Thread: 454 Gen V Simple Build

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I'm new to this forum and I think my question will probably be an easy one for those familiar with the gen V 454. I've seen where many have said this engine isn't worth building for performance but I don't want it to be a dragster. The casting number on the block is 10114182. It was pulled from a 1991 RV. I'm just curious as to what kind of power I can expect to get out of it if I change the intake to accept a 4 bbl carb and put a set of headers on it. I may consider a small cam to give it a little lope. I'm wanting to put it in a 1995 SWB GMC pickup. Anyone got some simple answers?

Thanks

Before you do anything, you should know about this...

Clean Air Act....

Motor vehicle engines and off-road vehicles and engines must meet CAA emissions standards. These standards apply to cars, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and engines, generators, farm and construction machines, lawn and garden equipment, marine engines and locomotives. In addition, the composition of fuels used to operate mobile sources, including gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel and blends of these fuels, are also regulated under the CAA.

The CAA prohibits anyone from tampering with an emission control device on a motor vehicle by removing it or making it inoperable prior to or after the sale or delivery to the buyer. A vehicle's emission control system is designed to limit emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles or engines. The penalty for tampering is a $2,500 fine for each such offense.

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Originally Posted by Spicer411

I may consider a small cam to give it a little lope.

A small cam will not lope. You would have to get into more cam than you would need in order to get lope...and more static compression ratio to match with the cam. Any cam you install in a motor is not a stand-alone device, it must be coordinated with all the other systems to operate properly, particularly static compression ratio. The motor you are describing will be a low static compression ratio motor by virtue of the facts that....
1. It is a late model BBC.
2. It came out of an RV.
I wrote this tutorial a few years ago for the Crankshaft Coalition Wiki. It will explain the relationship between cam timing and static compression ratio.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w..._compatibility

With conventional camshafts, lope will begin to show up at around 215-220 degrees intake duration @0.050" tappet lift. Just so you know, lope is simply the sound of the motor being inefficient. It doesn't make the motor fast and all the old guys who know better will just laugh at you because they will know that your motor is slower than it would have been with the stock cam.

Originally Posted by Spicer411

I'm wanting to put it in a 1995 SWB GMC pickup.

Even if you were using all the electronic fuel injection and emissions equipment from the 1991 motor, it would still be illegal because you would be using older emissions equipment in a later model vehicle.

Perhaps one of the other fellows or gals on this forum will help you.

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Spicer411 - I have no idea where Wartburg is, but check your state laws. Since your GMC is 25 years old it may be classified as an antique and exempt from some regulations.

Tech - You are now a fellow Floridian; welcome!

Originally Posted by J. Robinson

Spicer411 - I have no idea where Wartburg is, but check your state laws. Since your GMC is 25 years old it may be classified as an antique and exempt from some regulations.

Tech - You are now a fellow Floridian; welcome!

Yes, and I am planning on attending some of the Electrathon races this coming season. I would appreciate a heads-up of when and where you will be racing. Please see my updated city location.

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Welcome to the forum, it's good to see you here. I'm not one of the bow tie guys but a search on those numbers and I found this, it looks "interesting".. http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums.../t-101197.html

There's a couple guys here that will have a bunch of info for you I think, so stand by and give'em a chance to stop in.

Originally Posted by Spicer411

I'm new to this forum and I think my question will probably be an easy one for those familiar with the gen V 454. I've seen where many have said this engine isn't worth building for performance but I don't want it to be a dragster. The casting number on the block is 10114182. It was pulled from a 1991 RV. I'm just curious as to what kind of power I can expect to get out of it if I change the intake to accept a 4 bbl carb and put a set of headers on it. I may consider a small cam to give it a little lope. I'm wanting to put it in a 1995 SWB GMC pickup. Anyone got some simple answers?

Thanks

The Gen V has it's idiosyncracies, but it is still a great base to start with (the main issue is Head interchangeability-there are a few different Cooling passage designs)-you have to use the correct Head Gaskets with the proper Heads-many of the current Aluminum Head choices have this scienced out, but just be certain to double check as you do it-

The peanut port "style" of heads that generally came on those are great to about 4500 RPM (they make a ton of torque), but for serious performance you'll want to look elsewhere (the Valves are kinda small), however there are some seriously good ones to choose from-

Lots of good reasons to use a Gen V (although, due to the "voodoo" of the Heads (no other reason), people tend to write off the Gen V:

-one piece rear Main Seal (fewer leaks)
-Factory Roller Cam
-priority main oiling
-oil galleys run up higher )so you can grind the Pan rails for more stroke (they can go up to a 4.25" Stroke without grinding, which mean building a 496 is easy-peasy)-
-Oil Cooler Gallies in block (so you can plumb in an Oil
cooler very easily
-4 bolt Mains
-timing cover is different (but it seals better-o ring)
-potential to run a Factory Crank Sensor
and more-


One issue could be that you may have to run an electric Fuel Pump (some Gen V's had a fuel Pump provision, some did not)-

As for HP capability, I know of more than one Gen V making 1200+ HP and living just fine-

Good luck, I have a Gen VI 540 (stroked 502, which is a close cousin of the Gen V), and with an easy tune it is only making 850 (should live forever)-I would not be afraid to race your engine (built properly)-

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Mr. TechInspector1, that was a very informative and helpful article you wrote. So, on an educated guess, what kind of HP and torque could this engine produce with a dual plane intake, a decent carb, and a set of headers?

Hello Mr. Robinson <- Pun Intended :-), Wartburg is west northwest of Knoxville, TN.

35Window, I liked many of the things about the Gen V, especially the price. I guess if others don't want something, it's cheaper for those who do.... supply and demand at work. Anyway, I'm not looking to make a dragster engine, I just want something that'll burn some rubber and set you back in the seat when it hooks up. I'd really like to build it to produce about 400 HP and maybe 450 or 500 ft-lbs of torque. This may not be possible with the configuration the engine has now so I'd like to know if anyone who has built a few of these could enlighten me to what would be necessary to make it into a tire burner.

Thanks for all the replies from everyone!!

Do a google search for peanut port heads. Lots of info out there. They will work for what your trying to do. Most guys with hot street cars don't spin them past 4500 rpm anyway. At least what I've seen.
We just picked up a '90 dually just for the 454. Gonna put it in the kid's Caprice wagon. We've went over the build several times and after a bunch of research we decided to run the peanut port heads. We might not even change cam. Might just throw one of Weiand's 177 blowers on it and be done with it.

Here's similar to what you want to do.

Cheap Big-Block Chevy Engine Build - Car Craft Magazine

image.jpeg
Something like this. Plenty up to 4,000 to 4,500 rpm for a street engine.

MrBigg, I believe you've pointed me in the right direction. That's pretty much exactly what I was wanting to build. Is that your engine in the pic? How much did a blower like that cost? What model vehicle is it in?

Thanks for your time on this.

Your welcome. That's not our engine. Just found it on the web. They are around $3,000. Looks like a full size Chevy truck in the pic.