427 truck tall deck engine mods

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
I purchased a 1976 C10 with a 427td. It seems to be all stock. I am hoping you can aim me in the right direction on how to go about keeping it drivable, but add a couple of horses. Cam? Intake? Pistons? Maybe there is a page on the forum that answers these questions, I will keep searching in the mean time. I am also in Florida (west coast) Citrus County. Maybe this old man can make a road trip to come shake your hand.


first....welcome to the web site, and since this is an all too common issue,
I'm going to move this to the truck section
if you have pictures of your projects ,
please, feel free to post those and if you need too ask questions or provide suggestions, start a thread with detailed info, or post related info that may help others,
btw if you could encourage your friends choose too register,here on this web site, and post pictures of their cars, and add to the conversation, so much the better.
why not introduce your self,
why not post some pictures of your car, garage or projects and introduce yourself to the members
your likely to find other people that live near you with similar projects
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?forums/introduce-yourself.2/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/taking-and-posting-clear-photos.5595/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-the-rabbit-hole-with-alice.10933/#post-66925


ok Id suggest you take a compression test on all 8 cylinders and post the cylinder head and block ,and ideally the intake, casting numbers ,and several pictures would also be great.
and please post your oil pressure at idle and at a 3000 rpm crusise, the transmission and rear gear ratio and tire height,and what your intended goals are,,so we have a good idea of the basics were going too be dealing with.
if the lower block assembly is in good condition you might not have to do too much with that on a basic up-grade.
we would also want too be sure its not a tall deck 366 BIG BLOCK ENGINE
the 427 BBC tall deck engine came in several configs, most were designed for long term durability , not brisk performance,
but they all have the potential to provide that brisk performance if your willing to make the required changes,
and have the bank balance to purchased the parts required,
simply because the basic block is a great starting point.
keep in mind your dealing with a power to weight ratio, you can push a lighter weight truck far easier than a heavy truck, at any given power level.
while a 427 has potential in stock form the smaller port heads and heavy pistons limit the potential, rpms, and the engines ability to breath well.
the tall deck height allows you to install a longer stroke, 4.25" stroke crank, and 6.385" rods and lighter weight pistons and as a result building a 550-600 hp 600 ft lb BBC engine is not all that difficult and yeas if you have the time and cash theres other options

related threads

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-427-tall-deck-truck-marine.14510/#post-76014

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/427-tall-deck-bbc.14451/#post-75347


http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-combustion-chambers.2630/page-3#post-77963

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...t-intake-on-oval-port-heads.13146/#post-71777


http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-potential-dream-bbc-combos.14607/#post-77976

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/another-496bbc.5123/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...in-height-compression-height.5064/#post-69254

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...am-for-street-strip-496-bbc.13384/#post-69619


http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ne-have-any-power-potential.12343/#post-76364

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-peanut-port-big-block-combo.2900/#post-61085

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/big-block-recipe-needed.12450/#post-62309

 
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My name is Bill, New to the forum and the world of tall decks. I would love to tear into the motor and build a 900hp tire shredding monster, but alas the pockets are only so deep. So I am thinking maybe find a good set of heads, swap out the pistons and connecting rods, get a nice aluminum intake and cam and settle for a couple of added horses. The motor at idle has about 15 lbs. of oil pressure. 40 when rolling down the road. As far as I can tell the motor has never been opened. I will check the cylinder pressure.20170704_154715.png
 
I have not done anything with my 427 Tall Deck Engine.
Its best to leave it stock if your lacking funds.
A camshaft swap would help power output on a tight budget.

Went round and round with combos.
Its best to make it a 496 or 510 ci .
540 ci is possible many tell me .

It will cost alot to buid right.
$15k - 20 k.

Its the Strongest GM Big Chevy Block ever made. 427 Tall Deck.
 
To get your moneys worth you want 650-700 Hp.
Shoot for less Hp but likely be sorry later.

Its an all or nothing type engine.

