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454 rebuild questions

chiefheaphy

chiefheaphy

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 13, 2007
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Location
East MASS
I am looking to re-build a junkyard 454.

What years and/or castings are good starting points to look for?

Also, for an offroad use only rig, what type of budget upgrades can I make for a little more grunt?

Thanks guys.
 
Ditch the factory manifolds for a set of decent headers.

Every dyno article I've ever seen shows that one change is good for between 40 - 50 Lb/Ft of Torque on a stock motor.

Best bang-for-the-buck single change you can make on the BBC.


:usaflag:
 
i have a j/y 454 its a 1973 pass hiperf block 2 bolt main. With 8.5:1 compression stock, I added Hooker headers, aluminum intake, New timing gear, nice fuel pump, new carb. Thats all you need. If you got extra coin, new heads and cam.
 
1970s era 454 big blocks. best bet in my eyes.

large oval port heads were used a lot and best 2 heads last 3 # in casting to look for 049 and 781. best to use if stock cast is used. thay are large oval port also. if full reman on heads is in order bigger valves is good for these also.

8.5:1-max 9.5:1 comp is good poswer to fuel use safty. or you will need prem gas all the time.

good aluminum intake. and i would use a air gas manifold my self to help keep heat down. big blocks are a bit warmer than small blocks. 750 cfm carb good all around. and get a stock quadrajet great offroad carb if reman correctly.my top choice would be stand alone efi system. good fuel econ/tourqe off bottom/startup .

big block breaths a lot more so yes like said before open up that exaust system to realy breath.

dont forget if any thing much over stock cam is to be used new valve springs will be needed. and a good set of roller rockers will free up avg of 15-20 hp.

cam i would get a good 4x4 style bottom end tourqe cam as bbc dont spin as high as sbc but make tons of power on the bottom to begin with.

good luck and have fun. i need to get off my butt and swap in one of mine soon. :doah:
 
I had a 454 in an old 3/4 ton years ago. Who knows how many miles, was out of an 81-82 dually, was a 4-speed with a bad ring gear. (How I got it cheap) I put stock heads on it, IIRC they were the peanut port, can't remember the casting #, but think they were from the 80s. Comp Cams Xtrme 268, headers, stock Q-jet carb/intake. Truck had 6" lift with 35s, 3.73 gears. Motor ran awesome, had a sweet choppy idle, (2 1/2" Flows going all the way out the back) and would smoke the tires at a stand still....The one truck that I wished I would have kept......
 
Greg72 said:
Ditch the factory manifolds for a set of decent headers.

Every dyno article I've ever seen shows that one change is good for between 40 - 50 Lb/Ft of Torque on a stock motor.

Best bang-for-the-buck single change you can make on the BBC.


:usaflag:
Click to expand...

Really? Any links to this info? If that is true I should go that route since I do need to do my exhaust system soon. Any recommended headers? - my motor is basically stock.
 
Ned Kelly said:
Really? Any links to this info? If that is true I should go that route since I do need to do my exhaust system soon. Any recommended headers? - my motor is basically stock.
Click to expand...

Do a Google search for "FrankenRat".... that was a stock 454 buildup that one of mags did. All the articles are online now, complete with dyno results. The first installment was where they did a baseline dyno pull, and then tried headers...

It was either CarCraft, ChevyHighPerformance or SuperChevy :dunno:


Nevermind: I'm feeling generous this morning...here's the exact link:

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/89618_project_454_ho_engine/index.html


:usaflag:
 
any idea how much I should expect to pay for a 70's early 80's 454 in need of a rebuild? I have no problem takin it out and loadin it up myself.
 
Greg,
That was a good read. Sounds like FrankenRat is a disciple of Dr. Olds from back in the day. Gotta love big blocks and their torque. I'll be looking for headers now - maybe an Air Gap intake too.
Hail to the Big Block!:bow:
 
chiefheaphy said:
any idea how much I should expect to pay for a 70's early 80's 454 in need of a rebuild? I have no problem takin it out and loadin it up myself.
Click to expand...

How much of a project are you looking for?

I have a 454 block and crank and box of parts that I'll give you for FREE....I've also got the matching set of professionally rebuilt heads that go with it, but I'd like to get a little $$$ for those. :deal:

Link: http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2087486#post2087486


:usaflag:
 
someone mentioned intake manifold......for sure. pluck the stock cast off and put any reasonable aluminum intake on it is hands down the easiest way to peel a bunch of weight off the engine and help it breath .......the stock cast intake is one major pig.
 
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