Thread: 454, can you help me ID this engine?

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Okay, A while ago i bought a '79 gmc suburban with a 454 that I took out (trashed the suburb) and put happily into my '69 nova. Recently I started to upgrade the thing and realized how important it is to know whats in the block already!

I found the casting numbers and casting date, but this is the best info I can findon it:

361959.....454.......73-90...2 or 4 bolt

... that really tells me nothing! Casting date is F29 78 (june 29th, 1978). I already figured its not a tall deck, and I know it has peanut oval port heads, I would really like to know if it is 2 or 4 bolt.

Most of the other casting ID sites I have looked up just say its either a passenger car eng, or a light truck eng (which would make sense).

Can anyone help me with this?

Have you looked here............

http://www.nastyz28.com/spmenu.html

good idea, i'll look up the suffix code when i get back home!

Yep, time to get down and dirty, #' wont get ya past 2 or 4 in this case.

Yeah, I didn't wantr to admit it but you are completely right! I am doing the intake soon and I will pull the oil pan also to check.

Along those lines, i have another question... My plans for this engine are to stroke it to a 496, and get as much pump gas horsepower out of it that i can mostly for the drag strip and the rare cruise night.

Perhaps later even getting a small street blower (177 or so) and running that with race gas.

I am wondering, if it turns out to be a 2 bolt, do I need to find another engine for my nova?

most 2 bolts have a 5/8 oil plug just above oil filter, and 4 bolts have a 7/8 plug, comon id. for 60s and 70s blocks. have bored many 4 bolts 100 over with no problem. know somene boring a 2bolt to 4.470 right now, will see how it turns out.