Chose to stick to my Pontiac V8s.
Costs less $$$$.
Plenty of Fun yet.
Turbo Boost changes all too.
 
The way GM built a Tall Deck 427 its like a Diesel engine that runs on 87 octane gasoline.
Pulls a heavy load in a truck effortlessly.
 
My name is Bill, New to the forum and the world of tall decks.
Not everyone on here believes it's all or nothing.

Wow, is that your car pictured above? Very nice! More pics please!

Why not start a build thread and give us more details about what you have and what you want
to do. When you get a preliminary picture of what the build looks like, then we can run some
computer simulations to help evaluate the selected components.

We need details like .....

Budget, how much are you looking t spend?
Pump Gas? Octane?
Carburetor or EFI?
Vehicle drive train, gear ratio.
Trans, auto or standard?
Tire size/diameter?
Is it a daily driver or a weekend fun car or race?

Most engine builds threads are done here.
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?forums/engine-combos-and-dynometer-database.69/

Welcome to the forum Bill!!!

.
 
congrats the engine picture you posted looks like a clean install, and a great start point.

yes you can build a very fun to drive combo , using that tall deck, block, as a basis,
without going bankrupt in the process, let us know the heads, intake and block casting numbers,
and the result of a compression test
, it would also help to know the truck weight,
the rear gear ratio, tire height and transmission your using.
you might find the the heads you have can be used after a mild port & bowl area rework,
\as some tall deck heads casting numbers are basically decent, in that they can be ported to flow well.
and if matched to a well matched cam, intake and headers can provide decent power.
reading through the previously posted links and sub linked info posted earlier, will prove useful.
 
Once you decided to get rid of the stock 4 ring pistons it gets expensive.
Stock rods no good.
Tall deck makes only sense to stroke to 496.
Need good heads.

Unless you want 300-400 hp.
 
Yes to hit the OPs goals in hp larger investment needed NA larger CI needed or power adder. Either way not cheap. 900 hp either your spinning rpm or power adder.
 
You could grab a nice set of ARP heads nice roller cam and still be an easy 5k envolved lots of options explore them.
Look for some builds on line and there results. Check youtube for some combos and dyno results.
Better then guessing on a bunch of bench racing combos ran through some dyno software.
Dyno software has a place yes and can be used but real world numbers are better base imho.
 
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there are lots of very common and well proven combos if you know where to look,
and theres a great deal of very well documented ways to improve power without spending tons of cash.
now theres no disputing the fact that, a combo of well matched components,
better flowing heads, higher compression and a carefully selected cam and intake are going to boost power.
luckily the cost of some of the options is not astronomical.
the main issues the stock tall deck engine faces is the heavy 4 ring pistons and mild
cam, designed for max low rpm durability and long service life ,
where they did not consider anything much over 4500 rpm useful.

l88kk5a.jpg
 
Thats right Grumpy.
Its A Truck Engine a 427 Tall Deck.

No one is going to stock pistons with the right compression height for a 427 3.76 stroke Race Forged for a 1 inch taller deck.
Ditto for a 454 4.0 stroke and 1 inch taller deck.
Custom Diamond pistons needed.
$1,000 right there.

Only makes sense to build a 496 stroker.
Need good aftermarket Heads to feed that many cubes.
400 cfm intake side @ 28 inches water sepression.
1000 cfm carb. $ 1,000.
EFI...$2k.- 5 K....
FULL Roller Valvetrain best in street profile safe zone $2k- 3k.

Goes on and on...
$15-20k needed.
Bullet proof Trans and Diff.
Figure $5 -10 k more.

