5.3 LS vs 454 BBC

[@msh6865]

A fuel injected low compression big block in a light Camaro, Firebird or Nova would be a blast. I'm talking about a 496 with 9:1 compression and the Sniper EFI. Add in a transmission with overdrive or GearVendors OD and say 3.73 gears...you're a freightrain. Plus, with 9:1 compression you can still add forced induction if you really want to. I really like LS stuff but, every guy needs to get behind the wheel of a badass big block at least once in his life. 👍

[@michaelsmith9804]

Nelson racing has made it clear that a 5.3 can not compete with a 454

[@bluemari937]

@@michaelsmith9804 what about a 6.0?

[@greenlightmultimedia1950]

Im looking at the difference for a 92 Firebird

[@dylanspencer6646]

454 all the way 🤘

[@Tier1Norseman]

489??

[@ekitching]

Funny I have a 6.0 LS in my '04 Silverado and a 454 in my '70 Chevelle and a planned 454 for my '70 Corvette. The 6.0 LS engine is perfect for that truck and has been a 10 on reliability, 160K miles and zero issues. The 454 in the Chevelle is just a monster of an engine, it impresses me every time I drive that car. I like both engines but the big block puts out way more torque and just looks a lot better. GM did a great job on the LS engine design, except in the looks department.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

...in the looks dept., the design dept., and just about every other damned dept. too!!! The only real score is in the strength dept.!! Wanna change out cam and lifters?... have fun with that!!!

[@shootermcgavin2819]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty you are spot on. LS engines have their valves lined up. That is less flow potential. The designers are very weird people because they know the the Chrysler Hemi is responsible for the design of the 12000hp top fuel engines due to their valve placement and Ford small block Cleveland engines and Boss 302 have canted valve heads and those engines are very powerful for that reason but GM ignored that important step in internal combustion engine evolution. Then GM gives the LS a stout Y shaped block for natural anti twist and a badass 6-bolt main for holding together. 🤷

[@michaelsmith9804]

torque...what you just said....enough torque to carry taller gears.....that in the end wins a drag race

[@ekitching]

Thanks Michael. I have 4.10 gears in my Chevelle I wouldn't trade those for nothing. Need bigger wheels/tires. Perfect with the torquey big block, factory oval port heads 290's.

[@ck4181]

Fitment should be another category. The LS is smaller and can fit in most engine bays but you need to buy the correct engine swap kit. The big block is pretty much a plug n play for any vehicle that came with a gen 1 small block but you may have to modify some things to make it fit

[@boston7704]

Either one will put a smile on your face. Two fine engines that are almost impossible to kill.

[@TheOverisel]

The engines from 1960 to say 1974 are cool just because of the era they were born, the type of racing they were designed (drag) for and the car culture at that time. The BBC with the unmistakable wide valve covers is just plain awesome. The heritage of the high HP versions of the 396, 427 and 454 makes it legendary. And I am a mopar guy.

[@goodolboy9312]

Dam that 5.3 is hittin a lick

[@BlackDynamite901]

The sound of the 454 literally made me smile. I need one Don't know ish about rebuilding motors. But I want one 😅

[@williamgilchrist8577]

Dude, I have enjoyed hearing your videos because you cram in so much information in each video. The information you give are not just for a beginner but for the boys and girls who have grease between their fingers.

[@kingofkings8709]

454 all day.... Everybody and their great grandmother has a LS engine.

[@w41duvernay]

I'M a 427 guy. THE 69 Yenko CHEVELLES were actually a half a sec faster than the 70s CHEVELLE 454 ss ls6.

[@TA1977bandit]

@@w41duvernay the smaller the cubic inch the slower the car. A 454 with the same modifications will produce more power than a 427... just like a 496 beats 454, and 502 would out perform that, and 540, 572, 632.. ect.

[@coreyjenkins3056]

I only had small blocks but I am definitely getting a BIG BLOCK for it's torque.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

@@w41duvernay Sorry, no replacement for displacement!!!

[@77chevy4x4]

@@coreyjenkins3056 383 I’ve ran through the 468 I got now . No comparison in snapping torque. Air flow is just ridiculous.

[@bradbain4775]

Ls s make good power I’m just not a ls guy big block you can tune with a screw driver and 9/16 wrench And a timing light

[@Texasmule]

454: *tap dancesing noises from exhaust *

[@grandnattygarage7355]

Either way, they’re both still cooler than a EV or Tesla 😂

[@Theotherdroidman]

Can't say the same about your grammar.

[@grandnattygarage7355]

@@Theotherdroidman hold on, I’ll fix it just for you, since it’s bothering you that much.

