for last Spring. That... hasn't happened and fingers crossed it will be back on the road in the next few months!

[@austinbailey7755]

My man just keep em' coming

[@tyberzann9713]

did you see that broken piston? that frozen one.

[@scottrobertson9275]

E cheese tv

[@matthewcohen9582]

A little bit of naval jelly on some fine steel wool will clean those bores up nice.

[@jonathanlawson4667]

Did you sell the old supercharger??

[@Ichiidino]

Ah yes, something to motivate me to work on my truck. Honestly, I really needed this 👌

[@maxjones9139]

With this cold my projects are on hold. Once it gets around 0° I just burn through a ton of wood to keep it just above freezing. Insulation is next week, then back on my k10!

[@Amstel508]

@@maxjones9139 pretty much the same. Been below zero for a while and I'm tired of waiting 4 hours for the edge to be taken off.

[@95TurboSol]

You need a heater in your garage, I was freezing cold just watching!

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

That would be great, but this was worse than usual because the garage was a mess. I didn't have the space to have everything inside and close the door so I had to leave it open and let the cool evening breeze wash over me

[@95TurboSol]

@@FuzzyDiceProjects Dude, that's brutal! Hopefully youtube money will get good enough that you can build an insulated shop!

[@larryharris937]

When I saw his breath when pulling the balancer off I went to another level of admiration!

[@ryanrink2641]

I'm a simple guy, I see a new Fuzzy Dice Projects video, I hit the thumbs up button and watch the magic.

[@carfoolery6646]

In Fuzzy Dice Projects we trust.

[@flatlandedadventure]

Gotta boost his youtube-algorithm-powers so he can go full time and upload weekly! haha

[@Spnfirearmsuglymom]

Jesus finally you post I’ve been rewatching your old videos that’s how much I love your channel 😭

[@ryanrink2641]

I was just rewatching the whole Blazer series the last week. I'm always so excited for new FDP videos.

[@kris856]

@@ryanrink2641 Mike - please - do not keep us waitng sooo awfully long. This video we have just watched was filmed in December 2019 !!! Man! Thank you anyway soo much for your quality videos and fantastic approach to whatever you do with all your cars :)

[@joannaatkins822]

Thanks for uploading today! I'm having a rough time, and your quality videos make me very happy

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

Glad to hear it, hope things get better for you soon! Best wishes!

[@rexcameron995]

poor guy, works on it late at night in the cold because thats all the time he has but still loves doing it, amazing work!

[@tierfuehrer2]

Oh, can you imagine, letting this engine run in a car after this cylinder diagnosis? Just to experience what happens. Like the magic that Vice grip garage puts into engines like that. Putting some oil on top of the piston. Using a 2-stroke mix for starting it. And then run it home to see, if some rings and compression comes back. Now that would be footage one of a kind.

[@TheBrokenLife]

I know if it were up to my luck a second 454 would be entering the scene in the not too distant future. $200 engine stand with free boat anchor attached! ;)

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

SOMETHING has to sit in the garage to keep the house from floating away!

[@TheBrokenLife]

@@FuzzyDiceProjects I've come around more to the idea that it's all just modern art that is waiting for future archeologists to unearth it. I'm simply curating it until they do.

[@carfoolery6646]

Mike needs more Patreon support so he can afford to whip videos out more often.

[@flatlandedadventure]

I would love for weekly uploads.

[@bruwin]

70's Firebird Esprits have a special place in my heart due to watching the Rockford Files growing up. They used the new model year each season mostly up til the 78 model, which was used until the series ended. Apparently Jim Garner hated how the front end looked on the 79, so they just stuck with the 78. Nothing will ever convince me it's not a muscle car, and I hope you do a couple of Rockfords in yours when its complete.

[@scootermcd5756]

OK, here’s what I do differently.. first thing in is the cam on a rebuild, and last thing on a tear down.. with the block sitting up right on the bell house side, drop the cam straight down. On a tear down, pull it straight up... easier on the bearings.

