If not for bad luck I'd have none....finally got boat working and Big block goes boom

Good luck with finding a 7.4 from what i hear, i baby mine. Used are impossible to find, so i hear. Been told Jasper cant get them.

 

I get pretty heated myself sometimes. Good thing is, it's the internet. Who really gives a shit? Good luck with whatever you wind up doing.

 

Nah. You just have to know where to look. Junk yards are still full of them. Certain 96-01 Chevy vans will have one for instance. Same motor, but would need a cam for starters. I have two long blocks sitting in my garage that I picked up for $500 with an extra set of 290 heads. I'm going to build them just because.

 

Well, here's on for ya. Tom told you the pistons that you installed are designed and manufactured to meet best clearance specs. when hot. Guess what? Boats run cold comparatively speaking... for more reasons than you can waste your time "researching"

 

But GM 4 bolt main blocks are getting rare. However, you can still purchase a new World Products Merlin BBC block which are actually a stronger casting than what GM offered. Close to $3K but if you are going to invest in a solid basis the right way to go.
http://www.pbm-erson.com/Catalog/World-Products/Blocks-WP/Big Block Chevy

 

I hear people say that, but I still see them all over the place. I have four Gen 6 L29s so I'm all stocked up for now thankfully. One in the boat, two in the garage and one in my 69 Camaro.
Merlin would definitely be a nice way to go if you needed to!

 

Truck blocks? Grab em and hold on to em - they are rare around here.

 

Just popped into the marketplace and did a quick search. This would be a great deal for somebody...

 

It's worth noting for others that many parts cannot be exchanged between the Mark IV and the Gen V and Gen VI BBC engines. Crankshafts are different, seals are different, and there are challenges swapping heads......

 

Heads are a non issue now. You just need the right head gaskets if you want to put Mk IV heads on a Gen VI 454. Gen VI motors just have a far superior block. Not to knock Mk IV, but that's just how it is.

 

You are right about that!

 

I love my big blocks...

 

This is what I wrote regarding this, what is so absolute about it? No one here cares about what you are doing or how you are going about it; you asked for advice, and you received it. I acquiesce.
"Forged pistons wouldn't be my first choice for the simple reason they are fit very loose and must be up to temperature before the engine is run under load; they have to expand to the bore. I would have gone with hypereutectic cast pistons (Mahle) which avoid the loose fit and are almost as robust as the forged."