[@browndotclone8232]

@@Theotherdroidman who cares

[@Tier1Norseman]

Overpriced golf carts. 😂

[@potatog891]

Or the overpriced fridge ​@Tier1Norseman

[@theshark2804]

The biggest issue i see lately is most people are not being honest with themselves about what they need. A big block is not for everyone. I have a built 454/th400 with efi in my nova. Its crazy. But if i knew more aboit the Ls at the time i would have went that direction. Mpg is very important when you want to really enjoy your build.

[@henrywal]

To me the ls swap is a lot more money. 5k difference

[@theshark2804]

@@henrywal could be just depends on how much you get the setup for. For my 65 cutlass I picked up the 5.3 for $100. But yeah it adds up quick.

[@Kir_jbg]

@@henrywalthat’s a lie lol, I pulled a 5.3 with the 4l60e from the junkyard running for 600$ plus the harness and ecu for 780$. If I include the extras (motor mounts, radiator, headers etc) it’s only like 400$ more. With an LS you can go to the junkyard and pull different heads or even cams from other LS motors for more hp for cheap. I got 450 hp and 400+ tq just from doing that. All together the build was under 2k in my 1983 el Camino.

[@jedclampett6466]

Been running a 30 over 402 BBC in my '71 Ford highboy since 1979. Transmission is a 4L60 from a 1990 Chev van. Manual rocker switch for the converter lock up. 65 mph at 1900 RPM.

[@shootermcgavin2819]

Absolutely badass truck choice, great engine choice, horrible transmission choice. I hope that 4Lblow is built right, cause they are very weak. Sick truck though 👍🏻

[@djrowe10]

I'm not heckling you but no LS na motor will EVER make 600+ torque and my 396-454 builds all do. Torque wins drag races not HP. I appreciated your vidoes as a young builder and like that you compared the BBC vs LS as it is the only motor close enough with crazy mods to get close to a GM BBC. I vote BBC!

[@infamousnova]

What cam are you using

[@djrowe10]

@@infamousnova I use bullet racing cams. Look em up. Best cam company in USA.

[@GorhamWorks]

This is a great video! Played a similar game with my 69 c10. I ended up pulling out my worn out bbc 396. It made it to 291k on the clock and replaced it. There was a lot of LS options I looked at. But after doing all the maths and spreadsheets on the build, the cost can confirm it was cheaper to go big block. The conclusion was if I built a LS... to the same power level I was aiming for... the computer, fuel system, and accessories would cost about 4k more on the LS. Currently doing a video series on my install and setup (total youtube newb). I went deep down the overbuilt rabbit hole hard on my build. But cause I have all the torque geared it with a 3.08 and 29 inch tall tires. Thing will be a rocket and cause it doesn't have to spin up to make torque should launch like one too. It will be more a challenge to put the power down. Weight... aluminum... where I could...intake, heads, running headers vs cast manifolds, and aluminum carb. Something that is a big deal with modern heads on the old big blocks on pump gas isn't hard to see big numbers, 550 hp + NA. Modern heads, forged internals, built transmission, and all the fun carb stuff to feed it I think it will be like straight whiskey. Not everyone's flavor, but that is okay. NA I'm looking for about 575 at the wheels. On the dyno the engine made 708 HP and 699 ft/lbs. I expect 10 mpg and if I put a gear vendors behind the th400... maybe some more. Fun seeing your projects and enjoyed this discussion.

[@dtread9543]

Big blocks are unmatched for torque......except the weight. Don't let anyone tell you "you won't notice the weight difference". Just got done putting one in a 1978 squarebody 4x4 and it is very noticeable even in the big lunky truck chassis. Torque below 2000 RPM is magical though, the hills don't exist anymore.

[@konbromotors1006]

Got a 454 in a 82 Caprice & it warped the lift blocks I put in the front to mount 24’s when the 305 was in it🤣🤣🤣🤣 it’s a heavy Chevy for real now

[@setha360]

I just rebuilt a 454 in my 1977 c20, prayed and the chevy Gods let my camshaft live, prelubed the engine, coated camshaft with grease and dumped gas down carb, fired up nicely and 2000 rpm 20 minutes polish cam lobes.

[@jackhigdon6200]

Use aluminum parts heads intake water pump pulleys valve covers

[@ridered7262]

I love my 454 in my 1971 Hondo Vdrive. No replacement for displacement.

[@mattdavis5994]

Love an old school mark lV

[@rickybobby3148]

Exact video I was looking for!

[@GJ-DT]

454 hands down, drive my 71 impala everyday. Rolling burnouts at ease.

