Thread: 454 500hp!!!!!!

Tweet

first and foremost thanks guys for viewing my post.
this is the background, i just bought a 454 bbc that came out of a 83 c20 or c30 dually truck, i bought it for really cheap and i will like to throw it into my 1970 chevelle.

i have NO idea about mechanics, or how engines work, all i know is that i will like at least 500 hp out the engine, im not trying to build a dragster or anything like that, i just want a weekend cruiser with a little "humph" at the street light, i need your help because i have no idea what im doing ive never work on any car and i want to get it done right the first time.

so please please if you could guide me in doing this the right directions and maybe if could show me the steps on how i can get this motor to pump out 500 hp, maybe some model numbers & prices i i will greatly appreciated it.

the block i am working with is this.
UBA = 83 ,454 ,from C-20 & C-30 Truck , 230hp ,RPO code LE-8 ,w/Manual Trans , 4-Brl

thanks alot guys i really appreciated.

I'll be very frank with you. Don't take this the wrong way, because folks on this forum like to help. However, think a little about what you're asking for.

First, If you have absolutely no experience with engines or mechanics, then building a 500hp 454 with advice received from a forum on the internet is NOT the way to start. It's like asking someone to tell you how to go from 1st grade to high school in one easy lesson.

Second, you're asking someone to do all of the research for you, and give you all of the instructions for building a pretty complicated project. What are you putting into the project other than writing a question on the internet? Have you bought any books on engine building? There are a couple of very good books on the BB Chevy. How many magazine articles have you read on building engines? They're available everywhere.

I'm always willing to help, but a complete instruction on how to build a 500 hp 454 is really asking for a lot. Some of the responsibility for homework falls on you.

Throw away everything except the block and crankshaft---maybe even get a new stroker crank assemlbly (cost effective) and a new set of aluminum heads, manifold and carb. At the very least you will need all the normal rebuild parts--gaskets, timing set, lifters/valve springs, pistons/rings, bearings----In a rotating assy you will get crank, rods, pistons/rings and bearings, even can be bought balanced---get a set of moderate aluminum heads and manifold and you can have the power your looking for---stay fairly conservative and it will even be drivable on the street

I agree. Great answer Henry!

From reading this and your other post I suggest three different options for you.

1. Find a reputable engine builder in your area and take the motor to them with a list of performance and drivability requirements that you hope to achieve and let them have at it. Write the check and then swap the motor into your Chevelle

2. Set this motor aside and purchase a crate motor with the HP you want. Write the check and then swap the motor into your Chevelle

3. Enroll in an automotive tech series at your local community college and build your motor as a class project. Then you buy the parts and have an instructor and fellow students to help you.

Number 3 will take you the longest, but in the long run it will be the cheapest and give you the most benefit. It will also help you discover if you really want to get into this maddening and addictive hobby. It will also put you in touch with other folks with this interest that you can learn from and hang out with in the future.

Pat

You can buy a book on: How to Build a BigBlockChevy. It might be the place to start. Speedway Motors has them.

Order this book from express-books. It's used, for $2.60 plus $3.99 shipping...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...8173712&sr=1-1

Also this one from TheBookGrove for $9.93 plus $3.99 shipping.....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...8173712&sr=1-2

And this one from EBOOKMAN_COM new for $8.50 plus $3.99 shipping.....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...8173712&sr=1-3

And this one from GOHASTINGS for $4.07 plus $3.99 shipping.....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...8173712&sr=1-4

That'll dial you in on the motor building portion of your project. The following books will explain a lot of the details of installing the motor that you would otherwise have no clue about.....

Used from ONDECKONLINE for $10.00 plus $3.99.....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...8174370&sr=1-1

Used from ROSESEA for $4.95 plus 3.99....single issue mag Car Craft....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...8174529&sr=1-3

Now you'll have $63.99 invested in books that will teach you more than you could possibly get on the internet without spending the rest of your life surfing and asking for help because these are specific to the purpose.

I don't care if you buy all of them or none of them. It's just my suggestion because different authors target different areas and you will get the whole scoop by reading as many authors as you can. That's my best advice, now take it or leave it.

well all these guys are very right but at least u got a big block because its already fairly large cubic inch's so its much easier to get more power. I,ve got confidence in u i've came along way myself. good luck

thanks joe and everybody else for the positive feedback, as for you henry your very much entitled to your 2 cents.
but what strikes me is that its much more gratifying for you to take the time in writing a extremely detailed paragraph with not one bit of useful nor positive information then to just help a fella out, its more satisfying for you to discourage somebody that has no clue on what he is doing but is taking the initiative in teaching himself something that most people in the culture have been doing for a very long time, i bet you have never been the type of guy to be casually strolling by a forum thread or a race track and had something insightful to say.
you rather be pointing out all the bad all negative rather then to lend a hand. but hey whattttever floats your boat.
for your information i have done research, hence the decision to go with a bigger engine then the stock 350 that it came with. have i read or bought books? how about 4. So please dont be so quick to judge somebody just because you might know a thing or about valves & cam's .

1nkred1ble, Henry said right up front he was being frank with you, and did it in a nice way, don't take his advice lightly. While he did not give you mechanical or technical advice, what he gave you was valuable all the same. You said yo had no mechanical knowledge, simply suggested that you need to learn before you start into a project like this. If you wanted to add onto your house would you say, I know nothing about carpentry or framing, but I want to put an 1000 square foot addition onto my house. Can you guys tell me how to do it? Same thing with building an engine. You are about to spend a buncha money, if you don't learn what you are doing it can get even more expensive when you start making mistakes. Most all of the posters suggested you do some learning first. Good luck with your project.

