455 Into 88 Suburban

Discussion in 'The Choo-Choo shop' started by GS464, Sep 12, 2010.

  1. GS464

    GS464 Hopelessly Addicted

    Well, the old bus is past the point of being tired. The poor 350 in it is just not pulling the hills like I'd like, basically down to about 25 MPH when towing the loaded trailer.

    A little about the truck. 88 Suburban, 4 X 4 V20 with what seems to be 1 ton running gear. Recently rebuilt front end. All heavy duty underneath. The transmission worked great up to the ride home from Phoenix pulling a loaded car trailer. Now it has no engine braking in 1st or 2nd gear. Fluid looks good.

    I have a fairly fresh 455 plus the T-400 that came with the engine to go in it. I plan to leave the engine pretty stock but would like to have the BOP trans gone through and prepped to go in the truck. I know the output shaft needs to be changed out for the one in the truck now so it will bolt to the transfer case. Exhaust changes need to be made though since I plan to run the stock manifolds it shouldn't beg a huge deal. Starters are on the same side for the Chevy & the Buick so wiring is more or less not a big deal. Fuel pressure will need a regulator to work with a carb rather than the TBI 13 psi or so. I'd like to use the A/C comnpressor in the truck now however it is the new style where the one on the 455 is the old style. Did Buick have a bracket that works with the new style compressor?

    I also assume the frame stands for the S/B Chevy won't work for the Buick. Not a real big deal because I have those in the donor car. How about other issues I need to look for? A/C box? Brake booster? Exhaust manifolds hitting the frame? I need this truck for a weekly trip so if I know about the issues up front I can keep the swap moving along and get it done pretty quickly. Any and all help is appreciated guys! :beer
     

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