>A fellow GMC owner who is not GMCnet literate seems to think that a GM 454
>Vortex engine should be adaptable to our coaches. Any opinions on this?
>Skip in Western Maryland
Skip; I saved this response from Steve Ferguson to a similar question. Hope
it helps.
Dave, The 454 is a viable option. Buskirks installs them. They have a
modified pan and use an adapter plate between the engine & trans. We used
to do them that way on race cars. Pretty straight forward stuff. I'd still
liike to have a factory pan to copy though. A 502 BB Chevy costs less than
a Mondello short block does to make even more inviting.
(Also) Speedway is just one of the mail order businesses that sells those
adapters. It's really no more than a spacer that goes from the BOP hole
pattern to the Chevy one. You also have to use spacer "feet" or blocks
between the converter & flexplate. All readily available items. The front
motor mount would have to be fabricated also. 455's are not really that
hard to come by. If your block is shot you can always use a 425 Toro or 442
block. They're very high nickle and extremely strong. The 455 crank, rods &
pistons are required for the block swap. The heads are direct bolt-on
items. 500 ft. lbs of torque is not out of the question for these engines.
Just write a bigger check.
Dave (advisor/navigator) & Dege (ALL else), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA