Hey, im going to be building a supercharged 454 BBC. Thinking of putting in Vortec heads anyone hear anything about them? and if you have any suggestions as to what would be best...or better for cams, rockers, etc. Im new to building an engine so any ideas are great!

I can't say I know anything about BBC Vortec heads. I would assume, though, that spending money on them would depend first on what heads you've got, and what it would take to use Vortec heads (assuming they can be used - I don't know one way or the other) vs. plentiful aftermarket BBC heads.

With SC, I assume the benefits of head improvement would be reduced. But, it really depends upon your usage and goals, which you didn't say anything about.

Building for supercharger is more of a Power Adder topic than Engine Swap. But, I don't know if the guys on that forum would be any more help since BBC is not a stock 3rd gen application, nor the typical power adder engine in a 3rd gen.

ahh i see i see. Right now I have the bare block all ready to go. As for the supercharger topic, know of another website that is tailored to bigger torquer engines?

Go ahead and ask on the TGO PA forum, because there are a few BBC SC guys here, and the basic principles will still apply.

I don't think there is anything sneaky about building a blown or turbo engine except for forged internals and the right cam. I'm hoping to do the swap to turbo 454 this spring as well. Maybe we can share info? I'm doing a blown through 650dp 4bbl Holley with a SV480 turbo (hopefully).

you are probably better off building the engine without the vortec heads, as they require a specific intake manifold, plus I don't know for sure if they fit on an older block(assuming thats what you have) due to coolant port differences.

if you just want a nice street package, I can give you info on a couple of engines we built recently.

one engine was a 396, used stock iron heads, comp cams valvetrain, including one of the off the shelf blower grinds (think there are 2, i used the bigger one), and a weiand 177 supercharger. to keep it semi-budgetable, we used the half roller rockers, and a flat tappet camshaft. the compression was about....slightly less than 9:1, if i remember correctly.
the carburetor was an 830 cfm holley that we reworked to boost-referenced power valves.

very streetable, nice idle, the guy claims 'this thing runs like a new car, hit the key, fires right up and runs awesome', so i guess he is happy.

second engine costs a bit more. 454, weiand 177 again. this time, GM perf. parts oval port al heads, zz502 cam, crane retro-fit lifters and valvetrain. again comp cams half rollers. comp ratio is again around 9:1. Demon 850cfm supercharger carb. Let me tell ya, as bad as I hear the demon carbs are, this thing was tuned unbelievably well out of the box. this thing is a screamer, err, was....until the old man overrevved it and broke something. autopsy forthcoming, I think he spun a bearing. This is in a 57 chevy, 4.11 gears and a tko600, with a low first gear, which he was not used to, cuasing him to spin it way too high... Long story, but he started with a used short block against my suggestions, but you can't argue sometimes. I beleive he used this as an excuse to build a 489 shortblock.

i dont mean to thread hack i hope im not quick question i have an old Chevy suburban 1986. well its got the 454 in it that was swaped well pretty much it was used for towing its got the tow p[ackage and **** but like it dont seem like its got nuts for a 454 i mean i cant even break stand!!!! didnt know if there was something done i mean its got power it will pull about anything just no nuts to burn off the tires!!!! didnt know if there was a towing cam or different crank or something please help!!!!1

The problem can be described in 2 words: "peanut heads".

Well actually "peanut port heads"

Small chamber intake ports designed for low rpm torque required for a heavy truck.

Yank those heads off and install an aftermarket head or some 049/781 heads with bigger valves installed. Install a better cam and intake and the engine will then have some potential.

If I were you I would find a set of retangle port heads.Why a turbo and not a pro charger. I have a buddy building me a 454/468 with a pro charger and it will be putting 1400hp to the rear tires in my 70 Nova SS. I couldn't tell you whats he's all done. I just look at it and give him more money. I can ask him about the heads and turbo.

WAKE UP!...just woundering how your build turned out?