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454 build input please

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warwgn

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Ok, so those of you have built a 454 what should I put in it? Well first I got to find a donor engine to build then hope to keep total build including price of donor under 3K. Keep in mind I got to get brackets for the accesories and junk, prolly a new radiator and a new carb.
So what cam and crap should I run?
I know I want to be around 10.25:1 compression since I am at 6000' most all the time, but other than that not sure what to do?
thanks for any help.

And it going in my 86 K20, TH400, 208, 4.10 gears. Used for pulling a camper only around 7k Lbs.
 
Mine is at 9.0:1. I can burn regular pump gas - which is nice. Just a RV torque cam,everything else is stock. Runs great, not finicky, all weather performance (ie. cold winters). I did some research, and higher compression did not give that great a gain in power to make it worth the price of burning premium fuel (not for me anyways for an everyday truck application). I know fellows who now regret having a big block engine that needs premium fuel as it stings the wallet when your at the pumps. It's different if your racing or it's just a weekend cruiser, but my advice is consider that cost of the fuel grade your engine will need vs miles you'll drive. Maybe it is worth it for you. Good choice to go with BB.
 
at my altitude I can run the cheap stuff, we loose 20lbs of compression from sea level. I run a 12.5:1 compression piston in my ATV and it does great on 91 octane. Our air is thin, so was thinkin 10.25 to make up for that, so it's prolly like a 9:1 at sea lvl.

So mostly just stock with a little jump in the cam is what you suggest. Thanks, that sounds good on the budget for sure, was kinda thinkin roller cam but dont really think I need that and can always do that in the future.

So what cam profile would you suggest?
 
If you're still looking for a donor, see if you can find a Gen 6 454. It will have all the stuff to run a factory style hyd roller cam. Marine takeout cams can be had for cheap (like $50 cheap). The one I used was .483 lift and 214 degrees duration. It was an excellent lugging cam. The only down side to a Gen 6 is that they don't have a fuel pump boss, so you'd have to run an electric pump.
 
This usually starts a big pissing match but this is what I did and I am very happy. I took a stock rebuild with 7.8 to 1 compression and peanut ports. I picked a very small cam (204/214 @.050 duration) and added headers and a wieand street warrior intake (peanut port) with the stock qjet. It pulls very hard and makes approx 340hp and 500ftlbs at the flywheel (tuned on a chassis dyno). It will easily smoke the 37 hummer tires and I have actually beat a 98 z28 though 1-2 gears. It is done early at 3950rpm but it will lug in high gear at 750-1000 rpm around town. People will tell you that peanut ports are garbage heads and as far as a drag motor or competition thats true but in a truck they can work pretty good.
 
what ever works good!! I think I found a couple choices, got one close to home for $350 it's a 454 thats all I know think it is complete! And then I can go to Albuquerque and pick them up for around 400.

At least now I know someone has had good success with peanut ports! I was kinda thinkin that all my power is gonna be needed below 4000RPM so didnt think I would need real good heads. Thanks for confirming that one, keeps my options open while looking for a donor!!
 
This is the cam I chose, CC 11-676-4. Its a solid flat tappet, with an rpm range of 1600-6000. Lift is .553/.568 gross, and 230/236 duration @ .050.
http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/CamSpecPrinterFriendly.aspx?csid=468
but I will be running dunes, and some mud where more rpm is beneficial I think.....I have 781 mildly modified heads with the big valves, and should be about 9.4 compression. I'm at about 1200 ft though. The intake is a performer, and an 800 quad, 1-3/4 headers with mufflers, and numbers on the engine dyno 2000 program show about 550 peak tq, and over 500 from 2000 to almost 5000, and peak hp at about 460. So far with my core of block and heads I have about 4600 in mine, and didn't have BBC parts to start with. I have bought an accessory drive from a member, and the adapter plates to bolt the SBC setup to the BBC. I haven't bought headers for it yet, or gotten into the cooling system.

Here is my thread if you want to check it out:
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261694&page=9
The engine stuff is early in the thread, and about post 410 also.

good luck, post up what you come up with.
 
Being a gm service manager I tryed to copy the HT502 crate engine on a budget. I bet I have 1k or less in mine including buying a $600 c10 that the 454 came in.
 
awesome, I was hoping for that, but the snowball started rolling, and it hasn't stopped yet....
 
Oh well I also have a 427 that I am not sure how much it cost but it made yours look cheap. Solid roller, 10 to 1, 4 bolt main, forged crank, 7/16 rod, srp piston, ported ovals, victor, 1050 dominator and it still doesn't have the brodix race rites on it yet.
 
well I am on my way, a guy at work gave me a set of heads, completly rebuilt ready to bolt up. casting #6272292 the tags on them say 118cc open chamber. Nothing better than free!!!
modify_inline.gif
 
free is best unless it costs you more than you could have bought something complete.
 
80' 427 said:
free is best unless it costs you more than you could have bought something complete.
Click to expand...

called a local yard and they have a complete 454 for 350!! so now I just have to build the short block and throw thefree heads on. Looks likeit's gonna work out on the cheap....................maybe!!
 
Make sure you get all the brackets. And if it has a/c comp bracket and you don't use it, send it to me!
 
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