I'm planning on building a 454. I want about 450 to 500hp and forged pistions (So I can run 175 N2O), I wan't to do this as cheap as possible, I'm on a budget. I need to keep enough vaccum for power bakes. Please give me suggestions on what your running also.

 

One easy step:

1. Assemble correctly.

Everybody always wants to do things as cheaply as possible, and is on a budget. How often do you hear "Ummm yeah I want to build a motor, but I'd like to spend somewhat more than I really need to..." Those things mean slightly different things to different people though.

If it's going to be a nitrous motor, build it for nitrous. If you want 500 HP N/A, build it for N/A. There's no such thing as a motor that's optimized for both.

175 HP of nitrous on top of 500 HP N/A is barely noticeable.

Have you ever had a big block before? What's this going in?

 

I like to think that I would notice 175 extra horses no matter how many I already had.

 

I never said that I'm going to do a crappy job, it's just means that I'm on a budget, meaning if I can use the stock crank I will, I do not plan on skimping out on anything. I should have said that.

I want to know some engine combo's using as many stock parts as possible.

Why do you say that 500 horse with 175 N2O is hardly noticable. What do you suggest?

 

450-500 hp should be pretty easy to accomplish out of a 454. You need to put good bolts in your rods, this is the weak link in making big power. I would run some good rods and port some oval port heads, a big nasty cam (solid flat tappet), and some forged pistons. I think the nitrous level you are looking at is very conservative, considering what a properly prepared 454 can handle. Look in the 250-400 range and hold on.

 

Easy enough to get 400 HP with a fairly stock 454 just add a cam and a high flow stock style replacment exhuast system. For even more power a better cam, ported closed chamber heads with real valves, headers, a good intake and a good carb. I have an L88 cam for my 427 but still havent decided to use it yet since I have a couple good cams laying around.

 

Most I'd do is a 250 shot on stock rods. Anything above that, upgrade the rods and might have to o-ring the block and use copper head gaskets. Friend of mine ran a 400 shot on his 440, ran head studs and the heads were still lifting off the block. It's being o-ringed now. Stock rods did hold though (only 2 passes) but he's upgraded to Eagle H-beams. Another friend is running a 454 and has had bottle after bottle of nitrous at the 200 to 250 shot level with zero problems. That's with a stock bottom end with forged Wiseco pistons.

 

What are some cam's that you reccomend? I need the biggest with power brakes and a canister.

Also what years came with oval port heads?

 

You evidently have never had a big block before, or any other large motor with good flow in the heads, or any high HP motor at all.

1 HP per cu. in. is pretty easy. With a 454, that's 450 HP, right there. Anybody that can't build a 1 HP/CID motor, or doesn't know how to, needs to go get some books and read them. It's about as easy as falling off a log.

All years of big blocks came with ovel port heads. All big blocks have oval port heads, except for those very few high-perf motors in the 60s and early 70s that came with square port heads. You don't need or want square port heads for 1 HP/cu in.

For that type of low to moderate HP level you need a cam with about 230-235° .050" intake duration. Some of the ones I've used with good success over the years include Comp's old 280HE and 282S. Both of those work fine with power brakes, even in a little tiny motor like a 396. You can probably even get away with a 294S without too much grief in a 454, and beat the 500 HP mark pretty easy with good head prep.

A good resource for big block cams is UDHarold. I don't think he's at Ultradyne any more. I've heard he's at Lunati but I don't know that for sure. Since I moved away from Memphis a few years ago (where Comp, Lunati, and Ultradyne are all located) I've lost track of him.

 

also remember that there is more to going fast than making that 500 HP. you'll want to take your car to a dyno to figure out what your powerband is and then gear and stall it accordingly so that your shift recovery and launch are right in the sweet spots. gearing can make as much as a second difference. Also things like a 700r4 and 10 bolt will not hold up to a big block, especially one getting traction. I suggest a cheap built th350 and either a 9 bolt (if it's for a third gen, this makes life easy) or a 12 bolt. lighten the car, and do it right, you could see 10s out of a 500 HP BBC car. 400-500 HP is very easy with a BBC. it's not too hard with an SBC actually, and if it came down to it, I'd suggest you do an SBC instead of a BBC

 

Yep, allready got the Th350, I'm rebuilding it now. I havn't decided if I'm gonna keep it or not. Probbbly gonna go with a 9 bolt like you said.

I was looking around and found a compleate 496 4340 rotating assembly for $1800. That with a fogger system would be cool too.

To many choices

 

I'd do the nitrous kit last. you're gonna want to have money for gearing and dyno runs. very rarely will you get it perfect with the first build, there will be things you'll have to tweak and replace. 454s aren't revvers so I'd say work with a 1800-6200 rpm powerband. I've seen 3 454s spin a bearing cause they were overrevved. also since you are putting this in a thirdgen, I'd dedicate some money to beefing up the cooling system to ensure your BBC is running healthy for a long time. lol, again I'd only stick to a BBC if I was shooting for over 800 HP on a budget but it seems like you've already got the stuff you need.

 

by the time you buy a 9 bolt, gears and install kit, along with axles, you could have had a used 9". Dont waste your time on the 9 bolt, especially for the kinda power your talking about, it simply won't last when you start getting traction. Also, if you haven't already built the th350, consider selling it and finding a th400, and build that up. It's a way stronger tranny, and build up parts are cheaper for it.

Eric

 

yea I haven't started the th350 yet, I was thinking about a th400.

 

don't bother with the th400 unless you are making over 800 HP. contrary to idiotic belief, a th350 is cheaper to build than a th400 and is lighter. th400 is stronger when built but if 500 HP is what you want, a built th350 can handle that problem free

I suggest you check out www.9bolt.com
it's a very strong rear end. sure a 9 inch is stronger, but it's also a lot more expensive, requires fabrication to put in, it's heavier, and if you're not going to be making 700 RWHP then don't really bother with it