Advice on 454 build
 

Hey all, new to forum and new to a 1967/71/72 rat rod project i just acquired. Smoked the lower end of the 350 due to the builder deciding to leave trash in the oil pan and clogging the oil pump. Thanks. Anyways, 350 is trash, and i have a junkyard virgin 454 i just bought to build. I am looking to build a daily driver, streetable with 400 ish hp and 450 ish tq. dont want to track it, just be able to smoke tires and imports should the need arise. I have the original iron oval port heads that i can reuse, or upgrade to aluminum brodix if the need be, but i would like to do this for around 2500 bucks. The block is a hi-perf, but i don t know yet if the crank is steel or iron, but it is
.010 under already, so im not sure if i want to use it. Im really looking for a complete setup that i can do mostly myself, that is tried and true. Ive found numerous "cheap" builds for hp, but i would like something realistic that will last more than three runs down track on spray.

On a side note, will a 454 mount in stock position with 402 motor mounts or will i have to relocate and customize everything. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

A 454 in stock form in a truck will "smoke the tires" all day long. Toss a bigger bump stick in it and it will make you smile even more... and still be very streetable.

Gary

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

I appreciate the reply, but I am looking for builds people have done, combos and all that. I want it to run, and run for a long time. Once i get the body restored, its going to be my daily driver, i dig driving around in something nasty and not very fuel efficient (current driver is old corvette).

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

Not sure what eles you need. Rebuild it stock and put a slightly larger than stock camshaft in it. Use a stock Q-jet on an aftermarket aluminum manifold. It will run forever. EZPZ...

Gary

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

will just doing the camshaft get me into the 400 land at the wheels though?

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

There are hundreds of articles on mild 454 builds for that oval port motor. All use one form of mild cam or another and they all hit the mark close to 450HP and 500Ft Lbs of torque...Super Chevy, Chevy High Performance, Car Craft, Vette, Hot Rod, Blah, Blah, Blah....google it, read them all and choose the one you like. Car Craft did one with an Edelbrock manifold, 850 CFM Holley and a very mild crane hydraulic cam that made the curve below and total cost, including $1000.00 for a rebuildable 454 was $2500.00

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

10 to 1 compression, A mild cam and dual plane mid rise intake,headers and a 2 1/2 to 3 inch exhaust would get you to an easy 400 hp 454.
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Re: Advice on 454 build
 

All bb chevys said hi-perf on the block. Including the low horse engines with two bolt mains. I am doing a .060 over 454 that makes it a 468. I have 110 c.c. heads up grading to 2.19 and 1.88 stainless valves. .210 dome on my pistons gives me 10 to 1 comp. A full roller comp cams thumper cam (1800 to 5500 ) air gap intake 750 carb and mallory ignition. all balanced and would guess very low 500 h.p. I plan on a local dyno test when done.

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

IMO, buy the book "HOW TO HOT-ROD A BIG BLOCK CHEVY" by Bill Fisher. Lots of good easy to understand info. for about $15. There are a lot of options for your build and they cover most of them.
As for your .010 under crank, unless its scored really bad, you can either have it polished and if that doesn't clean it up, it would not be a bad option to turn it .020 under. Esp. if it's a steel crank. They're not easy to come by on the cheap.
I have a High Torque 502" crate motor (385 HP & about 520 lbs. torq.), 4 speed Muncie trans. and a 3.55 posi., in my 71 3/4 ton Chevy (Just under 5000 lbs, with me in it). And to say the least, I'm very impressed with the way it runs. Smooth idle @ 700 RPM, and tire smoking acceleration.
IMO, the BB Chevy is one of the best production engines ever, esp. to hot-rod. Not only are they very durable, but also have a huge amount of new and used after market parts available, at a comparably low price.
Good Luck, Ray

Re: Advice on 454 build
 

if you think it is a hipo engine and something extra special ??
sorry it is not as they all were marked that way from day one on all passenger vehicles and it means nothing