1bad55

This is my first post,but ive been reading over here for a while. I found a 55 Chevy with NO rust at all for a grand. I want to pull a 454 out of a truck van etc. I was wondering what the best years were for the 454. I'am going to get it rebuilt and bored to a 468. What is my cheapest route to run about 500 horses N/A.
Thanks so much.

Mister HP

BBC 454 shortblocks from just about any year truck will be good for what you're doing. The top end is where you want to focus. If you can afford it, aftermarket heads & intakes are the way to go to easily make 500hp. If you have to use factory heads, then you should look for pre '72 car 454 heads. The closed chamber, rectangle port castings are the best for high compression,high flow, but they are the hardest to find as well. You should be able to find some closed chamber, oval port castings, that would give you a good compression ratio, and flow good enough to meet your goal.

Ed

67Man

Good decision! I myself just bought a 72` 454, it was complete for $600. He said it might run, but thats ok cause in 1 day i had it ripped down to the block. I think i will put aliminium 502 heads (after being bored out) also what do you think about a double pumper? burns twice as fast... hehe

beaux

I also have a 454 bored .060. Biggest problem with truck motors is the peanut port heads. Only flow to about 4000 rpm and lower(where trucks need the torque) anything above that....the motor falls flat on its face. Also...good luck finding one affordable. I got mine for $500 complete but I got lucky...i see them in the classifieds all the time going for $1000+ and some not even running.
And the word "cheap" and 500 hp are not usually in the same sentence.

texlurch

Cheap? Please note my favorite saying:

Speed costs, How fast can you afford to go?

That said, I have seen (and built) 468/460 motors with ported, stock oval port heads (not peanuts) that made 550+ hp on pump gas..
You might also look into a crate motor, ready to run with warranty is hard to beat if you can't do it yourself.

67Man

I would say build it your self, youll know exactly what you have. You can drive it around once you get it running. When you get money you can rip it down put your new parts in and put it back in! Also i recommend, Whatever kind of Horses you want. Look at some specs of peaple who have 454's. Infact i recall a hotrod article on a junkyard 454 525 HP.

racehead

I would recommend a build up like the BBC in the '71 in my sig. Use whatever 454 block that you can find. 2 bolt main blocks are more than strong enough for 500 hp and more. Find some "049" oval port heads and when you have them rebuilt, have them machined for bigger valves. Do a little home porting on them just to smooth out the rough spots. Get some part # 2465 TRW forged pistons. With the "049's" that'll give you roughly 10.1 to 10.4 to 1 compression. Use a cam with about 228 to 240 degree's duration @ .050. Top this with a Performer RPM or a Victor Junior and an 850 CFM carb and use some decent headers and exhaust and there you are ..... simple

Mister HP

Like the man said.... Simple!

rscamaro73

OK, I got some formulas - check this out : http://www.camaros.net/forum/Forum4/HTML/002818-2.html

Look up Doug G's stuff in his first post on the 2nd page (should scroll down 1/2 way down)

Here's another :

Engine 1-
468 inches(060 over 454)
11.8 compression
Cast crank, 7/16 rods
Ported 781 oval ports
Flat tappet solid, .650/.630, 267/279@050, installed at 102
Victor intake
Stock HEI distributor
1150 Holley, square jetted at 91

Engine 2-
477 inches(100 over 454)
13.0 compression
Steel crank, Crower rods(stock length of 6.135")
Merlin 310 rec ports
Comp roller,.714/.680, 276/280@050, installed at 110
Team G intake
HEI dist, Crane HI-6 box
1150 Holley square jetted at 93

Engine 1 runs 10.50's @ 129mph.
Engine 2 runs 10.30's A 130mph.
Average 60' for 1 is 1.52, and for 2 is 1.48
Engine 1 with 2's heads and intake ran 10.70's @ 126 mph.

None of these are mine, just passing along info that was passed to me from me asking. I'm still undecided on what to do on my own.....

Mr. Horsepower

Cheap and 500hp... easy.
I'd suggest a little healthier cam than some are quoting. Not as radical as the last list of combinations though....

·TRW forged pistons... KB hypers are fine too.
·Speed Pro moly rings
·10.2:1 compression
·049 heads, larger valves and pocket porting
·Hydraulic flat tappet cam, 245/250 @.05 112ºLCA 108ºILC 575/595" lift
·CC roller tip rocker arms
·Team G and Holley 850

should make 515hp at 6200 rpm, 500 lbs-ft at 4800

Use to sell these like hotcakes.

Chuck Riddeck
Progressive Race Engine Development

calereeves

I don't know if you consider this cheap ( I don't) but I just got my new engine back in the car and on the road this weekend.

454- 30 over
781 Heads-all stock
10 or 10.5 compression
Forged SpeedPro pistons
Crane Hydraulic Roller - 288/296 adv. duration. .587/.610 lift.
1.7 Full Roller Rockers
Weiand Xcelerator Intake
800 Edelbrock Carb
Dynomax headers.

I was going to get it dynoed saturday, but the tranny went bad on the way up. deskop dyno shows 609 hp, and 585 tq.

I've got right at about $4000 in the engine right now.

Cale

BartonekDragRacing

Yep..thats cheap. In January I'm going to start on my brothers 468, with similiar parts like you'all have posted. Shi*, by then my car should be done. New year, new project.

canbaufo

Yip, that's cheap. I spent about $3,000 just getting my combo dialed in on a dyno ....and it doesn't make 500 horsepower, maybe 450 at the crank. My ignition system had to be replaced, had to upgrade to 42# fuel injectors, had to add a bypass valve, had to replace knock sensor and module, had to have new valvsprings so went ahead and put roller rockers on, had wideband O2 fitting installed, etc, etc, etc. The tab can get really high trying to pump up one of these late model small blocks to make good power. I'd say I have $7,000 extra in this motor if not more ....probably around 10K with labor, tuning, gauges, exhaust system, etc. Extra bolt on's on it probably run the total tab of mods to around 13K ...that's what I paid for the car 4 1/2 years ago

I'm thinking of finding a buyer at the next car show I put this thing in and maybe getting into an old Vette with a bad motor/drivetrain. Buy it for cheap and build a nice 454 for it and toss a T-56 in, drive it on the weekends and let it sit and appreciate during the week

JEDCamino

I would certainly recommend a crate engine if you can afford it. Either way, a '55 with a big block would be sooo awesome! When you get some of it done, try to post some pics, I'm sure we'd all like to see it!

rscamaro73

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning to just buying another motor and building it up as I can afford it, and doing it right. This way I can afford to wait & find some good deals on parts.

Excellent combos listed.

I can't wait to see how slow my car is in its current state. I just have to get a baseline with it....seems to be in the mid 14 feeling....