[@coreyjenkins3056]

Wow! I had a 1970 Impala Custom Coupe(early 1990's) with a stock 400 small block, shift kit 350 tranny, dual exhaust, stock rearend. She was a stock monster! Now I want the 70 Impala with a 454.

[@jhschmidMD4]

Nice, informative video. Explains why most will build a big block for race/drags, and an LS for daily or street rides.

[@demarques1911]

That's right

[@chrishansen7004]

454 vortecs are extremely underrated motors in my humble opinion the only thing that sucks about them compared too the 5.3 is they dont rev to 9 million rpms and live most of the time and you have to stop at the gas station quite often

[@anthonypickens3236]

@ chris hansen you are so correct. A good friend of mine that recently passed away that raced cars (Bracket racing) told me that all that motor needs is a good set of heads and a cam and a hi- rise and it would run.

[@shootermcgavin2819]

Big block chevys have the potential to rev like ls and small block chevy engines due to their superior valve placement. Canted valves equals more flow. More flow is more speed

[@TheLionAndTheLamb777]

What limits rpm is piston speed and valve control. A engine with a short stroke will have less piston speed than one with a longer stroke. This is why all other components being equal a 283/302 Chevy can rev higher than a 305/307/327/350/383 stroker/400 for example. Your engines valves can float at higher rpm if they don't have heavier springs and possibly lighter valves. (I excluded any Chevy V8 of less than 283 CID)

[@lifeofmike5126]

@@anthonypickens3236 I've got a gen 6 with a set of 427 bbc heads and a Straub cam in a 81 vette on a 100 shot should be fun

[@brianhopkins883]

IMO the big block is more reliable. More simple, learn how to use a manual choke and your good. Plus it is a low speed motor. I can make 600 on a gen 5 with vortec heads at 5500. Plus gobs of torque. Better to drive. More seat of the pants fun. 5.3 is not much displacement for 600 horse power. There is no replacement for displacement. No sensors, no computers, just carb and ignition tuning. Way better for regular driving when you have 500 ft/lbs at 3000 rpms. Just better.

[@shootermcgavin2819]

Spot on. LS engines are garbage. They leak absolutely everywhere and have junk valvetrain reliability. Big block chevys run forever and their canted valve placement is why they rule NHRA races second to the almighty top fuel hemi

[@dannymccarty344]

Unless fuel keeps going higher. 5.3 with a Truck Norris cam gets me 18mpg in my 3150lb Fox body. 87 octane and around 400hp is enough for a toy. I put slicks on it once and it was a cheap hooker, lol.

[@x1boomer]

⁠@@dannymccarty344LS in a 🦊… 🚮

[@EprofitdetroitTheProcess]

Great Comparison . this is the information I needed to hear to decide which engine I want to go with for my next build ✊🏾

[@fartknocker8997]

Great vid and good points, just got my first 454, gonna try and stuff it in my blazer, aventually try and swap Nova engine for an ls because of weight

[@OlSkoolAJ]

I say 454 Big Block but if you are going to daily drive the car or take very long road trips then go LS but for a weekend warrior then I swear the big block will be WAAYYYYYY more fun

[@rooster68able]

Gen 6 454 Just broken in at 250k almost same as ls stuff and the biggest thing you left out was 4 bolt mains, ROLLER cam , cast crank one piece main seal , one piece oil pan seal vortec heads very reliable and 500 ft lbs tq na ,ls can not do that stock sure ls great engine so is 454 vl

[@andrewmontgomery1763]

Not at all, the stock pistons and rods in a 4.8/5.3/6.0 and all the others are stout, probably far stouter than any generation of the 454 big block. Hence one of the many reasons why turbo LS is so popular.

[@rooster68able]

They ran a gen 6 454 stock from junkyard boost to 850hp ran out of power the thing shruged it off so ? 4 bolt mains and there beefy bigger then ls as for pistons there cast so i dont no ? Honestly they will prolly handle alot the same power as ls for sure but look there both great engines one is tq engine one is a buzz saw rpms chevy all the way

[@zedee2000]

Stock or built, 427 LS and 427 BBC, more torque, more horsepower ,more rpm"s, longer rods, more mains, better oil windage, better valve angle, stronger and lighter LS is the clear winner! Like a SBC to a BBC! And I'm a BBC man!

[@Yesiknow0]

@@zedee2000 I’ll throw my two cents in, if you think in a 1970 mindset the big block can’t hold a candle to the LS. Now steal everything the LS has developed over it run and put it in a gen 6 454 like 1.5 mm piston rings, 10:1 compression, valve train control with 2020 technology like beehive valve springs titanium retainers and a new style roller cam, heads from AFR and fuel injection from 2020 that not just a carburetor with some injectors slapped in it and you start at 600 bhp before you you start pushing air in the engine. The Big Block was the LS of its day.

