Thread: Easy HP for my 454 vette

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Well, here is the thing, and I DO really appreciate all the advice, but this thing has me puzzled. It runs GREAT. It really does. Now if it's something I've missed then shame on me but i have looked at the timing, wires are brand new,the thing has a new top end etc. The only things i havent checked for myself is the carb and the distributor.I just thought the engine is enherently designed weak on the power end. It does have some get up and go but not what one would expect from a 454. This week I am going to look into a new Edlebrock for it and I'll check the distributor as well. I can allways use these new parts if and when I rebuild the thing anyway. It may help me get by for now. Thanks for the suggestions all! Mike

If it runs fine now then I say throw a few little bolt on parts now and drive it the way it is until you actually NEED to rebuild the thing or else it's a waste of money man.
That is just my oppinion at least.

Well, We've kinda come full circle because this is my whole reason for the thread. Easy bolt on HP.Runs great but just not enough power, and isn't that the reason most ,or at least a lot of us rebuild? Thanks again. Mike

Like I said I am not as experienced or have the know how as many on here but: I dont like Edelbrock carbs. all drop cast aluminum , my experience doesnt last, very porus. If it was my car I would get that Q jet a performance rebuild. If you want new then I would go with a Holley type of carb but thats my opinion; ask others on here about edelbrocks carbs... maybe they are decent but the experience I had with the one I bought, well I would never buy another. The distributor I would rebuild entirely considering its almost 30 years old...change cap and rotor of course, coil, module etc etc.

That motor has almost 400 ft lbs of torque. In stock form it should move that vette quite easily and smoke those tires all day long.

Id maybe change the manifild to an aluminum dual plane if you go to a new carb, and Id put some moderate sized headers on it. Finish off with a quality dual exhaust system. Companies like Hooker out of Summit have systems I have used before that are direct bolt in and then you can choose your mufflers, and they come with most all clamps and hardware for an install you can do on ramps in the driveway in about an hour. The car in stock form should be fun as hell to drive and those little upgrades should give you a little more, but as far a motor out and a rebuild I would wait until it needs it.

Corvette's have very restrictive exhausts. Install a large diameter free flowing exhaust system and it will wake the engine up now and provide a good base for any later mods.

A local guy here had a lot of good things to say about the
Edelbrock, thats why I thought it may work well for me. In fact he suggested that carb for my car, however if all of you guys say they are not so hot then I'll take that advice as well. I think I will look around on this board and see if I can see anything about carbs. If not then maybe I'll start a new thread and see what opinions are out there. I have also heard a lot of good things about the Holley ,so that is fine with me also. Just gotta decide but I definitely think that will be the First place I will look to change now. New Carb! good place to start. Next will be the exhaust... Thanks gang... Mike... Oh ,and the distributor!!!

racerguy, nothing wrong with a Edelbrock. I hear they are best for street performance. Everyone will have their cons about Holley and Edelbrock both. Edelbrock parts are best for street applications and are still good so I say go with an edelbrock man. Frist thing I would do is headers, mufflers (exhaust basically). The carb will help too but if your taking in all that extra fuel and air it still will need to go somewhere and already it's all constricted so exhaust IMO would be the better choice first. THEN you can go with the intake and carb. Or just try and get it all at once.

I have run an Edelbrock 750 and 800 ESP, and several Holley's.....both were great carbs. There will always be good and bad stories, but both have been around forever and are well established companys. If you like the Edelbrock, go for it...Im sure it would work fine for you.

When you guys talk about changing the exhaust to headers, I've heard they make the engine hot. Ruins wiring and electronics and stuff in the engine compartment. Anyone ever heard of this.I dont want to change the exhaust to headers if I don't absolutely have to.It has a nice duel exhaust , I know headers breath much better but is the improvement worth the trouble? This engine already runs hot also.Don't want to spend the time and money putting a new carb on if it can't breath without the headers either? What do you think? Thanks... Mike

Any of the long time veterans correct me if I am wrong but yes they are worth it.

Headers can increase under hood temp but make the overall motor run cooer cause its breathing better. Look to any info with regards to high performance upgrades and the first three are always induction, cam and exhaust. Not a rag out there that doesnt say that most cost effective upgrade is good free flowing exhaust. Yes your stock manifolds are way restrictive compared to headers. If you take your time getting a wire loom installed you wont burn any wires. Just do a clean neat job of routing all wires and hoses and your headers will not burn a thing. If your exhaust pipes are stock on that Vette then they as well are restrictive comparded to a bolt on 2 1/2 inch system from say a company like Hooker. On top of the performance gain you will feel with the complete exhaust change, you will get a little better on the fuel mileage.

You mention that your engine is already running hot, that could be one of your problems. How hot does it get? too hot, or overheated engines loose power very quickly, not to mention the potential damage that could occur.
If that's the case I would check the thermostat first and see if it's operating the way it should, and if your radiator is old, you should get it checked to make sure it's not clogged, also, if your water pump has a couple thousand miles check the impeller, I've seen impellers so rusted that half of them was already gone!

Chevytu made a good comment as well. Check the radiator, make sure the whole cooling system is doing good and flushed when it's supposed to be. Also make sure your fan is big enough. Or fans should I say (one pulling and one pushing). Talking about that, I need to get me a darn shroud, my truck doesn't have one and my engine is running a little hot or a bit should I say but not overheating. They are pricey though, any idea's where to get one? I was going to make one but by the time I buy the metal, get it bent, etc it wont be worth it anymore.