HELP 454 swap in an 71

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dabruin15

dabruin15

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Pocatello, ID
I have a 71 fj40. I have the tbi 454 that I am wanting to install. Is there anything that I should know before doing this? Is there a thread for a chevy big block install? My friend just got me worried becouse he said I will have to do a ton of stuff to make it fit.

Also will a set of headers fit or will I have to get some made?
 
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That's a lot of motor for a small space. Here are some fenderwell headers.

Motor.jpg


From here: http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/hottoy/wagner/

And a 45 with manifolds:

131_0612_01_z+1965_toyota_fj45_land_cruiser+chevy_big_block_engine.jpg


From here: http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/featuredvehicles/131_0612_1965_toyota_fj45_land_cruiser/
 
I did a 454 many yrs ago after the sbc went south. I used blk hugger headers to go inside the frame rails. I also had to put 3 U joints and a pillow block for the steering column,so it would go around the engine.
 
and prepare to spend alot of time at the ol, fillin station ...

i had a 396 and would go sbc if had to do over ... 283,327 or 350 .. plenty of power ..

my .02 worth ..

good luck ,, :beer:
 
well, I had a 350 in a cruiser before and it wasnt enough. When i go boggin and climbing I was the extra power when I need it. Plus I want to be a bit different with things, everyone has a chev 350, you dont hear about 454's very much.

Thanks for the pics man, thats awesome!
 
When I did mine I used the stk rad, 5 or 6 blade steel fan,& shroud. No heater control valves. I had a 1/2 cab soft top so I did removed the rear heater and put in a large A/C condenser and ran coolant thru it. I thought about putting a fan on it but my temps were OK, unless I hammered on it for a while. In hind sight, I should have just left the rear heater in to see just how hot it would get. The BBC does hold more water than a SBC. My 454 had stk flat top pistons, a mild cam and edlebrock dual plane intake and Preditor carb. No one could come close to me at the mud runs. It had very good road manners too. I dont' recall ever having major overheating issues. As for MPG, who cares when you got a Big Block power. FPG=fun per gallon. One thing to remember, it is an offroad vehicle, burnouts on the pavement, has a tendencey to shatter the center pin in the rearend.
 
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I am planning on getting an aluminum radiator built with electric fans on it. I also am trying to figue out a way of getting my ac unit put in also. I am adapting a gm ac fan on it so the air and heat will be massive.
 
dabruin15 said:
well, I had a 350 in a cruiser before and it wasnt enough. When i go boggin and climbing I was the extra power when I need it. Plus I want to be a bit different with things, everyone has a chev 350, you dont hear about 454's very much.

Thanks for the pics man, thats awesome!
Click to expand...

There have been plenty of people that have installed a big block in an FJ40.... If you want lots of power, have you considered a Ramjet 350? It will fit real well and have plenty of HP/torque for your needs.
 
2 words:
TRACTION BAR!!!!!!!
 
Howdy! Have you considered a 383 csb which puts out well over 400 hp and 400 ft pounds of torque? You could even stroke up a small block to 440 cubes. Doing a big block will be more complicated, as there is very little choice on engine position. John
 
I'm using headman block hugger headers on the 454 in the 45. One had to be dented a little to fit the steering arm. Using a big aluminum radiator with shroud and 5 or 6 blade mechanical fan, never gets really hot (maybe 185 max?)- fenders still have inners, nothing else special about it except the engine was balanced and not working against itself.

Getting addicted to all the power myself. :D Last weekend I pulled a few large trees out of the local trails. Didn't think they would budge, but that engine delivers.

bare shot during build-

66lwb_05.jpg


only crappy engine shot i have-

66lwb_08.jpg
 
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I'm going through the same thing installing a 454 in mine. Found from a local person, said to look for a 68 to 72 Chev truck with a 454 in it and you can use the stock exhaust, this fits real nice, you can keep the exchaust inside the frame.
 
I own the green 45 in the pic above and have been running the bb for 10 years now and has never overheated.I used an fj55 radiator built into a 5 core rad.Stock manifolds,stock mechanical metal 4 blade fan pulls tons of air and the steering just clears the manifold.I would stick with manifolds and avoid the headache of custom headers.Love small blocks,but there is no substitute for cubic inches!! I think the bb fits great and is not much more work than a sb....
 
I put a warmed over Pontiac 400 in one of mine. Main thing with engines bigger than the sbc is figuring out exhaust so that everything else clears, BB Chevys are easier to get a good block hugger than my poncho but I think manifolds will give you the least amount of headaches. Mine fits with manifolds and the stock steering box but it's TIGHT. As far as cooling I went with a 26"x19" aluminum GM style radiator and a 16" electric fan from a third gen F-Body. Once I'm finished with paint we'll see how it does but I've never had a cooling problem before with the motor.
 
What about pictures of motor mounts/clearance for a 454 swap? AA motor mount review? Any other mounts out there?

I got a 72, 40 that I am hoping to drop a TBI 454 in. Thanks:beer:
 
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