[@jeromykeloway]

Not sure what it is... I don't understand 25% of what you are talking about but it's so relaxing... Maybe listening to competence has that effect (and no, there is no sarcasm in that!)

[@wordenentertainment1997]

I love your Firebird Esprit. I have a 79 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y84 Special Edition Bandit and its a very slow project (for now), but I will be working more on it later this year as I finish college. My car has the original code W72 Pontiac 400 performance engine, which 79 was the last year for the engine being offered. Your series of the 78 Firebird has inspired to do a KZbin series on the car and I hope to at least do an introduction video of the car and why it is such a special car for me personally, the story behind it, and how significant it is as a muscle car from the era. Love to see more videos of your car fellow Firebird enthusiast.

[@aidenallweiss15]

I love watching you rebuild an engine, the blazer engine rebuild is my favorite thing you've produced. Such high quality.

[@jayhiz3514]

brake cleaner on lifters with varnish work pretty fast

[@TheStone600]

Would love to see a 4 speed go into this car, keep up the great work!

[@anthonysilva5015]

That's funny you were able to share 20/20 vision while narrating. Should've sanded the crank to get flex plate off. Thanks for sharing that.

[@flatlandedadventure]

We do love us some firebird action! Hell yeah Mike!

[@robmurg]

"Everybody's an art critic when your hands aren't the ones covered in oil" is going on my workshop wall!

[@justinchristiano7928]

Your dialogue is easy to listen to, and you don't waste time. Excellent videos. Subscribed.

[@warmowed]

Stand that crank up on its end! resting a crank on its counterweights stresses the crankshaft. Awesome to see this teardown and upcoming rebuild :)

[@talljake]

The amount of slack in that chain is mind boggling! Automatic +5 degrees cam timing!

[@zacharidumas4405]

Best bday gift I could hope for. A good channel making a good video of a Chevy big block

[@wezzie4321]

Something awesome about a KZbin being from your hometown, it's pretty sweet

[@lateefcarrere1649]

I would say that this is the greatest $200 big block ever purchased - only under threat of blackmail. I don't know what you're budget is, but if the block doesn't pass inspection (cracks, out of round, etc.) it's over before you've really started. I know you said "you can't win them all", but there's a reason it was 200 bucks. Of course, I wouldn't mind being wrong.

[@DanTheMan454]

I just got a 427 tall deck with 13,000 original miles on it out of an old county fire truck for $250. Gotta love craigslist!

[@ThomasShaneHynes]

Man, I have no idea about cars but I really like watching your videos, the 91 firebird series has been a joy to watch. Keep up the awesome videos my dude.

[@Friedbrain11]

What engine it has is actually irrelevant. Whatever trips your trigger is all that matters :) Nice organizer! The engine cradle was a nice gift since this wasn't exactly what you were looking for in an engine. Withthe rockers being nonadjustable you will need a stock camshaft or will need to change up the valvetrain to an adjustable(the way I would go).

[@cristian6766]

Now i remember why i subscribed to Fuzzy Dice Projects. This is the reason!!

[@shaneharwood2999]

Honestly love how you do your videos and how much effort you put into editing. Please keep up the awesome quality of work my man. You sir are spectacular!🤙🏻

[@dallas9795]

That motor looked in great shape. I would be more concerned about rust in the heads and valves. Those cylinders are fine.

[@AdderoYuu]

See there are people like you, and people who say that block is trashed. I'm inclined to agree with people like you, but I am certainly curious to see how this goes.

[@davebarron5939]

Seriously looking forward to THIS one. Thanks

[@sgtfroman]

Love this video!!! Engine rebuilds are my favorite.

[@dustingore8589]

Looking forward to this series!

[@SantiagoScolari]

Your videos are the best!!

[@siddharthct4799]

Thanks for uploading again

[@born_again_torinos]

Thank you for the awesome editing. I didn't have to keep skipping through each bolt removal. Well done.

