Thread: Your Thoughts On This Engine In Street-Use?

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I don't know if this is exactly the right place to get asking this question (if not, could you please direct me to another forum?), but I'm looking for some of your "expert" thought on the use of this engine in EVERYDAY street use:





Here's the rundown:

GM 454 H.O. Crate Engine
Add Ons:
825-cfm Mighty Demon
Edelbrock Victor Jr. Intake
Performance Distributors D.U.I.
Vortech Supercharger
Crane Hydraulic-Roller Cam
(230/236 degrees at .050 - .598/.610 intake/exhaust lift)
Crane Hydraulic-Roller Lifters
Crane Valvesprings

Power Output:
779 Horsepower
706 Lb-Ft Torque

Basically, like I said, your thoughts?

Idle quality, etc, etc...

I love this engine, because with the exception of the camshaft, lifters, and springs, it's a bolt together operation that makes ungodly power, should last a long time, and runs on pump gas.

Sounds to me like it would be decent for occasional street use, but driving it every day might be a stretch. Keeping it cool in traffic could be a challenge, plus keeping the tune up fresh would be tough. For dailey street use how much difference are you gonna see between 779 and 650 HP? I'd think you could de tune it some and still get the great visual affect. Could possibly do this with a milder cam, a wastegate on the blower or even different pullies to change the boost.

Pat

Streets,

It does run perfectly well on "regular" premium 91-octane pump gas, as compression is 8.75/1.

I won't get in the throttle unless I "need" to, so the stoplight issue is lost on me.

Earplugs...why? As long as you have an standard-exhaust set up, I don't see why you'd need earplugs.

Stu Cool,

I've had carburetred engines and turbo/supercharged engines, but never a carbureted supercharged engine.

I really don't think it would be that had to keep in tune though (anymore than a standard carbureted setup).

Yes, the power level is ungodly, but with a 3.47 pulley, it's only making 5-7 P.S.I.

...Not trying to bash you guys, seriously though, thank you for even taking the time to reply...

You still said daily driver. Not sure where you plan to do your daily driving but if you encounter any amount of traffic at all, that will be the challenge. Extended low speed operation or long idles will be the tough things to deal with. Keeping it cool and keeping the motor from loading up are the things you will need to plan for. You don't mention what you plan to put it in, or what drivetrain you would have to back it up. I would think that motor would be a kick to drive. If it were mine, I would keep it to cruise week-ends and satruday nights. Driving to work or the grocery store is better suited to a less radical ride.

No bash felt here, you asked for our opinion, you've got mine.

Pat

I can't tell if your looking for opinions or arguments. That much horse is not a daily driver..... It does qualify as a really nice cruiser if you have the other goodies to back the motor up with. My "daily driver" is a rust bucket '85 pickup with 135,000 miles on it, I don't like to have to worry about the common everyday idiots on the road every minute I'm driving. That much horse and trying to lug it around in traffic will kill the motor.

That's too much HP for a daily driver.

Fuel consumption will be through the roof and the heat generated will be really high. Let's not forget that the streets do get wet and it's hard to drive a car with that much HP on wet/icy pavement. Also the carb is a REALLLY bad idea when you are supercharging a daily driver-electronic fuel injection would be the only way to go and even then you better have a lambda style o2 sensor and controller.

Abe

Don't mean to argue with anyone, but...

I'll try to address everything so far:

First off, I think what clouds some of your judgement about this engine in street use is the power it makes, BUT YOU MUST realize that it is not some exotic beast, just a straight-forward GM crate engine with a Vortech that is running low boost pressures and, among other things, a mild camshaft.

Second, I won't be "lugging" the engine around...I put enough faith in myself to drive this thing properly.

Streets, do you have an issue with the compression ratio with the supercharger on this thing and it's ability to run on pump gas? During it's testing phase, this engine has ran beautifully with no detonation on 91-octane pump.

F.N.G, I just can't buy the statement of having too much power...I don't have to be running with my foot in it all the time, just when I "need" it. Heck, I know some who say cars such as the ZO6 Vette and new Ram SRT-10 have too much power...

Also, on wet and icy pavement, I won't be getting into all the power of the engine...that would be kinda ignorant.

Why is the carb. such as bad idea with the supercharger? With the Vortech box inclosure and Demon carb, the engine runs great. Besides "normal" tuning that is required of carberetors, I fail to see where it will take that much more work.

And yes, it will generate a good amount of heat, but as long as you run a good cooling system, I don't see any issues with overheating.

Once again, not trying to bash or start an argument, just playing devils advocate. So far, no one has presented any evidence of this thing not being a very streetable engine for day-in, day-out use.

You asked our opinion but I think instead you want a debate.

Have you ever DAILY driven a car with even so much as 400 HP? Until you drive a 400HP car (that has torque to match the HP) on glare ice or even a freshly wetted asphalt street you will probably not understand why you can't drive a 700HP and 700 ft lb torque engine on the street DAILY.

Abe

Abe,

Debate would work if you would like...

Yes, I have DAILY driven cars/trucks with over 400 horsepower/400lb-ft torque.

You just have to learn good throttle control and realize, at least compared to standard factory cars, that when you barely touch the pedal, you're obviously putting a whole lot more power to the ground, thus giving you a greater chance of wiping out. Don't jump in it, be smooth, and you'll be O.K. If I don't use the 700hp/700lb-ft until I need it, I see no problem.

I guess an easy way to settle this is put the darn motor in a school bus, rip away all you want, if you want to make 700 horse go for it, i dont see how your gonna make this a daily driver no matter what though, it will be a no nonsense race car with that kind of power, plus always remember, things look good on paper but its not always that way. What do you plan on putting this in, what is the torque curve? how do you really ease into a motor if your putting out 500 ft lbs at 2500 rpms? Just all things to consider, but all in all i guess the more horse the better huh? Sounds like a killer motor, anyone would love to have it but If you have the money and are really serious then you have your mind made up, what else do you need? besides a really strong driveline???

You got everything figured out, I say go for it. Send us a picture when you have it done. Or started for that matter

Pat

Oh man.!!!!....Does this mean you guys are'nt going to respond to any of my... debateable...arguementive...narrow minded...deaf eared...and " I already have the answer" questions.????.............I mean..I have a good running engine from a 1953 Sabre jet fighter down in the south forty...Do you think it would make a good commuter car if I duct taped it to a roller skate.????.... ........

lets see here, ya want opinions & ya got some, but ya dont like them.... so here's my question, Y ya asking ????'s when ya got your motor pic off of the CarCraft website
http://www.carcraft.com/carcraft/pro...afr_5094_z.jpg and if it is your motor those folks over at CarCraft should of been able to answer all ur ????'s , personally, ya it may run on the street but you have a hand full, but I think ur just blowin smoke out ur butt & are full of IT , but then thats my own opinion.............joe

I posted here, and not CarCraft because at least according to another board I am on, this is the place to come if you have a question about old cars, engines, and such.

At least in my view, I asked your opinion, because any good opinion is at least backed up with some fact...but no one here can give me any good reason why this thing couldn't be run on the street daily. So far, Streets is the only one who brought up a legitimate issue in regards to this engines ability to run on 91-pump gas...when asked though, he has no evidence to back up his statement, believing that detonation will blow the engine apart.

With that said, I'm sorry I came here and started up all this ruckus...I can get opinion from anywhere, and at least someone thought I could come here and get FACT.

Take care guys.