goin camping
Explorer
Does anyone know about replacing the 350 with a 454 in a mid to late 80's suburban 4x4?
Last edited:
Suburban engine swap question
- Thread starter goin camping
- Start date
goin camping
Explorer
Does the suspension & radiator need to be upgraded for the weight and will the sbc trans work? This would be a 3/4t model.
Last edited:
BorntoVenture
Adventurer
The radiator would need to be larger and depending on what transmission is currently in the Suburban it may not work with a big block. GM's small blocks and big blocks share a different bell housing pattern.
bfdiesel
Explorer
I thought all gm motors used the same bell housing pattern sb, bb, diesel. Bftank's was pretty much bolt up 350sb to 366bb hay wagon 
. We had to modify a cross member, you will have to ask him why he will remember better than I do.
As far as the front springs go I would swap the motor and see how they hold if the are sagging find a set out of a bb or diesel. Or lift it.
I don't think we changed the radiator out in bftank's, but again you'll have to ask him unless he reads this and comments on his own.
. We had to modify a cross member, you will have to ask him why he will remember better than I do. As far as the front springs go I would swap the motor and see how they hold if the are sagging find a set out of a bb or diesel. Or lift it.
I don't think we changed the radiator out in bftank's, but again you'll have to ask him unless he reads this and comments on his own.
Last edited:
xpndbl3
Adventurer
in some cases the sbc radiator would keep up with cooling, depending on its condition and size. All sbc and bbc have the same bellhousing bolt pattern, don't know who told you different. Any trans that bolts to a sbc will bolt to a bbc.
bob91yj
Resident **************
Big block was only available in 2wd, IFS/coil springs.
bfdiesel
Explorer
bftank
Explorer
the bb will bolt up to a 700r4.
the engine crossmember needs modified, the tranny dipstick needs modified, i ended up getting a flexible one, the flexplate needs changed as a sbc flexplate doesn't work, i don't remember what i used. if you put a 454 in the 350 tbi won't work well at all on it. you can bolt up the accesory drive from the front of your sbc to your bbc with adapters, can't remember who sells them, they are reasonably priced. i left my radiator stock. the water pump in late 80's burb is reverse rotation. the wp in my bb was standard rotation. i would at least switch to 3/4t front springs. i believe the manifolds on the bb and sb both end up in the same place for attaching your exhaust.
if your going to do it get the whole engine from tbi to oilpan with harness and computer. expect to rebuild your trans.
let me know if you have any other ?
the engine crossmember needs modified, the tranny dipstick needs modified, i ended up getting a flexible one, the flexplate needs changed as a sbc flexplate doesn't work, i don't remember what i used. if you put a 454 in the 350 tbi won't work well at all on it. you can bolt up the accesory drive from the front of your sbc to your bbc with adapters, can't remember who sells them, they are reasonably priced. i left my radiator stock. the water pump in late 80's burb is reverse rotation. the wp in my bb was standard rotation. i would at least switch to 3/4t front springs. i believe the manifolds on the bb and sb both end up in the same place for attaching your exhaust.
if your going to do it get the whole engine from tbi to oilpan with harness and computer. expect to rebuild your trans.
let me know if you have any other ?