[@jimmytessmer4772]

Love all your videos man . Great job . I look forward to the next one

[@who55f30]

I saw the Fredrick on the Craigslist ad and thought nah can’t be and then u said carslie and I’ll be you live right by me 😄 good build friend

[@Silvergoatdc4]

Great build video

[@ScottsSpeedShop]

Excellent video as always man, I can't wait to see more

[@AMCguy]

Hell yes a blown 454! Great choice fuzzy dice!

[@frankierutherford1888]

The only way you’re gonna learn is just to do it. Thanks for sharing an I can’t wait for the next video.

[@aman1632]

Love the song choices. Hope this big boy comes together nicely.

[@mccoyfamilyhomestead]

First video of yours I've seen. I enjoyed the content. I love to watch hobbyists like myself (I'm definitely no professional). I'm currently at the tail end of my 454 build. Gen IV and in pretty good shape, even better I got it for free! I'm subscribing and anxiously waiting the continuation of your build!

[@navvet4518]

The intake ports on those heads are reminiscent of an 18Hp Briggs and Stratton. It’s surprising that they can even flow enough to keep the motor happy. I guess that’s how you satisfy emissions. At least you have a 4 bolt block.

[@stanmendoza638]

Wow 15:26 that looks like a marlyn block.. after market heavy duty block 👍👍 u got lucky

[@ronald6138]

No i can't overhaul , But man oh man can I break em . Not really after over 40 plus years of Driving i have experienced a lot . and it helps right now to watch and learn . Thanks

[@petecopland7499]

Man love watching your videos only wish were longer haha but understand why they are not look forward to the next one

[@DOCTOR_KIA]

Yes! I can wait to get home to watch this now lol

[@kb9oak749]

For the love of engines let me know next time you rebuild one and I'll send lifters. Yeesh!

[@rugbyladice574]

New here. Great video AND commentary. Glad I found you guys, as everything I end up having to do is on a tight budget.

[@dougsmart3678]

Was in the middle of watching a cletus mcfarland video and said fuck tht shit as soon as I got the notification that u up loaded

[@aftershock2222]

I just fired up my 454 on the stand. I traded it for a 305. I just subscribed, thanks.

[@bradmarkus7768]

YES I HAVE BEEN WAITING

[@andy347495]

Yeah, it seems to never fail, any motor that sits around is gonna be rusted. The ones that say ran when pulled and stored inside even tend to be rusty.

[@Ursus5848]

Awesome breakdown! It's interesting to compare the guts to what I'm building. 350 w/ aluminum heads going into my 89 firebird. Spent today hand filing the rev kit(they didnt quite fit the hydraulic lifters). Hopefully we'll get it running on a stand soon.

[@mitchellcrowe8545]

FUZZY!!!! Yes today has been a good day for KZbin uploads. You, Mortske, Finnegan. Well entertained on a rainy day. Thanks for the video FDP! I voted for the s10 but cant wait th o see how this 454 turns out.

[@aaronrichards2842]

new viewer here! ive been watching ronald finger lately (like 2 years now) and just found this video. great stuff! very in depth. i hope you stay on this till it runs. thats alot of chain slap...wow. surprised it had any teeth left.

[@localcrew]

That block was mint!

[@raleigh2747]

Should have used a scope to look inside the cylinders before buying. Also, if somebody says a part or car is a particular thing, and then when you show up to buy it, it isn't the exact year/generation/part they said, don't buy it just because "you were there" and its close enough. In my experience, it is almost always better to wait till you can get exactly what you wanted as far as condition and year of part.

[@sugamai]

Thanks for the video, keep it up😺

[@nickcarlson8047]

YESSSSS I needed this

[@leehodge2415]

i've put a 454 on the cheapo hf engine stand. i couldn't even lower the hoist all the way. i welded in some gussets and it worked fine.

[@DXFXmc]

Awesome content!! ##1!!🤓🤗😁

[@turtlebeter8760]

A Pontiac is Gm it’s literally chevy

[@Not_Tony]

a long time ago they were not just copies with different names. They were all under GM but each division had there own twist.

