[v8mazda]

hey guys, well i did a search as to not be a bother but I'm really not finding anything on 454's. I'm getting a 454 this weekend that is mildly built and was just looking for some info on things i can do to make it a street monster. i know theirs info needed but i don't have it all yet. i basically want a 550+ motor for my camaro and this one is coming to me pretty cheap so i want to utilize it. i cant afford aluminum heads but i do know how to port/polish and ball blend. it already has flat top pistons bored over to a 468, air gab intake and 740 carb. not sure on cam or heads yet. could someone please throw some idea's out there for me?

i asked on the camaro forum I frequent and all i got was "dont bother, waste of time, crappy engine" etc. growing up i always heard the 454 was the whip.. am i missing something? i would think this motor would be a beast in my camaro.

thanks

ps, my budget at this moment could afford different pistons and cam if needed.

[DoubleVision]

Flow is power. That said, it tells you where to focus at.

[v8mazda]

thanks double vision. i'm assuming your talking about making sure the heads are port matched and blended? i'm not a gear head(probably should have said that in the first post) so as far as heads go i will work them... what about cam, compression where do these types of motors like to come alive at?

thanks

[Ford Junkie]

hp #'s aren't going be good for much other than bragging rights IMHO. A 454 was designed as a torque engine from the beginning, make the most of this and you got it whipped. Friend of mine runs them with great success as he utilizes the good points and forgets the not important stuff. I have no info on how he builds them other than he keeps cam size down so he doesn't have rev the snot out of them, but I do know he surely hurts a lot feelings with them and doesn't turn them over 5500 rpm's doing it.

Just food for thought, what do you have in the camaro already as far as suspension and transmission?

[v8mazda]

ford junkie what do you mean by "got it whipped" as in it would be an ok ride or a waste of time.

[Ford Junkie]

Meaning you get it making maximum torque and let the HP #'s fall where ever you'll be smoking tires or breaking parts. Hard to beat a solid built BB for raw seat of the pants power.

Tony

[v8mazda]

ohhhh lol ok gotcha. so it will be a fast get up and go car. sorry guys i got into wrenching a little late in life and no dad around so i'v definitly been going through a learning curve. but for 34 i feel like a kid again building these motors lol this will be my 3rd one, 2nd solo build

[MXrider13]

I haven't actually worked on a 454 but who ever told you they were a waste of time, doesn't know what they are talking about.
If you are looking for a great Street and Strip Motor or a Drag Motor they are great engines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8FCNZXyEJY

For this article not sure how accurate it is but it says you can get 700HP out of a 454 for around $3000
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...d/viewall.html

Car Craft is always good
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...d/viewall.html

[6426yy]

What transmission and rearend are you running gear ratio also. Everything has to work together. A small dome piston and a set of 049 or 781 large oval ports with some mild port work and a cam is all your gonna need to make it a strong driver. Your cam selection will depend on the rest of the car, auto trans stall speed, gear ratio ect, ect. Need more info!

[techinspector1]

HERE'S AN EASY 650 FT/LBS....
Bore block +0.100"
TRW H112CP-100 pistons
http://www.flatlanderracing.com/trwchevyspecial.html
Stock 6.135" rods with ARP bolts, resized.
4.250" stroker crank of your choice. (Scat makes a nice piece)
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SCA-945420/
Stack = 9.785". Nominal block deck height = 9.800". Use 0.040" head gasket for 0.055" squish.
RHS heads...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RHS-11301-02/
119cc heads with H112CP-100 pistons will produce 10.2:1 static compression ratio with a 9.785" stack and 0.040" gasket. Align hone the main saddles and take a light cut on each deck to you know that each corner of the block is the same distance from the centerline of the main bearing bore. The combination I'm showing here assumes a 9.795" to 9.800" stock block deck height.
Edelbrock RPM or Weiand Stealth intake with 850 carb...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-7163/
Long tube 2" headers of your choice.
CompCams 11-713-9 solid roller cam....
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-11-713-9/

RPM HP TQ
2000 195 513
2500 250 525
3000 319 559
3500 404 607
4000 487 639
4500 560 654
5000 615 646
5500 643 614
6000 643 563
6500 593 479
Peak volumetric efficiency 96.9% @5000
Peak BMEP 195.1 @4500

Make 600 ft/lbs with a little less cam, a hydraulic roller....
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...?csid=445&sb=0

I don't think you will be happy with warmed-over production heads. They're just junk compared to some of the aftermarket heads being currently produced. $779 per head (assembled) seems to me like a heck of a price for a BBC head that makes this much power. My very best advice would be to put the project on hold until you have the money to buy the good parts. Don't blow what budget you have presently and be unhappy with a turd motor.

[v8mazda]

great advice guys, techinspector you always go that little extra in your post's thanks. i'm not planning on putting this in the car till spring so by then maybe i will have a little extra dough to buy some better heads.

as far as whats going to be supporting this car. this is what i'm planning on doing and by spring i should be able to pull it all together.

"monster" performance 700r4.. sorry i hate 3 speed transmission. i know the 350th and 400th would be stronger but i have to have overdrive.

3:08 mini spool rear.
little better then stock suspension
depending on what build i go with maybe a small nitrous kit....100 shot.

i just sold my other camaro that had 550hp out of an sbc... i want bigger and better lolol

[MXrider13]

Originally Posted by v8mazda

"monster" performance 700r4.. sorry i hate 3 speed transmission. i know the 350th and 400th would be stronger but i have to have overdrive.

Look for a 4L80E, it is possible to take the electronics out of the 4L80E of it, without the electronics its a 4 speed TH400.
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/4l80...ge-183483.html

[Ford Junkie]

If you look at the numbers TI posted you can see what I was talking about.

HP doesn't come in till late in the program but is irrelevant because of the 513 ft lbs. at 2000 rpm's, this thing is pulling the house off the foundation from 2000 rpm's up to 6000 rpm's!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can bet the farm you better have some bite on the ground when that 1-2 shift comes in or this things going for the sidelines.

Thanks for chiming in TI, your stuff always makes sense.

Tony

[v8mazda]

agreed sounds like a nice set up. can anyone elaborate on the 4l60e thing i mx commented on? and thanks mx for the tip. would i need a computer for that? etc. i should be getting my motor tomorrow (sunday)

thanks guys.

[Ford Junkie]

3.08 gear and an od trans will kill the driving of this car. Your talking on a 26" tire of turning 1800 rpm's at 65 mph, this engine would be lunging on the cam at this rpm under load. I am guessing this thing is going to want to cruise around 2500 to keep cylinders clean.

>>>>little better then stock suspension<<<< It better be a lot better than stock if you really want this kind of power. Your 550 hp small block won't even compare to this in a good dream.................