I just bought an 85 suburban with a 454, and have an old 396 out of an older Chevy truck I think. My uncle told me that if I take the crank from the 396 and put it into my 454 it would destroke it to a 427? If this is true how do I go about getting the correct rods, pistons, cam, etc. All information is appreciated.

 

i think a 427 is a short stroke engine different heads crank and bore if what your uncle said was true then you could change a 305 crank into a 350 and make a 327 hmmm it would be nice but i dont think it works like that but im no expert

 

Actually.. yes it does. In the earlier series, done all the time.

Obviously there are changes in the crank over years so you cant just automatically do that but a late 60early 70 307 crank in a 350 and voila.. 327. But the BEST deal was a 283 crank {3.00 stroke} with a 327 4.00 bore.. the 302 .. a hi rev SCREAMER! There were a couple altereds used them where I lived that came out of the hole at 7000 rpm.

And yes.. 396 crank in a 454 is a 427
396-427 Cranks in a 454 Block. - Team Camaro Tech

Now as to destroking a a 454 in a Suburban.. I cant figure out why you would do that. Only thing you would gain as I recall is the ability to do higher revs, and a nominal bit of economy but you would lose torque - why we all loved the 327.
Since no one really drag races a Suburban... do they?... what's the point.
But if you wanna.. go on ahead. just use the 396 rods and 454 pistons. I think the deck heights were the same, at least in the 70's. Later might not be.

BTW: That doesnt mean you can easily go the other way. If you stuck that 454 crank and rods in the 396 you'd probably find you had to cut off piston skirts and grind the castings at bottom of the bores.

But for a classic street car like say a 66 Chevelle, helluva setup!
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/454-...ck-103436.html

 

(bowing to the master) I stand corrected lol then maybe you would know how to make a short stroke high rev 4.3