[@Yesiknow0]

@@andrewmontgomery1763 when have you ever heard of a 454 bending a rod? The LS is popular because it is the new 454. What did people do before the LS? Junkyard 454 it was in everything cars, trucks and vans. What does everyone do now, junkyard LS platform because its in everything cars, trucks and vans.

[@henrysmith8012]

My blow thru carbed Procharged 355 starts just fine. Most just cant tune a carburetor.

[@ascendantjustice1173]

Just swapped a MK IV 7.4L 454 into my 72 SS El Camino 😂😂 super fun and loud AF with straight long tube headers.

[@terrybaltimore1542]

Very fair comparison

[@mauricejones6193]

I like the video but you got orbs flying all thru your garage, i had to keep rewinding, somebody's visiting you in the afterlife 😂

[@hardball107]

I love the gen 5 & 6 big blocks. They are cheap, 4 bolt main 454's and if you don't expect to spin your engine to 6000 rpm they are great with the peanut port heads. I'm a 5.3-5.7 LS guy, been building them for many years but I inherited a Chevy 3500 that needed an engine. I cammed a Gen5 454 and put an old Edelbrock Performer on it with a Q-Jet, peanut port heads and all (major port misalignment). That thing just hauls, literally. I'm pulling a 26' RV with it and all that low end grunt pulls that 8,000 lbs. load down the hiway at 75 mph no problem. The LS's are a hot rodder's dream, put a cam in a stock engine and you have at least 425hp on tap, cheap. Case in point, the Elgin 1840p cam, Sloppy Stage 2 cam can be had for less than $150 and it really wakes up any LS. Stock intake and a set of mid length headers, a reflashed PCM and a $300 wiring harness is all you need, 425hp minimum. I've done it many times but the LS is making more power than the Big Block at 5000-6000 rpm. My point is the big blocks have their place and they just look kool under the hood but apples to apples a 5.3 LS will generally walk away from it, no problem.

[@trailerparkcryptoking5213]

My low compression, small cammed Mark 4, 454 will run away from a 5.3 or coyote or 6.2 hemi......with ease...they lift quick because they know there is nothing they can do! 😂😂😂

[@ziven22]

To find a 6.0 you have to search vin numbers before going. Just pulled an LQ9 which is the rare HO version.

[@RatMaro]

Have to do so as well to make sure you don't get a 4.8 over a 5.3, almost impossible to tell the difference from the outside.

[@ziven22]

@@RatMaro Absolutely, I've also heard that BTR or Mast have been buying up all the 6.2L cores. I also like your channel, keep it up.

[@RatMaro]

@@ziven22 Appreciate it man! Just trying to get started haha.

[@zedee2000]

@@ziven22 mast performance?

[@funyun000]

Can u explain?

[@TerryBollea1]

Is that a thumper cam in the 454 on the 2nd truck?

[@demarques1911]

Great video.. Turn The bell sound down though 😆

[@oriancunningham]

Big block Chevy any day of the week

[@tide6022]

Thanks Bro..Big Block For Me...Thank you.

[@fredluden2298]

To be fair I don’t think the cold start issues on a 454 should be a con if your doing a performance build. Your right if your just doing a engine swap on a daily driver you want to beef up but if your doing a high performance build your most likely going to have it injected with some kind of boost. Stock I think the ls wins on starting it up but if your spending some money on performance I think the 454 has it beat

[@nameless4031]

“You’re”

[@TorchedTv]

I’ve had both in my life and worked on both...and I currently have a gen 5 454 chevy and a 2020 5.3 Sierra. The only real difference is that the 454 has more torque and low end power. But, I think the 5.3 is the better engine for they buy. You can get some real power out of the 454 but nothing that a 350 can’t make with the right set up.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

Go back to bed with your baba son!!! A factory block 350 will NEVER make the horsepower a factory block 454 will make... EVER!!! FIN

[@TorchedTv]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty do you even have a Chevy block? my 5.3 spanks my 454 everytime.

[@andy347495]

"Nothing a 350 can't make with the right set up". You don't seriously believe that do you?

