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454 engine build

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  • Tom B.
    Expired
    • March 1, 2002
    • 140

    454 engine build

    Just tore apart this 454 I have had for 15 yrs . Was supposedly re done when I got the car. Its .030 over TRW L2465 forged pistons has 69 063 heads .Pulled the cam has numbers VA 5104 280 S and CO but cant read the 3rd character? Edelbrock Preformer 2 intake, No carb I havent messed with any big block builds since 73 any advice would be greatly appreciated for the build.Any ideas on carb and ignition? Maybe Duke has some thoughts?
  • Joe L.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • February 1, 1988
    • 43193

    #2
    Re: 454 engine build

    Originally posted by Tom Barkley (37646)
    Just tore apart this 454 I have had for 15 yrs . Was supposedly re done when I got the car. Its .030 over TRW L2465 forged pistons has 69 063 heads .Pulled the cam has numbers VA 5104 280 S and CO but cant read the 3rd character? Edelbrock Preformer 2 intake, No carb I havent messed with any big block builds since 73 any advice would be greatly appreciated for the build.Any ideas on carb and ignition? Maybe Duke has some thoughts?

    Tom------


    A very lot depends upon what you intend to do with the engine and what you want out of it. For example, the Performer 2 intake manifold is not a bad manifold (assuming it's an oval port version to match your oval port heads) but it will not fit under a 68+ Corvette big block hood (except L-88 hood).
    In Appreciation of John Hinckley

    Comment

    • Tom B.
      Expired
      • March 1, 2002
      • 140

      #3
      Re: 454 engine build

      Joe..... just want kind of a hot day 2 street car. Going to run this motor in my 69 Camaro. The last time I messed with big blocks was 70-72 back then it was a 396 with 840 heads and a ZL1 Cam and 10.5 to 1 pistons and an 850 Holley not sure what carb or cam to run in this motor for a street car.

      Comment

      • Duke W.
        Beyond Control Poster
        • January 1, 1993
        • 15610

        #4
        Re: 454 engine build

        I certainly wouldn't use a racing cam. Does it have a forged or cast crank? How about the rods? Bottom end strength and durability on a long stroke engine are going to be a big factor in determining "design speed" - the maximum allowable RPM.

        As with any engine I always recommend massaging the heads, and then for a road engine selecting a cam that yields at least 80 percent peak torque at 2000 if a manual trans and 90 percent if an automatic.

        I rarely establish a top end power objective unless it's a Bonneville car, where top end power is all that counts. On a road racing engine the usual objective is maximizing average power in the top 30 percent of the rev range and on a road engine maximize the average from 1500/2000 to design speed while making the torque bogey mentioned above.

        Duke

        Comment

        • Dick W.
          Former NCRS Director Region IV
          • June 30, 1985
          • 10483

          #5
          Re: 454 engine build

          Piston specs: Comp Ratio: 11.31:1 w/100.9cc Heads, 9.61:1 w/119cc Heads I believe with the heads you have, unless they have been decked, the compression ration of 9.0 (most likely closer to 9.0-1 would work fine. I am using the same pistons in a cast iron set of open chamber heads with good drive-ability.
          Dick Whittington

          Comment

          • Dick W.
            Former NCRS Director Region IV
            • June 30, 1985
            • 10483

            #6
            Dick Whittington

            Comment

            • Tom B.
              Expired
              • March 1, 2002
              • 140

              #7
              Re: 454 engine build

              Duke....have not pulled the pan to ck the bottom end yet. Any ideas on carb size? car will have a M20 trans and anywhere from a 308 to 355 axle gear

              Comment

              • Dick W.
                Former NCRS Director Region IV
                • June 30, 1985
                • 10483

                #8
                Re: 454 engine build

                Originally posted by Tom Barkley (37646)
                Duke....have not pulled the pan to ck the bottom end yet. Any ideas on carb size? car will have a M20 trans and anywhere from a 308 to 355 axle gear
                3.08 gear with that cam could be a little aggravating in traffic. 3.36 or 3.54 would be better. For simplicity I would go with a properly tweaked Quadrajet
                Dick Whittington

                Comment

                • Tom B.
                  Expired
                  • March 1, 2002
                  • 140

                  #9
                  Re: 454 engine build

                  Dick....any idea what that cam is and specs on it?

                  Comment

                  • Dick W.
                    Former NCRS Director Region IV
                    • June 30, 1985
                    • 10483

                    #10
                    Re: 454 engine build

                    Originally posted by Tom Barkley (37646)
                    Dick....any idea what that cam is and specs on it?
                    I started researching the numbers and got busy, I will try tonight, I am up to my wazoo in alligators right now.
                    Dick Whittington

                    Comment

                    • Patrick B.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • August 31, 1985
                      • 1986

                      #11

                      Comment

                      • Tom B.
                        Expired
                        • March 1, 2002
                        • 140

                        #12
                        Re: 454 engine build

                        Patrick....the 69 063 head is 101 cc

                        Comment

                        • Patrick B.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • August 31, 1985
                          • 1986

                          #13
                          Re: 454 engine build

                          Unless you want a 11.3 compression ratio, you can machine the piston domes down a bit and cut the combustion chambers to unshroud the valves to get a more reasonable compression ratio.

                          Comment

                          • Dick W.
                            Former NCRS Director Region IV
                            • June 30, 1985
                            • 10483

                            #14
                            Re: 454 engine build

                            Originally posted by Tom Barkley (37646)
                            Patrick....the 69 063 head is 101 cc
                            Oops! I had the head volume mixed up in my post.
                            Dick Whittington

                            Comment

                            • Duke W.
                              Beyond Control Poster
                              • January 1, 1993
                              • 15610

                              #15
                              Re: 454 engine build

                              Originally posted by Tom Barkley (37646)
                              Duke....have not pulled the pan to ck the bottom end yet. Any ideas on carb size? car will have a M20 trans and anywhere from a 308 to 355 axle gear
                              Carb size depends on design speed, but something in the 700-800 range should be okay. Beware of aftermarket cams. Most have too much overlap for a given duration, which kills low end torque. The 390/400 HP cam would be a real toque monster with good top end power and up to 6000 useable revs with well massaged heads, and the L-72/71 cam would work well - a bit less low end torque with more top end power.

                              There are HUNDREDS of cams out there to choose from, and it's real easy to make a mistake especially if you don't have a good handle on desired broad range performance characteristics and just pick some peak HP number out of the air, which is what most guys seem to do.

                              A torquey 454 will work very well with a WR trans and 3.08 axle.

                              Duke

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