i've got a k10 which originally had a 305 in it but now has a 76 corvette 350. i have a 454 that i'd like to throw in and was wondering if i should even bother with it, since the half-ton frame isn't boxed in.  Will the frame handle the torque of the big block? or should i box the frame in myself? As far as it fitting, i've been reassured that the 454 will fit in but i'm worried about twisting up my frame into a pretzel the first time i lay on it.  Also i don't seem to be able to find any casting numbers on my 454. Seems it may have been a reman? i went looking for them wondering if it was a tall block but couldn't find the numbers.  the motor came from a tool truck converted to a firetruck converted to a motorhome so what could i have? any help is greatly appreciated seeing how i'm a totally new to engine swaps.  

Of course the frame will hold up, you don't NEED to box it.  Its rare but some half ton 4x4's in the mid 70's actually came with big blocks.  Definetly put it in there.  What year is the rig??  The only thing i would worry about when putting the big block in is...are your axles gonna hold up??  is the tranny gonna hold up??  

It's true, GM did put the 454 in K10's, even K5 Blazers.  Like the other guy posted, it's not the frame you have to worry about but the trans and axles.  The engine block should have a casting number on it even if it is a remanufactured engine.  Clean it off and look again on the back of the block (top side) behind the left head.  

the 454 will fit i pulled and rebuilt a 454 out of 3/4tn chevy and dropped in my k5 blazer it fits ive had no problems with frame even when i hit the nos i did have problems with axles more if u havent upgraded ur axles yet more than likely u have gm 10blt up front and either a 10 or 12 in the rear. i had hell with the 10 up frnt i evently slung a dana 60 up frnt with a 14blt in the rear theres a guy on here selling a d60 for $800 if you got the cash. if you are running a 10blt in the frnt id suggest running an open diff to ease the stress on it  

its an '85... with many other different aged truck's parts haha. its got a newly rebuilt 4 speed, an np 205 t-case, and 3/4 ton axles (14 bolt in the rear i know for sure, but is it a  dana 44 in front?) so i know the rest of the drivetrain can handle it.  I was just curious about the frame because the last thing i want to do is go shopping for another truck to dump all this back into.  However i have been considering putting this setup into a quad cab, dually that i've got out back.  thanks for the correspondance, no i've just gotta figure out if i want the quad cab or the shortbed.  

GGORDAN..... It will fit. Im running a 454 bored 0.30 over eagle H-beam rotating assemble with a mild comp cam,hydrolic flat tap it lifters, 293 oval port heads with a lil work, rpm Air Gar intake, Holley 750 double pumper, Holley mechanical fuel pump wth a high volume miloden oil pump, and a Msd street fire distributer. i havent bent my frame. but i did blow my tranny. Im running a Turbo-350 that was custom built ( beefer guts), with a stall out of a diesel setup(0 stall) with a NP-203 with conversion to be able to run 2 wheel drive. Im running a 10 bolt up front with a 12 bolt in the back with a detroit locker. the gears are 4.10 with a set of 35 super swampers SX..........  

GM1tonOfFun:
It's true, GM did put the 454 in K10's, even K5 Blazers.  Like the other guy posted, it's not the frame you have to worry about but the trans and axles.  The engine block should have a casting number on it even if it is a remanufactured engine.  Clean it off and look again on the back of the block (top side) behind the left head.

GM had a few "special" C10's with a 454 but never a K10 and no blazer ever shipped with a 454. Installing the engine is not a big trick because bolt pattern is the same.  

I'm with you on this 454 in the C10's. I have researched this because a firend of mine said that his 1999 or 2000 Tahoe of all things came from the factory with a 454 Big Block. I had to make sure just so I would know for future reference. I do know that most of the trucks I have bought that had big blocks in them, they were installed after, such as my own truck that I built myself. I had a '79 Chevy shortbed with a well built 454 and had a 350/203 of all combinations and I tried like hell to break that drivetrain and it held up to every test I put it to. The frames on the 1/2tons and 3/4tons are the same and 3/4tons come with bigblocks. The 1tons are definitely different. Good luck.  

o heck yea it works i got a 402 bored 30 and stroked out of a 71 gmc and i havent had any probs yet (knock on wood).cooling might be an issue later on during these insain georgia summers though...  

gachevyguy:
o heck yea it works i got a 402 bored 30 and stroked out of a 71 gmc and i havent had any probs yet (knock on wood).cooling might be an issue later on during these insain georgia summers though...

Cooling is not a problem with the right radiator. You need a good 4 core unit and a nice engine driven fan. Do this and it will keep its cool even at 100F. Most people with cooling problems do not have correct radiator or fan. BTW, electric fan cannot begin to move the needed air so not not even consider removing engine driven fan and going electric here.  

GM1tonOfFun:
It's true, GM did put the 454 in K10's, even K5 Blazers.  Like the other guy posted, it's not the frame you have to worry about but the trans and axles.  The engine block should have a casting number on it even if it is a remanufactured engine.  Clean it off and look again on the back of the block (top side) behind the left head.

SnoMan:
GM had a few "special" C10's with a 454 but never a K10 and no blazer ever shipped with a 454. Installing the engine is not a big trick because bolt pattern is the same.

You're right about K5 Blazers not haveing a 454 from factory.  I realized that after typing that but decided to leave it and see if anyone caught it.  The K5's I have seen with 454's were swapped in.  I actually drove one of those C10's with the 454 years back at a place I used to work for.

I was wondering when someone was going to catch that, lol.  Good eye snoman.  

oh right now everythings good usually sitts at 170 160 with the electic fans on still got the motor driven fan on it 2 , old fan shroud wont fit. but we have only hit bout 80so far those 110 degree days do a number on all my vehicles speacially my camaro and its pretty much stock.  

A lower temp stat is not the answer here. It reduces efficiency because it is closer to temp pf air moving through it. You want a 180 minimum here and a 4 core radiator and forget the electric fans because they cannot begin to cool engine when it is working hard (to do so would require fans that draw up to a few hundred amps and more) With proper engine driven fan and radiator, it will stay cool in any heat.  

well i got my shroud to fit right after i posted this last one i had to do a little cutting but itll work better than nuthing. and what do u mean by "temp pf"  

it is a typo, it should have been "of" not "pf"