Pat

Well one possibility is making a 496 out of that 454, it is fairly common now to do this. It will make more torque and be easier to make your 500-550 horse. Scat crankshafts sells a nice 496 rotating kit. The block will have to be clearanced though, local machine shop can do that. The other big question is what type of cam, flat tappet or roller. That block was not meant for a roller, so u would need a retrofit roller kit. Those aren't cheap but I have seen them on ebay every once in awhile. Flat tappets seems to be too many problems, I think a roller is much better. Make sure you get the block checked out to make sure it isn't cracked and that the bores are good. It will need to be bored/honed/decked true to the crankshaft centerline. Heads u can use stock iron ones, but they are heavy. I have a very nice pair from a LS-6 1971 Chevelle which I was going to use on my Corvette, but I ended up getting some Merlin 3's aluminum instead. Let me know if u are interested. The heads have been magged and blasted clean but need a valve job. One last thing, keep an eye on your compression ratio. You want to keep it in the 9-9.5 range with iron heads, 9.5-10.5 with alum heads. Generally your pistons and heads will determine this, so careful planning here will pay off. Good luck

496 is a good build to do not to hard i built some .there is many cams i have used many roller cams and that is all i will put in one if you want solid lifter cam abit cheaper then a hyd roller if you want abit of solid valve train sound here one . lift 629/629 @050 intake 246 ex254 on 108 if you have some ch this will make 500 hp there is many cams like i said this cam was one i used in a low buck 496 all iron engine with stock thumb rods and hyper pistons with rework O port heads that i blue printed the block and heads

Let me tell you about a recent experience (like just this past summer) w MY 454. I know the " I wants" only too well. In building my 461 BBC, I used a low milage "Virgin" '73 10:1 Car 2 bolt motor, #7416 steel crank, "Thumb" 3/8 rods, all ARP studs/bolts and 049 heads as a starting point. I had to buy and rebuy several items to get it right and put it in the power range I wanted (which BTW was far less than Orig. planned) In the real world, power costs BIG $$$. Inexperience (outdated really, I am no rookie. BUT I do have dated 30 yo tech/experiance) cost me a few hundred redoing things I screwed up like a couple scored main bearings (avail. only a set). 2 busted compression rings ,wrong cam and timing, wrong compression pistons for todays gas. You see I WANTED 500-550 HP w streetable rough idle, NO loose converters ,A 3:31 gear set and a 3 speed auto w decent mileage and durability AND a Nostalgia look that negated several items that today produce MUCH more power. You cannot have it all ,you have to go one way or another- race or reliable street. After redoing my screw ups. I got an engine that produced 375HP at the rear wheels w torque in the OMG category, pops off 3rd crank , no loading up, a noticeable idle and FUN , not a PIA to drive like the 11:1 ,Demon 950 cfm DP fire breather I had planned. I am ecstatic w it now. In the end an engine that should have cost $2500 for a simple rering cost me almost 4.5K. Just a word to the wise. As to actually building it, call every buddy you know who RACES a BBC ,then call everyone who DRIVES a BBC street car. Ask as many questions as you can think of and then go back and think of a few more. Take everything step by step -SLOWLY checking your clearances carefully several times. I am betting you will have different results until you get used to using the calipers/Mic's right. Time, time, time- take it. Days if necessary (I took 2 months), If you get PO'd and feeling in a hurry.(and you will) Step back a day or so. See my notes on the fender? I kept complete records and details as I was building the engine/car, (Ignore the fuel reg location ,it was just to fire the engine and will be mounted elsewhere perm) Take the above advice it will save you time and money. All of that said. Above all have FUN, it IS a hobby you know.

Originally Posted by 1nkred1ble

thanks joe and everybody else for the positive feedback, as for you henry your very much entitled to your 2 cents.
but what strikes me is that its much more gratifying for you to take the time in writing a extremely detailed paragraph with not one bit of useful nor positive information then to just help a fella out, its more satisfying for you to discourage somebody that has no clue on what he is doing but is taking the initiative in teaching himself something that most people in the culture have been doing for a very long time, i bet you have never been the type of guy to be casually strolling by a forum thread or a race track and had something insightful to say.
you rather be pointing out all the bad all negative rather then to lend a hand. but hey whattttever floats your boat.
for your information i have done research, hence the decision to go with a bigger engine then the stock 350 that it came with. have i read or bought books? how about 4. So please dont be so quick to judge somebody just because you might know a thing or about valves & cam's .

What I advised you to do is exactly what most people with some knowledge of automobile engines and mechanics have done. It's a pretty good idea to advise someone who doesn't know how to swim to be careful about getting in the water over their head. You made no mention that you had done any research at all until your last post, when you also went out of your way to make some assumptions about my character. A little more research on that might have done you some good also. You think I have made 3,455 posts on this site just trashing people out? You also might want to do a little reading on maturity. Good luck . . .

To get 500hp out of an 80s 454 truck engine is going to cost you way more than if you just buy a GM crate engine with 500hp to start with.

But if you have more cash than you know what to do with go for it. The first thing you'll need to do is throw those heads away or save them for boat anchors. Get yourself some good aftermarket heads. Get a complete engine rebuld kit with all forged parts and some high compression pistons. Find a good machine shop and get building.