question

picked up this bus..it has a 350 with a 2 barrel carb, its starving,,going to change it to 4 barrel, but i think i need more.. its geared kinda low does 55 ok but really revs up,,, 35 mph up simi hill which aint that big, anyhow the question is 383 mouse or 396 bb im thinkin the mouse will handle the rpms more than the bb what do you think? thanks ahead of time..... by the way its a 1952 gmc orig had a 2 speed auto and a gas 6 cylinder motor

 

I'd stick with the sbc, easier to keep cool and cheaper to build.

 

nice ***le......put in a ***mins 4bt and OD, 6cyl would be better, but longer than v8

 

That is way to cool. Hmm, I've always wanted a old Crown single axle School Bus.

 

if you do go big block- i'd suggest bigger than 396-no sense in limiting output. 383 can make good torque as well (budget friendly too, since you're already set up for a small block)

the 6BT diesel is a really good idea as well, though....

 

Go diesial and make one hell of a rat rod. Question is what do you want.

 

400 sb or 454 bb without any question in my mind

 

You are going to need a lot more than a sbc to go much more than 35 mph over Simi hill. That is a lot of weight to push up a 6% grade.
U need torque. U need a diesel transplant.

 

thanks i think the 4 barrel will help but i think its gonna get a 400 or a 383, diesel would be great but alot to hook up to the present rear end

 

t happened to the "original" two speed rear? Sounds like you need it now.

 

Lots of trucks out there with 350's, grossing 25,000 pounds. A four barrel and a torquer cam like those towtruck ones will help, as will a 2-speed rear end.
That's a sweetheart bus!

 

A gas motor will be terrible on MPG.

If you run a 400 sbc with that weight and air drag, you will need a huge radiator. 100% sure on that.

Any sbc just is not a good choice for that monster on long grades. Flat highway is different, but it will scream rpms at cruising speed, and mpg will be insane.

If you ask around on the vintage bus sites, they will say turbo diesel with a overdrive trans. Non-OD diesel won't work.