[@andy347495]

@@TorchedTv the 5.3 spanks your 454 huh? Well there is a lot variable in that statement and I'm guessing it's not a apple to apple comparison. If indeed you did race something with a 454 in it, it wasn't in a half ton pickup truck. So the weight variable needs to be taken into consideration. There could also be an advantage with transmission depending on what the 5.3 was using. It also depends on what gen the 454 was. The 5.3 does make comparible peak hp numbers to both the gen V and VI 454's, 330 and 370 respectively at the crank vs 350 for the 5.3. The big difference is the amount of power throughout the whole power curve which will definitely go to the 454. So if you put these motors in the same vehicle with the same drive train it is going to be a pretty close race. The 454 will definitely take the 5.3 out of the hole and until higher speeds; where the higher rpm of the 5.3 will start to show its advantage. But, where would that be, the 1/8 mile? The 1/4 mile? Or farther? Once you start modifying them that's where the 454 is really going to step away. To make 500 naturally aspirated horsepower with a 5.3 is going to take a big cam and some aftermarket heads or some really good ported factory heads and spinning the engine to 7000 rpm. On a 454 you can do it by 5500 rpm pretty easily. On top of that you'll have twice as much power through the whole curve, just what is needed to pull away from the 5.3 from the start to finish. Now try making 600 hp with a 5.3 LS naturally aspirated, not really gonna happen on any realistic 5.3. Now again pretty easy with a 454 and even at 600 hp a 454 will have good dependability and life span.

[@TorchedTv]

@@andy347495 both are stock. Haha

[@albertgaspar627]

Depends on what you're slamming it into--a Vega or an Impala? A smart gen 1 383 builder, for example, can make 500 hp naturally aspirated for cheap, and they'll have a power to weight ratio over a similar peanut port 454 trying the same amount of torque production. The benefit of displacement is octane requirement--grab an 8100 because no one wants to shop for replacement heads, and you can make torque cheap (HP sells engines, torque wins races) on 87 octane. but no matter how well the heads flow, the exhaust system needs room in your car to not back up the engine. a smaller size complete engine makes for more room in a car that doesn't have electronic steering.

[@victordelarosa589]

I have a l83 5.3 what can I do to get more power on this thing I’m looking forward to do a DOD AND AFM DELETE

[@calebschlake8387]

Good video

[@wdc1818]

Great video 💪

[@trouble603]

I love how everyone forgets to tell how much time and money goes into a LS swap when you don’t know how to do it yourself, plus all the miscellaneous parts

[@brazenhammer3307]

454, at the end of the day you can build both endlessly with the best money can buy and the big block will still win out it will always have more torque and the bore room is triple that of the ls

[@coloradonuggz6212]

I like how he uses an exception 600k mile LS but uses an average big block life expectancy. Go to the junk yard and you will see tons of blown up LS motors @ 200-250k miles.

[@Swanlord05]

Yep don't mess around 454

[@johnsheetz6639]

Swap costs or a factor too

[@grndragon2443]

I've been told by different machine shops that you don't want a 6.0L. because the pistons are so short and combined with rod ratio tend to rock and crack the skirts.

[@dannymccarty344]

Bunch of BS...

[@freyjaravenclaw3577]

The big block chevy has alot more options for mods than an ls simply because you can put a 32 valve kit on it and make well over 1000 horses on a forged bottom end. I will say this... 550hp costs next to nothing to build.

[@soldierski1669]

I don't agree at all.

[@freyjaravenclaw3577]

@@soldierski1669 I built mine for 2500 bucks... new pistons, rods, valvetrain, and cam... fb marketplace for everything else

[@StevenLNew]

Good Video I definitely wouldn't give cost to mod to a big block. LS heads are fairly inexpensive while everything on BBC is quite pricey You can spend over $3000 for BBC heads on Summit. The best heads on an LS maybe $1500 Intake for a 454 can run almost a grand and on an LS about $600 BBC are way more expensive... IMO

[@clydebethatway7485]

Have you been too a swap meet. Lots of good deals

[@tangledline]

Big blocks are more reliable if you add the same roller setup as an LS. 5.3 engines come factory with roller cams and lifters hence the "they revved it for days". I have an 03 Z06 with an LS6-sure she makes HP but the all aluminum block needs zinc, the best oil and fuel opposed to my LS7 big block in my old Vette. Another thing. When you say "5.3 vs 454" They made a SHIT load of various 454s with 2 bolt main/low compression/ choking heads while they made the 5.3 very similar with less variation like the big blocks. When you open the hood of ANY car and it has a Big Block..its good. The only time I smile when someone opens a hood is when it is an LS inside a Mustang.

[@Yohann67]

There is no VS. Either you “get”the big block or you don’t. It’s like Spinal Tap and 11.

[@TorchedTv]

Noooo. 5.3s are great engines too, and can put out more horsepower when put together correctly.

