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What makes a muscle car a muscle car? Most of us would agree that the sound is a big part of it, but that sound doesn’t come from nowhere. It originates from the big-displacement V8 engines that were all the rage during the 1960’s. And even though crosstown competitors Ford and Chrysler were stuffing the largest engines they could into their compact and intermediate cars, GM refused to allow any engine over 400 cubic-inches to be installed in anything other than a Corvette, truck, or full-size car.
It wasn’t until 1970 that GM lifted this corporate ban on big block engines, which is why today’s eBay Find of the Day technically shouldn’t exist. But this 1969 Chevy Chevelle with a 454 big block does, in fact, exist, thanks to guys who don’t mind doing a little shoehorning to fit an engine where it don’t rightly belong.
The 1969 Chevelle is one of the most recognizable muscle cars GM ever produced. But all the way through the 1969 model year, the largest engine available was a 396 cubic-inch motor, even though engines like the 427 and 454 were available. Given the Chevelle’s large engine bay, fitting a 454 in was no problem, it was just a matter of doing it.
There are now kits available to do the big block swap, and the 454 in today’s eBay find has had all manner of upgrades done to it, including a new camshaft, carburetor, and exhaust (though the 10-bolt posi rear-end is still original, right down to the 2:73 gears.) This is a pretty sweet car if you ask us, and while it may not be all original, would you rather have the big block, or a less powerful but “historically accurate” engine?