[@projectcarz4798]

Yes I can attest to the fact that Pontiac made their own parts, my grandfather had a Pontiac and it had a Pontiac motor. I now own a 1988 firebird and can attest that not only did Pontiac lose its differences between itself and Chevy, and it also lost a lot of individualism from the next gen up

[@CarguyEd5150]

At one time each division had its identity and was separate from each other. Engines were all different and not some bland, generic Chevy small or big block. Pontiac engines when properly built can be powerful and damn cool too! I should know because I have a built Pontiac and its fierce.

[@robertthomas5906]

Butler used to make the Pontiac motors. Seems to me the Chevy was a 454, the Pontiac was a 455. Other than that a lot of it was different.

[@perotekku]

Yeah, I'm perpelxed why people see Pontiac's with SBC and freak out. There's really only a small window in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s where Pontiac made their own engines in house. Otherwise they've always run Chevy motors. Even Pontiac's in Canada used Chevy motors more often than not, for supply reasons.

[@grimson]

I love "I was already there so I bought it anyway" lol been there.

[@SirCumsALot_779]

Cool Video

[@TruckandTravel]

Good video

[@bjbeardse]

IT DEFINITELY DOES MATTER WHERE THE COMPONENTS IN THE VALVETRAIN GO! All the parts have worn to each other, and swapping them around will cause problems! ESPECIALLY ON THE LIFTERS!!! I have in my stupid youth wiped out a cam or two putting the wrong lifters into the wrong holes.

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

The lifter positions absolutely matter, which is why I go through the effort of ordering them in the tray in this video. I was referring to the rocker arms and pushrods, and other than possibly the vertical orientation of the pushrods I don't believe their position is important. I apologize if this comment was not clear!

[@TheBrokenLife]

@@FuzzyDiceProjects I was honestly pretty surprised that you cared at all since I doubt you're planning to reuse the stock cam and lifters. Or I hope you're not!

[@DrFiero]

77 was the last year they cast a true Pontiac engine. You could still get one in 78, but in reality it was a 77 engine. Mid year, they ran out of them (as planned) and then you got an Olds 403. You could tell the difference from the shaker. One said T/A 6.6, the other 6.6 Litre.

[@thebandittransam9191]

400 carried on into 79 4spd cars. They never ran out of them. They cast them up into 78 and then saved some for the 79 cars. That’s why the 79 400 cars have 78 date codes. Not 100% sure but I’m pretty sure cars out of the Norwood plant only assembled the 400’s in them. I think California was only doing the 403’s and Norwood was using them also. The T/A 6.6 was for the W72 400, the L78 version still had 6.6 LITRE. The only 78 400s carried over to 79 were W72

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

That 403 was a bad bitch

[@aaronrichards2842]

so the t/a was the pontiac motor and the non-t/a was the olds? just to clear it up.

[@thebandittransam9191]

@@aaronrichards2842 almost, the T/A was the W72 coded 400. The regular L78 shared the 6.6 LITRE as the olds 403

[@mikee2923]

The Olds 403 came out in 1977 as their replacement for the 455 in the Toronado and big cars that were downsized for 77. California also began to enforce their own emissions laws in 77 which the Pontiac V8 wouldn’t pass. So California Pontiacs had to use someone else’s V8 to pass their emissions. States that followed federal emissions still could get Pontiac V8

[@IuriSantos]

Thx for the imperial >> Metric conversions.

[@wolfecanada6726]

This is where a laser cleaner comes in very handy

[@razzymarcus8044]

Always thought they were a little under powered this definitely makes up for it

[@julianpighin1572]

Ohhh yes. Just in time

[@street_wise_gamgee]

when buying these 454s try to find 1 with mechanical fuel pumps unless your dont care about trying to runs a electric pump. im building a ho po 454 for a 79 corvette atm and a 396 for my personal 70 impala. id recommend a gen 4 block the gen 5 blocks dont have mechanical fuel pumps makes it a bit more run around to make em work right.

