Gathering Pieces for the 454

[ChipperChapman1090]

Getting around to gathering some stuff up for the 454 in my 88 Chevy Stepside.

Cam- Speed Pro 501/527 lift, 214/224 @.050, 292/302 adv.

Intake- Have an iron 396/325hp intake I'm probly gonna use, but would still like to find a performer or performer rpm

Heads- I have 2 options:
-First i have a set of 781's that need a valve job and can be used, should give around 7.75:1 compression
-Second I have a set of 820's I'd rather use, but they need valves, springs, everything. Maybe even a seat or two. They'll flow better and yeild around 8.25:1 but I'm gonna have to save my pennies to run them.

All in all I'm hoping to make around 425 horses and still be running on regular pump fuel as this is in my daily driver!

Also trying to decide if I should bump up the rear gears from 3.23 to 3.42 I'm running a TH700R4 so I have an overdrive, but the thing really likes the 3.23's the way it is. I may have to just experiment once the motor is built up.

[56chevtruck]

hi chris heres what my 2wd full size 80blazer had done to the engine and what it ran for times:73 454 .030 over 8.25/8.5 compression, compcams 280magnum .520 lift 1800-6000rpm performer #2161 with 1"phenolic spacer 780 vac secondary #049 open chamber heads, bowl work and gasket matched exhaust port fully polished stock valve sizes 1 7/8 super comp headers, 2500/2800converter.th350. 3.73 gear and 26x10.50x15 sportsman pro tire . go threw top end 14.23 at 5000rpm when i used to run it at maitland. when i ran it at shearwater airport with just a gear change to 4:11 an a torque strap from engine to frame it went 13:60. at 550/5800 rpm. 3.73 and 700r would be a good combo.its probaby only gonna pull 4500-4800 rpm with 3.23 or 342. #781 heads might be the better choice? hope this helps some. george

[ChipperChapman1090]

Thanks for the info. I had 3.73's in the truck at the first of the summer, the stock 454 didn't like it, I didn't much either (fuel$$$). It just seemed to be turning up so high all the time on the road, even with the overdrive. But I may have to look at that. Also I would think my truck is gonna be a fair bit lighter than your blazer was, the 88-ups are quite a bit lighter when comparing pick ups, and the blazer would have to be heavier! Thanks again for your input, Just looking to make a nice daily driver that I can run in the top of the Sportsman class with, as the camaro is staying parked until there is a no delay box rule placed for Pro class.

Chris

[ChipperChapman1090]

Also, the converter in the truck is a stock 305 converter that flash stalls about 32-3500 behind the big block, so I think it should be fine. Decided to go with the 781's as well.

[ShoeBoxRacer]

If I were looking for a budget way to build a bit more steam in that big block Chris, it would be to get more squeeze into the ol' girl. 7.75 / 1 just aint going to build power, no matter what components you use. Those heads have a very ample amount of beef so you should be able to take a substantial shave off of them to up the compression to a usable level. There are numerous head gaskets available which you can tinker with as well to bump or drop compression. Even at 9 /1 you're going to be safe with the unleaded swamp gas & it will be a lot easier to get the power you're after. Some of the low-overlap cams will fool the engine into thinking it's got more static compression as well. ;D

[ChipperChapman1090]

Yeah, I was talkin to Danny, and I figure I can shave .040-,050" off them and still have lots of meat there. That should help quite a bit. Thanks for the advice though.

Chris

[ChipperChapman1090]

On another note, my 700R4 has failed me yet again so it's gettin a TH400 now!