Thread: 454 build for a 70 Camaro L78 car

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I received a couple of 454's and some new parts for one of them as trade I did on work to a Dodge Ram. I happen to have a 70 RS/SS Camaro roller that is a L78 car. I had recently aquired a 72 402 for it but I have been thinking of using this 454 stuff and putting the car together as a day 2 muscle car. Here is what I have currently.

454 14015445 4 bolt block

336781 heads oval open port 118cc chamber 256/114cc ports 2.06/1.72 valve sizes
If the heads check out alright I was thinking of having the bowls blended and I could smooth out the ports/polish them to help a little.

Sealed Power new pistons H693CP

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/slp-h693cp/

With these pistons and heads, according to the compression ratio calculator, if I used a .040 thick head gasket, it would net 9.94:1 compression.

New Scat connecting rods 2-ICR6135

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sca-26135/overview/

A new 11-213-3 cam

https://www.compcams.com/magnum-oval...k-396-454.html

New HT-817 lifters

New 924-16 valve springs

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-924-16

New locks and retainers 612-16 741-16

New SBI 5/16" 192-1338 and 192-1339 push rods
9.200" Length Exhaust
8.230" Length Intake
5/16" 0.312" Outside Diameter
0.060" Wall Thickness
Welded Ball Tips With Oil Holes

I have an oval port Weiand 5981 tunnel ram lower with a 1933 weiand single carb upper or an Edelbrock RPM air gap 7562 rectangle port intake to choose from.

I'd probably go with some roller rockers, a good double roller timing chain, and a melling oil pump. I have a HEI distributor for it too.

What kind of power could this set up make? Would those pistons take small amounts of nitrous if it is an option later? This car will get a 4 speed and my Hurst Ram Rod shifter and will just be a toy. I'd like to take it to the track and play so the kids can get the race track experience. I'm open to changing things to make it all work. I have been out of the BBC game for a long time and would like to have a good usable combo on a budget the first time. I haven't taken the block to the machine shop yet but plan to soon.

I've always enjoyed spending someone else's money, I know a hydraulic roller is more money, and so is the retrofit kit for your block, but I sure do like the way the right hydraulic roller works in an engine! I ran those same 781 heads on a 427 a couple decades back, with a bit of port work they do wake right up! If I recall, Mike (my machinist pal for 50 years) spent a bunch of time on the exhaust ports and a bit of match porting to a Weiand oval port intake. Just my ideas on how to spend your bucks!!!

I just might do a roller cam if I can swing it but there is a hemi that could use a roller cam first. Thanks for the reply Dave!

Glad to contribute, these days I've been selling my two cents worth at half price! PS an old hemi or a new hemi? I keep dreaming that my '57 Chebbie needs a hemi in it should you trip over any old 392's at an affordable price. Oh yeah, the 427 I mentioned was in a '72 Nova, ran low to mid 11's and was a super consistent bracket car for a couple seasons, the 427 did just a touch over 500 horse on the dyno (engine dyno) and was hooked to a Doug Nash 5 speed with a 9" rear if that helps you with any kind of base to guesstimate the horsepressure on your 454.

Thanks Dave. The HP calculators I've used say the 454 should be around 495hp. That will have to work. I'm going to actually try to put very little money into it. I know good luck with that. The Hemi is a 354 and in my 40 Ford. If I see any 392 deals I will let you know. I know where 3 331s are but they are extended bells I'm pretty certain.

A yard by me has a pile of older hemi's literally a pile of them he won't turn loose of any I have been trying for over 10 years.

Originally Posted by cffisher

A yard by me has a pile of older hemi's literally a pile of them he won't turn loose of any I have been trying for over 10 years.

Wouldn't you just love to apply a good piece of hickory to the side of his head?
.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I know where 3 331s are but they are extended bells I'm pretty certain.

I'm pretty sure that Chrysler didn't produce a separate bell until the '56 354.
.

While NTFDAY is working on my desktop computer and tuning it up, I am laboring away on this POS laptop. I have worked for hours on giving you a proper response on this 454 that you are planning to build and have gotten close to posting twice now, only to have my response disappear into the cosmos somewhere. Maybe I can sneak a quicky in here. Wrong cam for 10.0:1. Needs intake duration 222 to 226. Wrong cam for hot rod BBC. They do not like flat tappet cams with increased spring pressure. Use a retrofit roller cam. Possibly wrong pistons depending on PISTON DECK HEIGHT. Have you measured the BLOCK DECK HEIGHT?

Thanks Tech! I haven't measured it yet. I still haven't taken the short block apart to take it to the machine shop yet either. I got all of these parts in a package deal and was going to use them. But if they don't work together I will make changes. I was hoping to use the stuff and not spend a bunch of money for a change but we all know how that goes.

The question is whether you want that much weight in the front of a Camaro. I would not. A Chevy Big Block weighs in at around 768 lbs with cast iron heads. That is a lot of weight in the front of a performance car like a Camaro. I love my Big Blocks I have owned, but they have always been in 3/4 ton trucks, not performance cars. If you want power you could build yourself a great powerful motor and use any forced induction you wanted with a Small Block. Or just buy a crate motor small block from Chevy/GM Performance.

deleted...

Originally Posted by The Heater

The question is whether you want that much weight in the front of a Camaro. I would not. A Chevy Big Block weighs in at around 768 lbs with cast iron heads. That is a lot of weight in the front of a performance car like a Camaro. I love my Big Blocks I have owned, but they have always been in 3/4 ton trucks, not performance cars. If you want power you could build yourself a great powerful motor and use any forced induction you wanted with a Small Block. Or just buy a crate motor small block from Chevy/GM Performance.

The car came from the factory as a 375hp SS 396 so going small block is sacrilege imo. Besides, I like the look of a big block. I already have a Camaro with a LS, and have no need to buy SBC stuff. Haha

Originally Posted by The Heater

The question is whether you want that much weight in the front of a Camaro. I would not. A Chevy Big Block weighs in at around 768 lbs with cast iron heads. That is a lot of weight in the front of a performance car like a Camaro. I love my Big Blocks I have owned, but they have always been in 3/4 ton trucks, not performance cars. If you want power you could build yourself a great powerful motor and use any forced induction you wanted with a Small Block. Or just buy a crate motor small block from Chevy/GM Performance.

Gee, I guess the fellows who drag race big block Camaro's have had it wrong all of these years. Go elsewhere troll.