[@darkmagician1184]

at the very least, you could probably sell this engine for a profit after the rebuild and keep looking. keep up the good work

[@derekmcalister929]

That camaro was soooooo nice. 🥵😏

[@norsevikingsir4932]

PB Blaster is far superior for stuck parts. I can't tell you how many times I've had stuff doused in wd-40 and it wouldn't budge, then I put some Blaster on there and boom, it'll release.

[@brandonheckathorn3270]

Even if it needed a sleeve and full race prep at the machine shop $200 for that 4 bolt block is a killer deal

[@drift5170]

Hell yeah!

[@user-gx1sv3hj9k]

"Its a 305 small block" Me, a european: oh well that propably means its a small engine Engine: *has 5 f*ing liters of displacement* Me: *cries in 2 liter 4 cylinder*

[@tonyka3545]

Are you a sort of celebrity here? I'm regular and proud owner of 1,6L, because my brother has 1,2L...

[@jesusonic91]

jajajja i understand you. I'm a crazy man here in Spain for daily drive my 2.8L e39

[@user-gx1sv3hj9k]

@@jesusonic91 lol i also have a e39 , its a 525d but i currently drive my e46 320d because the e39 has a lot of rust and i want to preserve the car for years to come... they dont build cars like they did 20 years ago...

[@user-gx1sv3hj9k]

@@jesusonic91 2.8l engine is supposed to be a beast tho!

[@georgehuser4711]

I have a 2.2 4 cyl and Ive heard that I have excessively huge engine killing the environment. Why is Europe like this

[@keeganmyers7627]

Its gonna big power

[@stanmendoza638]

10:32 .. thats y u should have put lubricant b 4 u started working on it .. lol now ur gonna mess up ur flex plate.. flywheel

[@rogercushman2903]

The Shareef don't like it Rock the caps loose Rock the caps loose

[@robertthomas5906]

I saw that video recently. Towards the end I used to think he said - "Mental retardation." LOL, It's not that.

[@haroldkleever7746]

that is perfect it not like your making it a rignal so its doesnt matter what you use

[@Vintage_Jack]

Excited to see the motor actually running well in the Firebird. Keep up the good work. Also who tf disliked this video.

[@stevejohnson1397]

I'll take you up on that comment never would I own a Pontiac with a Chevrolet power plant ever

[@SoonerHistory]

Dude...look at mine. I made mine a show car. It started as a Espirit Redbird. I made nice muscle out of it as well. A 383 stroker. Many parts and upgrades. I watched your first 13 videos a while back. I am excited to see what you did. If you wanna know things I opted for, let me know.

[@AMCguy]

And even though the gen 6 454 doesnt have a fuel pump installed. Behind the block off plate you can slide a fuel pump arm in and have a mechanical fuel pump work.

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

I hadn't heard of that being done to a block without the mounting boss for it, but I had wondered how much work it would be to make it happen. Probably some drilling, maybe milling, and a shortened pushrod. That factory camshaft even has a fuel pump lobe on it, so they really didn't change a lot of the design.

[@brandoncox6635]

Finally!

[@d1g1ta1flux7]

YEEEEEES

[@Der_Essengeek]

crustykino back on the menu boys

[@OkFixer]

great video...I watched intently

[@Marc_Wolfe]

Hope it goes well.

[@garrettkellogg8278]

Those plastic teeth are what blew up my sbc. Clogged up the oil pick up and took out the cam.

[@54diggerdown]

Hang on here we go again

[@frankierutherford1888]

The struggle is real lol.

[@robbam5568]

Yes 454

[@foxgloves321]

Would love to see a single car near-total restoration done in your style.

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

It's not quite my style (it's better!) but check out Ronald Finger's Fiero restoration videos if you haven't. I don't think it's something I could ever do because of the immense work and time investment and then the fear of damaging the finished product, but I'm very glad some people out there are willing to make it happen.

[@gunner9959]

For a great parts cleaner 50/50 mix of diesel and transmission fluid you'll never find a better cleaner js