Need help figuring out BB engine series

[fzsk4p]

Hi guys.
Thanks agin for the help. Been away from the borads over the holidays.

Don, got your PM. But vBulletin will not let me reply until my post count hits 15. Thanks for the heads up !!

Here goes. Written below as I understand things to be. Yes I am confused.

1. Been finding a few good candidates for the Dart BB `Burb project. Not the right one yet though.

2. We are all familiar with the 396/402/427/454 family. To confuse everyone the car makers started using liters to describe displacement. To me a 454 is simply a 7.4 liter engine. Just like the old carbed ones but with fuel injection.

The Dart stuff is based on the old BBC designs, right ?

3. What is the difference between a BB gen-x engine (8.1) and the old school BB`s ? Know the SBC and the LS series are completely different engines.

Wondering if the engine mounts, trans bolt pattern (4L80E) is the same for a Dart/7.4/8.1 ?

In looking for the donor `Burb I have found several 7.4`s OBS and a couple 8.1 NBS. The 8.1 NBS `Burbs were just out of my price range. But I figure if gas goes up they might drop in price a bit. I`d hate to think I found the perfect donor and then find out the engine mounts, trans bolt circle etc. is all different from a Dart/7.4 OBS/454 style.

Side note;
the folks at performancetrucks.net are really down on the 8.1`s. To heavy and not sophisticated enough. There solution to monster torque is a stroked 6.0 with a .030 overbore(408 ci) . Magnacharger TVS1900 forced feeding at 6-7 pounds of boost.

Dang the SC is 6000 grand plus doing the long block is another big $$. For 450-500 pounds of torque.

A Dart short block in the 572/581 is around 5000. Add a set of heads for 2000. An intake, fuel system and the cost becomes about the same or cheaper for the Dart. With dang near twice the torque.

I don`t get it. Am I missing something here ?

Thanks guys for helping out a newb !!

[lun40119]

Build a Dart based BBC you will love it.......yes the dart based stuff will fit your stuff, as will the mark v and the mark vi stuff. Man I cant believe some of this marketeting BS.

[want-a-be]

What year/ Generation are you running?

Don

[fzsk4p]

Thanks for the info guys.

Donor is going to be a 90`s (GMT-700) platform 3/4 4x4 Suburban with the 7.4.

Looking for a DD/tow rig that makes a bunch of torque for towing the Jeep. Overkill for sure but lot`s of fun.

Want to be able to set up a big inch engine that will run 2000 RPM down the freeway without even breathing hard at any hill we might come to. Weld the hood shut and run it.

[want-a-be]

I can get you there if you're intrested. I'll pm you with some contact info.

If I'm correct,...I think the newer 8.1 is a whole different animal. I was told that the tranny won't bolt up to the older BBCs. You'll need to locate an Allison tranny that will bolt up.

Don

[fzsk4p]

I can get you there if you're intrested. I'll pm you with some contact info.

If I'm correct,...I think the newer 8.1 is a whole different animal. I was told that the tranny won't bolt up to the older BBCs. You'll need to locate an Allison tranny that will bolt up.

Don

Thanks Don.
Will look for the PM.

Not sure about the 8.1/4L80E to the older BB`s. I thought it would but cannot confirm that. Need to do some research and find out. As it could very well affect the donor `Burb selected for this project.

The Allly would be a good choice but it will not fit in the tunnel of a non-HD truck. In fact, if you look close you will see the body lift an HD has. This BL and a tunnel reshape is what allows the Ally it slide in.

Been concentrating on 7.4 with the 4L80E (3/4 ton) `Burbs. These trucks come with the 14 bolt 8 lug axle. Which with a differential change. Should hold up fine to BB torque.

Surprisingly the transfercase/front diff (carryover from the pickups) is all the same whether you have a SB/BB or a DeeZul. While I do not plan on doing a lot of 4wd burnouts it ought to handle an occasional blast of the pedal.

I have already picked up a hardenend intake shaft, Hi-Po clutches, sprags etc for the trans. Converter choice will come later.

Like to engine to idle around 600 or so with a bit of lope. Start grunting real early on and then allow it to spin no more then 5000 or so.

Thanks guys !!

[want-a-be]

PM was sent within 5 minutes of my last post here. Let me know if you didn't get it and I'll resend it.

Don

[want-a-be]

Oh.... A buddy of mine has the 8.1 burb,... he likes it alot, but is looking foward to my hoping it up. GM really de-tuned that engine from it's intended use from what he has told me. Surely someone will create a conversion kit to bolt that tranny up to the older BBCs.

Don

[fzsk4p]

PM was sent within 5 minutes of my last post here. Let me know if you didn't get it and I'll resend it.

Don

Got it Don, thanks.
For some reason my CP setting isn`t sending me notices about new PM`s. Perhaps it is the 15 post thing ??????? Honestly Don it may be a few days before I can give you a shout. A family memeber staying we us is deathly ill.


Back in the 90`s I worked for one of the big three. Concept vehicles, specials one off`s, show cars etc.

One job we did was to put together several 3/4 Suburbans that had John Lingenfelter BB`s in them. If I recall they were around 600 inches and 575 horse.
Fuel injected and a tame as the family car. They could idle all day without loading up or overheating. But when asked too, they could MOVE OUT. At least as well as a heavy Suburban with the aerodynamics of a brick could. Car and Driver magazine did a story on the one I had as a company car. Last I heard it was in Germany running down Beemers and Merc`s on the autobahn.

Ever since then I have wanted to make a `Burb like that of my own. With the family getting bigger. Our 2500HD is just not cutting it anymore. Simply not enough interior room. A 90`s 7.4 `Burbs are not that expensive right now. So I figured that perhaps my 15 year old dream could start to become a reality.

So with the patient help of the Dart gang we can formulate a game plan to do just that.

Thanks again !!

[want-a-be]

Sorry to hear about the family member. Hope things turn out for the best.

John Lingenfelter is a bad A$$ed engine builder. He has done a lot. I've talked to him a few times at Gateways track near St. Louis Mo. He can also get the car to scoot pretty good down the track.

Don

[Awesome Bill]

John died after being in a car crash and was going in or coming out of the second surgeory years ago. Very good with engines and especially turbos.

[want-a-be]

Thought I had heard that, but wasn't sure enough to post it.
Mike Sullivan introduced me to him years ago. Was always a very intresting conversation that I would leave with a lot to think about. Was always willing to help out others.

Don

[fzsk4p]

A short story on John can be found by a quick search. Pomona road course accident. Died 12-25-2003

My mother who is here with my family and me is hours from joining the likes of John.

When the dust settles- Bill and Don we can have some conversation.