ok im gathering parts for my first 4x4 and im making a 68 gmc short box fleetside,, and my budy keeps telling me that i cant use a 454.cu engin because its no good for off roadin wat is your guys opinion on this would a 350 or a 454 be a beter choice

thanks for the help
Ryan Harder Red deer alberta canada  

Good for you building up a 4BY,Hearsay has frame clearance issues w/big block, it would be heavier and handling issues may arise,but torque potential is better and thats always a good thing,good luck! and happy new year  

thankyou lots that was lots of help ... being handeling isues and clearince i wont go that rute, can a 350 have full potenchal in 4x4 or is it under powered, and there souldent be a diference between a street rod 350 and a 4x4 350 right ( only difference is gearin and thatrs not engine) or am i incorect... as you can see not very educated nor a mechanic but so i dont *** up stuff i do have a machineist wish full shop and a chevy mechanic to teach me  

The 350 is a agood engine and even a stock one will do great as it wont stress parts all over itself and your truck,reliability is job one in this game, either motor is great, you just have to build acordingly, if you already have either motor build it, nothing is insurmountable,right! as for clearance, think there are swap headers, for  this app. goto jegs.com or summit racing and look at what they've got, LMC CO has a catalog of gm truck stuff  

wow thankyou once again you guys answer my questions and wat about the handeling isues u were talking about
... also my friend says there dana 60 and dana 44 axels on his acrage in a old truck  would these do the job? an thanks again for websites ill look threw every page lol  

If  you can get them that would be cool!!!,3/4 ton trucks supposed to have same spring perch width, as for usage its all up to your four wheelin style but stronger is good in my book, I think a bulletproof truck is cool. If you mud an play in the briar patch with bigger tires strength is welcome ,if you drive a lot on the street then a 44 dana would, i think be more efficient cause it lighter and less power to drive it.  

actually the big block has no clearance or handling issues in a 67-72 truck, some of the 2wds came stock with a 396/402 bbc, I have a 72 longhorn with one that gets near 16mpg. the big block chevy's use the same mounts in the same place as the sbc's do. given a choice between mostly stock engines I'd definately go with the bbc. what would stink is your buddy getting plastered by your bbc powered old chevy. like I said NO handling issues with the bbc. don't let that scare you. be sure to use HD front springs.  

I few things here. The main reason some 4x4's appear or seem to be under powered off road is because the people with power problem never take the time to gear axles correctly with proper axle ratio for tire size and engine. There are those that think one ratio does all like a 3.73 or 4.10 no matter what the tire size. Problem is, it does not work that way and this is where the power issues come from. With proper axle ratios and 350 has more than enough power for off roading. Furthermore, as far as a 454 in that chassis, the engine fit is not the problem, it is the emission style manifolds than they used on 454 that will not clear frame rails. (starting in 73 GM notched out frame rails for smog manifold clearance) A simple cure for this is to use some 396/402 exhaust manifolds that were used from 68 to 72 as a option (396 from 68-70 and 402 from 70 to 72) The 402 IS NOT to be confused with 400 SB. The 402 is a 396 bored 30 over at factory. (427 is a bored out 396 and 454 is a stroked 427). This aside though I would stay with a 350 because it weighs about 200 lbs less and is easier to cool too. Also long as you use right gears like say 4.56 with 33's or so or 4.88's with 36's or so and 5.13 with even bigger tires, you will have no power problems.  

thankyou mud8-, and snoman you guys are alot of help and is there some kindof chart with gearing 4 tires/engine?? if not no prob im thinkin alon 36-38 any who so ill probably use 4.88 and when snowman give me that ration for 36 inch is that same for a 454 chevy motor  

yep, also for the bbc, although the torque will allow a 4:56 to be effective with the 36's anylarger than that you'll want the 4:88's, I have a 69 with a factory 375hp 396 from a camaro, 4spd, 4:56's and ran both 36's and 38.5's. snoman has a calculator for such things, just holler.  

.12x38=4.56, ohh yea, forgot to say welcom in!!!, Hope its not too cold up there, its 74 degrees here!in Corpus Christi,Texas HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

hey, I was in corpus christy a few weeks ago! two weeks in a row, dropped in Brownsville.  

HEY neighbor ,yea thats my home 20, now next time here in spring or summer drop the wagon and ohh bring the other half,and go strait down 358 untill ya get to Padre Island, some days the sand tight so you can drive on it..cool innit! any way theres a couple of places to park your wagon down there .Will post better info when i can scrounge enough real time info up ,gotta keep ya safe and shiny side up!that chebbie gonna b cool, meebbie he come down w/ snowgeese some day!  

hey forgot to ask if truck is a stick or automatic?, if doner truck has stick, the a swap b cool, some trannies have great gearing to play with!  

wat tranny swap... wat would you swap it with ??