Pontiac 455 wins for me my budget.
 
the standard 9.8" deck height on the BBC requires you to make changes,
in some components when swapping to the taller truck block with its 10.2" deck height,
thats .4 inches (a bit under 1/2 an inch) not 1" taller

ESPECIALLY if your using adapter plates to use a standard deck intake.
talldeckspacer.jpg

below is the standard intake on tall deck block showing why spacers are required, to allow proper port alignment with the heads spaced further up and out from the crank center line.
BBCbott.jpg


with a tall deck block deck at 10.2" and a 3.76" stroke crank and a 6.535" connecting rod
td6535.png

pist427.png

remember deck height 10.2"
minus rod length, 6.535"
minus 1/2 the crank stroke length 1.88"
equals the piston compression height. 1.785"


this is an excellent example of why doing the math before you purchase parts is so important

td425.png

td4inch.png


td68.png




https://www.uempistons.com/index.php?main_page=calculators&type=piston_comp

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tall-deck-engine-mods.14632/page-2#post-78510

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/can-you-plan-for-quench.11298/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/casting-numbers-vin.93/#post-29340



PICT0496.jpg

PICT0495.jpg
 
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Not everyone on here believes it's all or nothing.

Wow, is that your car pictured above? Very nice! More pics please!

Why not start a build thread and give us more details about what you have and what you want
to do. When you get a preliminary picture of what the build looks like, then we can run some
computer simulations to help evaluate the selected components.

We need details like .....

Budget, how much are you looking t spend?
Pump Gas? Octane?
Carburetor or EFI?
Vehicle drive train, gear ratio.
Trans, auto or standard?
Tire size/diameter?
Is it a daily driver or a weekend fun car or race?

Most engine builds threads are done here.
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?forums/engine-combos-and-dynometer-database.69/

Welcome to the forum Bill!!!

.
My cash is not "unlimited" but I understand that HP cost money. I love the 427 but I am not sentimental about keeping it if it will cost extra to build. It is already running strong as a stock set up, just wondering the approximate cost of tearing it down and adding a few goodies. I figure connecting rods, pistons, cam, intake. I already have headers, dual exhaust, 750 edlebrock (might need an upgrade there). engine is bolted to a 700r4 and 12 bolt rear with 3.73 gears 29" tall tires. Mostly drive truck on weekends and after work. It is not a show truck (by no means perfect), but everywhere I go people want to look and talk. Everyone had or knew someone who had one of these trucks. As the truck sits now I have 12,000 in it, I purchased from a friend and added A/C (I'm in Florida, I had no choice) I also tinted the windows. I like many of us need to do something (instead of sitting on the couch). I am in the process of restoring a 1978 Blazer, digging out the bondo and rust and replacing with metal and lead. Oh joy, what have I gotten myself into. Thanks again for the info...
 
To build and use a Grumpy 496 BIG BLOCK CHEVY you need a Bullet Proof Transmission and 12-bolt Differential.
Because 650-700 Ft/lbs of torque will be on Tap.
The 700R4 CAN NOT BE BUILT STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE IT.
THE 12-BOLT DIFFERENTIAL CAN NOT BE BUILT STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE IT.

YOU NEED A 4L80 TRANSMISSION. IT WILL COST AT LEAST $3,000 WITH A GOOD TORQUE CONVERTER & TO MAKE IT AUTO SHIFT YOU NEED A STAND ALONE COMPUTER ANOTHER $600-$1,000.
TURBO 400 WILL COST MUCH LESS. $1500 BUILT YOURSELF.

YOU NEED A DANA 60 REAR DIFFERENTIAL.
OR A 1957-64 PONTIAC 9.3 DIFF.
$2,000-$5,000 DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU BUILD IT.

It will end up costing $20,000 all together.
Just no way around.

I was planning to build and install a Grumpy 496 BBC into my 1987 Corvette Convertible.
Priced it all out on paper.....
Just not Feasable for me.

Pontiac V8 Power is.
I have Pontiac Muscle cars too.
1970 & 1963.
 
You essentially reuse the 427 Tall Deck Block.
Everything else in the drivetrain has to go.
Not strong enough.

A Big Racing Fuel system is required too to feed a Thristy 496 BBC.
 
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