syh

A little background is in order. On Saturday, as is my custom, I was combing through Craigslist for things I really don't need but want to buy anyway. I've been looking halfheartedly for a new(er) engine for Faithful Steed, so I naturally gravitate towards the auto parts section. The second ad caught my eye: 427 Truck Long Block $500. Hmm...truck BBC.... What did I see upon clicking the link? Three pictures of an orange behemoth sitting on an engine pallet. Immediately I envisioned how that hunk of cast iron would look sandwiched in Faithful Steed's engine bay. The vision was divine. MUST HAVE ORANGE CRUSH

(It's a bad sign when I name an engine before I even consider contacting the person selling it, much less install it.)

While it is true I am an impulsive man at times (especially when it comes to truck parts), I do have a streak of practicality. The 1968-72 Chevy pickups were offered with the 396/402, so I knew a 427 block would fit. Might be a bit wide since the Truck versions of the BBC had a 0.400" taller deck height (hence "Tall Deck"), but I had some faith I could shoehorn it in. I know of people who've shoved big Cadillac engines in those trucks, so I doubt a truck BBC would be any more of a headache. Hell, the 1967-72 GMC pickups were offered with either a 305 or 351 V6. Diminutive those ugly bastards were not.

I made a mental checklist in an attempt to cool my jets. If anything it made my fervor worse, but at least I got some exercise out of the deal.

Known issues:

• exhaust (currently set-up for SBC w/Hedman headers; tall deck BBC + headers may interfere with clutch linkage)


• fan-to-radiator clearance (BBC front face 1 3/8" farther forward than SBC; should be okay with removal of one fan spacer)


• flywheel (Mark IV 427 has 3.58" bolt circle & is internally-balanced like Gen I SBC; have Gen I SBC flywheel)


• engine mounts (would need to buy proper rubber mounts; do not have frame-to-engine stands, would have to get proper stands (would prefer '72 stands since they bolt right in & use safer rubber mounts; willing to settle for modifying '73-'87/'91 stands; '68-'71 stands last resort)


• crate 350 = $1300, damn-near ready-to-run; fixing up old truck 427 = $????, no guarantee it'll run well, if it all (so what? big-block power! big block POWER!!!)


• cherry picker & engine stand (yeah, yeah, cart before the horse...)

While I was running around combing through tech manuals, staring at my truck's engine bay, taking repeated measurements, and mumbling to myself, the engine was sold. While I did not notice this until I had already bid on a set of '72 Chevy C10 BBC stands, I still consider myself fortunate.

Tonight, as I was eating my dinner of cold roast pork & frozen peas, my eye caught the Chevrolet Power book sitting on my safe. It is opened to pages 110-111--the blueprints for a Mark IV BBC block. That damned little voice piped up: a BBC would still really be neat. Besides, you've already done a good portion of the research and you did bid on those stands...

I found two more tall deck 427s within fifteen minutes.

A mind is a terrible thing.