[@Yohann67]

@@TorchedTv I guess you don't "get" it. .

[@TorchedTv]

@@Yohann67 agreed. I don’t.

[@alanec510]

I’m new into this shit. Can you change a 5.3 for a 454 on a silverado?

[@Yohann67]

@@alanec510 You could, depends on the year but it would be cheaper to build up that 5.3. You could probably get 50-100 hp gain from just a cam and a reprogrammed ECU. Big blocks are awesome but unless you have money to burn you can tweak out that 5.3 to match a stock 454 on the cheap.

[@kevette357]

The sounds were fckin genius

[@GasserNorm]

Good vid. Should fit be a catagory too?

[@RatMaro]

I was considering putting that in there for sure. However just decided against it as the average Joe with their street rod should be able to fit either. Once you start getting into unique swaps though, thats where the LS shines.

[@jrsgarage3244]

Depends on what doing a big block will exceed 1000hp + stay together longer make more drag strip passes🏁🚩

[@alfredbaxter1061]

I like them both

[@rjtell6869]

What about a regular 454 in 1975 year ??

[@WhovilleWhoMeYeaYou]

"454 SS I race Porsches, white leather seats as fresh as Air Forces"

[@JeremyS86]

The answer is simple, how much money do you have to spend? You have the cubic inches with the 454, but thats far from a cheap build. Some (most) 454's are under powered and sluggish, torque for days though. The 427 was a better motor imo

[@mattdavis5994]

Most are 8.5:1 smog motors and not a true 70 454. I have a 69 396 with 10.25:1 and it’s a blast

[@JeremyS86]

@@mattdavis5994 yeah exactly. Even the smog motors weren't bad, its still a bog block. It just had shitty low compression heads and whatnot. I think the common head on a smog 454 were the peanut port heads? They were really shitty.

[@davidsharp922]

Man,we pretty much do all Ls motors at our shop. Our "shop truck" has a 416 stroker motor making about 625 horsepower in a shortened chevy truck with a 4L80 transmission and a 14 bolt rear end. If you want to build a big block that is going to hang with it you are going to have to spend a whole bunch of money. And no stock big block is going to get anywhere near 8,000 rpms.

[@RatMaro]

I'm currently building an 8000rpm big block and probably have around 15-20k into it. So yeah its no cheap feat. But you do get more power per RPM generally if you're building a big block, so it's a trade off. If you want high rpms and not spend a ridiculous amount of money an LS is the perfect engine.

[@shaadydog1]

Well, spill the beans how much did the 416 cost, and not what YOU paid with free shop work… stroked engines are expensive, even ls and especially RELIABLY running 8k. Your story sounds as long as my shadow @5 on the shortest day of the year.

[@bruceborneman]

Recently my father passed away and left me an 84 Oldsmobile Delta 88 4 door with a 307. I'm trying to decide between these two engines. I would like to know what you think? I want to put a rake job on it and hop it up although I don't want to sell a kidney to do it. Do you know what the easier swap would be? If you have the time I would love the wisdom

[@RatMaro]

The more straight forward swap would be the big block, as its still carbed, no ECU or anything extra to worry about. However if its a daily or something you are wanting Mileage in id recommend the LS. Both will fit easily as the Delta 88 has a bunch of under hood clearance. Biggest thing to worry about is im not sure Oldsmobile shares the same bellhousing for the transmission. I will also say since they made chevy cars using the same platform you will be able to mount the BBC a bit easier as well. My condolences for your father!

[@bruceborneman]

@@RatMaro Thank you so much for the information and getting back to me! Very cool!

[@RatMaro]

No problem at all!

[@mortensandmoen5208]

What about a Nice stroker sbc?

[@bruceborneman]

@@mortensandmoen5208 I will take any ideas you have! I was thinking about that. I would like to be around the 450 to 500 horse mark with around that kind of torque. I think that would be fast but not overboard. But I will be on a budget so I have to take that into consideration. I'm hoping I won't have to change the whole drive train but that is probably inevitable. I am all ears for your ideas if you have the time!

[@daviddaniels6818]

Decent video on Big Block hands down is more reliable takes way less to make a big block run there's not a sensor that will prevent it from running if you're in the middle of nowhere

[@ascendantjustice1173]

Fuel economy is why i have a 454 72 El Camino to shit and get and a 78 Mercedes benz 300D to daily drive. The Merc gets up to 500 miles on a tank of diesel and 27-32MPG but puts out 175hp and my big block is like 12mpg and 525hp.

