BBC Mercury Marine Cam

[80' 427]

Well for some stupid reason I bought another BBC (I think it may be addictition). It is a 1997 vortec 454 core so I didn't get any of the fi. Currently I pulled the heads and have a set of 781s getting freshed. I bought the merc marine take out cam that is everywhere for $40 bucks. Planning to leave the bottomend alone (looks great) and just swap the cam, heads to 781, intake to performer rpm and go N/A lpg till the I get a chance to finish the turbo. Has anyone dynoed this cam to see what the max rpm is? The specs are iirc 224 .485 lift and 114lc. It will be replacing my stock 454 with a cam/intake/ header swap thats currently in the K30. HEY DUMB FARM KIDS LIKE TO TRUCK PULL AND ROCK CRAWL!

 

[4X4HIGH]

IIRC 1997 is either a Gen V or Gen VI block? If so then 781 heads will not work as a direct bolt on due to coolant holes not lining up properly and dumping coolant into the lifter valley. Also pretty sure all Gen V and VI engines run roller cams and i've never seen a roller cam for $40.00 even used. I could be completely wrong but this is what I remember.

 

[sweetk30]

i would trust you scott. you got a few days under your belt on motors i think.

 

[80' 427]

IIRC 1997 is either a Gen V or Gen VI block? If so then 781 heads will not work as a direct bolt on due to coolant holes not lining up properly and dumping coolant into the lifter valley. Also pretty sure all Gen V and VI engines run roller cams and i've never seen a roller cam for $40.00 even used. I could be completely wrong but this is what I remember.

The Gen vi will accept the mark iv heads. It is part of the redesign in 1997. With the Gen Vs you are exactly right. They are roller cams and cheaper that $hit but you get what you get. No spec changes. This is the cam.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[80' 427]

Oh and gen v is flat tappet only no roller. That is why I bought it. $300 for the core was pretty cheap I think.

 

[ryoken]

most of the BB FI Mercs run between 4600 and 4800 max rpm's....

 

[80' 427]

Well that should be perfect for a truck engine.

 

[79rustyk10]

a friend put a mercruiser cam in his TBI 350 and loves it. way more low end torque from what I hear, but stops making any power at 3500 rpm. works good in a rock crawler though.

 

[80' 427]

The current 454 is done with hp at 4k. It is pretty flat after peak so it has seen more rpm for wheel speed truck pulling. Frankly for a truck 4kish is exactly what I want. Makes up for a lack of crawl ratio when it will lug along at idle in low low with only 50 to 1 ratio. Last truck pull I got second to a truck running alcohol. My 454 is nearly stock. The new one should be good till I finish the turbo install. Then FULL pull.