Finally decided to pull the trigger on some parts...

[bnoon]

Just ordered: 3200 stall, new trans pan seal, filter, and a case of B&M Trick Shift. At the same time I'll be replacing the U-joints that have gone down hill recently. Holeshot engaged.

Only things I'm going back and forth on right now is a new/bigger cam and a set of Pro-Comp heads...

Comments, talk me into or out of parts... Go!

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well do you have a cam in it already or looking to take an old one out and put a new one in?

[bnoon]

It has a cam already, just want bigger... As in "Big enough to need a vacuum canister" kind of big...

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well I say buy it all!! Plus you already have to take the heads off so you have access just go for it!

[dieseldawg142]

no such thing as not enuff! got the money-do it!

[bnoon]

I don't have to take the heads off for access for the converter swap... but if I do go with a big cam I'm going with the heads too because they're still the stock "peanut" oval ports right now. I think I'm going to wait on the cam and heads though to see if I need more traction mods after the medium sized stall with the current power level. Thinking some pinion angle tricks, homemade Caltracs, and some 295/60/15 Hoosiers on Centerline Racing wheels. Hummmmmm...

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

no such thing as not enuff! got the money-do it!

Dang money burning a hole in my pocket!!!

Also, just for anyone wondering... transmission is already "built", I just want to use the Trick Shift to raise the shift points a few hundred RPM by "fooling" the shift kit that's already in there. Hard shifts are what killed the old U-joints, so what's a little more shift pressure? Heheheh

[GM-power]

Thats alot of stall for a stock 454 especially on the street. Builts another story but still even for street us thats about launching from stop lights.

[meatwagon83]

save your money for some good american made heads, not chinese knock offs

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

save your money for some good american made heads, not chinese knock offs

Profiler has made a name for themselves in nice big block heads. Plenty affordable too.

The Chinese heads will still flow and I'm sure plenty of people don't have issues with them on their street cars. But a more serious driven engine I wouldn't trust the valves. I've seen a lot of issues with offshore valves. Another thing to look at is the guides and geometry.

Factory big ovals will still support 550hp easy. Bigger valves and bowl blending and some help on the exhaust side. Unless your cam needs compression for a bigger cam. Naturally the aluminum heads will tolerate more compression with pump gas.

[donut]

Can you verify your heads?
To my limited knowledge, the '76 in your sig should have had oval ports. My '86 does have "peanut" port. The '86 also has low compression, like 8-1 or less. So, what's "stock" for you?
Personally, depending on what heads you have. I may lean toward a retrofit hydraulic roller cam, forgoing the "bling-bling" for some reliability with todays oils.

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Profiler has made a name for themselves in nice big block heads. Plenty affordable too.

The Chinese heads will still flow and I'm sure plenty of people don't have issues with them on their street cars. But a more serious driven engine I wouldn't trust the valves. I've seen a lot of issues with offshore valves. Another thing to look at is the guides and geometry.

Factory big ovals will still support 550hp easy. Bigger valves and bowl blending and some help on the exhaust side. Unless your cam needs compression for a bigger cam. Naturally the aluminum heads will tolerate more compression with pump gas.

I've seen plenty of posts on drag racer forums about feared longevity issues and other posts from racers running them saying they're fine for the lift they're rated at. Alter the cam beyond those specs and you have to change the springs/valves/etc anyway. The flow bench results I've read actually have the Pro-Comps ahead of the Edlebrock E-street and Performer heads and only slightly behind the Victors. The stock heads may be good for 550HP, but not until the work you mentioned is done to them and then that's about the ceiling. It's still a "we'll see" thing anyway...

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

save your money for some good american made heads, not chinese knock offs

I've had cheap ones and I've had expensive ones. At the power levels I'm achieving, there's no need for the spendy ones. I've got the money for it, just don't want to spend it all.

Originally Posted by GM-power

Thats alot of stall for a stock 454 especially on the street. Builts another story but still even for street us thats about launching from stop lights.

It's not totally stock and I'm planning on more mods in the near future. I wanted to go with a 3500, but decided to drop it down at the last moment. Tires are 235/75/15 right now, but will be 295/60/15, and the planned DIY Caltracs... so it will launch from a stoplight for sure!!! But for now, I'll have some fun frying some tires... then I'll have an excuse to go for the big ones, right?!?!

Originally Posted by donut

Can you verify your heads?

You were right, they are the traditional oval ports casting ending in 625. The previous owner had said they were the peanuts and I never questioned him. The rest of the engine I actually spoke with the guy who owned it before him who built the motor. He verified stock reconditioned rods with ARP bolts and 9:1 compression hypereutectic Speed Pro pistons that the guy I bought it from had told me about. I never verified the heads... oops. I'll never really know unless I tear into it, but I can't do that until I'm done with all of my house projects. This bit of parts is being done now only because of a leaky trans pan and a bad U-joint...

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Yah edelborck doesn't make good heads...sad when a company can't outshine factory heads barely and china can still do better

I would say rectangle port heads seam like a good fit for what you may be running for z cam. Factory bbc heads are some solid heads really

[bnoon]

I have calmed my itchy mouse finger by coming up with a progression plan.

Install the parts I have coming = tire frying action.

Install the homemade Caltrac style bars (parts purchase a LONG time ago for another project, should be easy to complete). = Still tire frying action.

Purchase/install new Centerline wheels with 295/60/15 DOT Hoosier Quick Time bias plys in the rear = No more tire frying action.

Purchase/install bigger cam/heads/intake = More tire frying action!!!

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by bnoon

I have calmed my itchy mouse finger by coming up with a progression plan.

Install the parts I have coming = tire frying action.

Install the homemade Caltrac style bars (parts purchase a LONG time ago for another project, should be easy to complete). = Still tire frying action.

Purchase/install new Centerline wheels with 295/60/15 DOT Hoosier Quick Time bias plys in the rear = No more tire frying action.

Purchase/install bigger cam/heads/intake = More tire frying action!!!

spinnin aint winnin, just sayin

[GM-power]

Arent bias ply tires illegal for street use?

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by GM-power

Arent bias ply tires illegal for street use?

no
perfectly legal

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

spinnin aint winnin, just sayin

Yeah, that's why the traction mods are planned. The most restrictive element to me is time to do it all.