[@edwinjamessutphin3361]

But a454 bbc weights the same as a sbc 350 with all aluminium parts on it (650lbs )

[@og-greenmachine8623]

I want 454 sound🙋🏽‍♂️ But, I want a 472 alum. Heads w/Sniper-kit🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Bloodbain88]

I love the 454 but the 5.3 is ABSURDLY reliable. They just go and go and go. I maintain a fleet of pickups that all have the 4.8, 5.3 or 6.0 and they never fail. 300k miles or over is totally average. And these are work trucks.

[@shootermcgavin2819]

Im glad that LS engines last for you. In my experience they are the shitttiest V8 ever. Nothing but valvetrain issues. And they leak everywhere

[@pmotorsports8276]

@@shootermcgavin2819 gen 3 is good. Gen 4 they started doing all the dod/after crap

[@jarvislarson6864]

No replacement for displacement....this shouldn't even be a question

[@justintucker9961]

The gen 6 heads ant to bad ! The are small combustion chamber volume you can take a junkyard gen 6 and do a cam and intake swap and some beehive springs and have 450 hp and 500 ft of torque just watch the video that Richard holder did on one they didn't even freshn the motor up !

[@carlt6932]

I'm jealous of your hair.

[@KingJT80]

no replacement for displacement. if you got money...BBC. someone below said 454 LSX theyve never heard of a 540 BBC short stroke and almost 100 more cubes will make more power for the same or less cash now an LS vs SBC? yeah LS is stronger in the block stock but put steel caps on a 350 and decent heads? yeah it'll be about the same. again, its all about what you have and MONEY

[@jamarjohnson1595]

You right!! It's all what you got in the piggy bank at the end of the day. Big block be my favorite

[@infamousnova]

Money is the difference. I wanted a big block but due to funds I went ls

[@stephenkowalski2448]

I had no idea 454 was so easy to find in wrecking yard...

[@ginoornelas9320]

Its smiles per gallon not miles per gallon

[@elkilo3008]

I got more experience with the ls but wanna put a 454 on my suburban and do a full bolt on maybe nitrous, but don’t know how i would go about having it tuned. Can anyone help me out or explain that to me pls

[@RatMaro]

If you go with a holley sniper kit it can self tune and you can also have a normal tuner look over the map and make corrections. As for a carburetor you'll likely want to find a reputable carb tuner in your area. Not something you're going to want to make mistakes on with nitrous.

[@cap6159]

You never mentioned the difference in torque? The big block will twist you back in your seat. The LS does it more with hi HP and RPM'S. Not so much torque that gives better launch capabilities.

[@master6435]

You won't find a ls2 6.0 in junkyard but a lq9 or lq4 6.0 there are more of those in junkyard

[@cagthetism]

Junk yard 6.0 sells for 2200 near me. I wish it was 1200

[@joshuagarvey9362]

With big big power comes great responsibility :-)….LS nice motor nooooo doubt butttttt cubic inches and TORQUE is where it’s at.Are you going to drive A car for 600,000 thousand miles…Come onnnn.The rest of the car will not last that long and ether will you lol.All comes down to what you want to do correct.Great video man and have fun.High 5.

[@clydebethatway7485]

Real hot rods don’t have a computer

[@johnsheetz6639]

Yeah when you get this when you're talking about 600 horsepower that 454 will be more reliable if you ask me no power adders you'll be fine the more power you add to an engine the more finicky it becomes unless you got her straight tuned right

[@Truth-Seeker777]

The torque from 7.4L Vortec is better, the 5.3L LS is better for cruising

[@Truth-Seeker777]

Also there is an 8.1L big block, but I won’t go into why that’s not a good option for everyone.

[@d-money314]

Big block this way all day

[@notsure7874]

"you'll never hear anybody complain about reliability in an LS" - I got into it with some idiot that said you can't get 100k miles out of an LS. Turns out he's just a ford fanboy, and likes to shit on anything thats not a Ford 385 series. Absolute stupidity and he was 100% wrong, but he did complain about their reliability! Also, the BBC you can most certainly get a factory injected one, but you gotta be careful which one you get - 98 - 00 works with hptuners.

[@RatMaro]

Yes! The L29 is a factory fuel injected Big Block, I only muted that point considering most people have carbed big blocks. But the L29 is an awesome engine to start with if someone gets their hands on one.

[@notsure7874]

​@@RatMaro Theres a few others, but you're REALLY not likely to run across them, or they're not really suitable for performance use. I had an L29 in a ramp truck, that thing ran SO good ... Right now I've got an older motorhome with a 454 / quadrajet. It runs really good too considering its age. Smooth and powerful, just a pain in the ass to start sometimes.

[@traifields846]

Honestly! ALL EARLY CHEVY SMALL BLOCKS AND “BIG BLOCKS” were fast for ITS TIME but Things have changed.LS engines are WAY MORE efficient and reliable from the Cooling fans on Old engines ( STRAIGHT FAN or Clutch) to the Transmission 350 or 400 . My opinion! Give me a 5.3 with a whipple and good AIRCONDITION and I’m riding ANYWHERE

[@RatMaro]

Both are reliable power plants honestly. I have a 454 with a whipple and AC in a suburban (pulling for a 2nd gen camaro). Still runs like a charm after 100k miles

[@willievanhoesen4455]

you can call up your favorite race parts place and order a carbed intake and a ignition box for any v8 ls engine and make 425hp or make that same call and make 1000 plus with merely checking ring gap on ls engines(unabused of course)by adding a single turbo to be honest look into the design of an average ls the cracked cap design of the connecting rods the 6 bolt mains706 heads for example with a little valve swap and seat work your getting into larger cube engine flow numbers not to mention a little over 61cc combustion chambers ive seen 110k 120k mile engines put the smack down on mildly built big blocks and yes theres no replacement for displacement but cheaper and lighter and more plentiful is afair trade off

[@58fins]

Is it just me, or does this guy look like Meatcanyon?!

[@edwinjamessutphin3361]

Bbc 454 all the way

[@godofrock]

I got 850+hp with 454 pheads no problem. Not a big deal.

[@KevinGilpin-qk6nq]

If you build your big block right it will be just as reliable as an LS!!

[@pmotorsports8276]

Today we're going to compare a 20 year old erection to a 50 year old erection.

[@jamesirving1085]

I get it 454 but! The. Buick 455 was 25 lbs heavier than the sbc with the same hp and more tq than the 454 so in that case the big block wins pay $500 from a junk yard for it also

[@joeyjojojr.shabadoo915]

I think that once the LT Truck motors start hitting the junkyard in greater numbers (5.3L L83, L84, 6.2L L86) the game will entirely change again. Considering that the worst flowing LT heads from an L83 5.3L (only because of bore limitations on the valve sizes) are able to give LS7 heads a run for their money, not to mention that with Direct Injection, everyone will be able to run N/A 5.3L w/500+ HP @ 11:1 on 87 oct with little more than a CAM swap (with increased fuel lobe for the mech high pressure pump) and at worst, an aftermarket intake, I doubt that the coolness factor of a BBC will be enough to sway the next generation of swappers. Junkyard GM trucks will continue to be wrencher's best friends....... 'cause it's not like people are lining up in droves to grab 4cam Coyotes and 8ft long timing chains. If people think that 11:1 or greater sounds crazy on 87oct, just remember that your wife is probably driving around daily in a Direct Injected EcoBoost grocery getter/family wagon w/10.5:1 and 12lbs of boost....and she hasn't blown it up yet and there's no way she'd remember to fill with 91 or 93.

[@timothythomas1737]

502hp 502ci has peanut port heads.

[@jasonsteverson4609]

No replacement for displacement.

[@jaydeee5961]

I rather go 5.3 4l80

[@KingJT80]

454 will make way more power with less conversion parts

[@J2A61]

Yea but big block prices are pretty high vs the 5.3 being the new conventional sbc part are cheap and easy to find

[@RatMaro]

They are both equally easy to find. Both are still everywhere in wrecking yards. It's personal preference really. Building an N/A big block for ~500hp really isn't that expensive if you know what you're looking for.

[@J2A61]

@@RatMaro not around here, big blocks are slim to none at any salvage yard and LS is everywhere. Conventional parts are actually going up. Believe it or not a salvage yard told me the price of a 700 R4 trans was $1500 because they are so rare now. Hell the last one I had I scraped 🤦🏽‍♂️ you could find a true LSX before a conventional 454 however old camper RV big Ten trucks are hidden in barns

[@RatMaro]

@@J2A61 Thats terrible prices. Yeah im from Oregon and engines are everywhere. Honestly big blocks might even be a bit easier to find. Guess it just depends where you are really.

[@DeepseaSteve]

I thought all the BB fanboys would crow about it. The LS platform love it or hate it has better heads, huge aftermarket , easier to get power out of without sacrificing reliability while still running on pump fuel , overall it’s just a better platform don’t be scared of technology , the BB was ok in it’s day when fuel was a few cents a gallon but isn’t as good overall.

[@nv1493]

454 in my 57. The most boring thing I can think of is yet another LS swap.

[@TRBLMAKR777]

454 for LIFE,lol