Big Block Guys Help!!!!!!!!

[70C10Step]

Okay I picked up a 72/73 454 with Oval port heads. I aslo got a 90 Turbo 400 with the same deal. I paid $400.00 for the package. I am breaking down the engine for a standard rebuild. I have so far a Airgap intake and that is it. I need a camshaft setup fro the street. I will post pics of the engine when I get home. It was pulled because the guy kept hearing a ticking noise. Well that ticking noise was bent push rod and broken rocker arm...

[Dontletitfoolya]

what's the question?.. which camshaft??????? what kind of budget are you working with?.... first and foremost, dont cut any corners... especially with the big blocks, not so much the 454's but the 396/402's were notorious for wiping out camshafts........ my advice... is go roller, hydraulic, probably a 280H or equivalent with about .530 lift.... would be a great setup.... if you want something more radical... in my 402 bbc... i've got a CCA-11-443-8
Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,800-6,100
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 242
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 248
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 242 int./248 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 294
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 300
Advertised Duration: 294 int./300 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.540 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.560 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.540 int./0.560 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 110

and i love it..... these specs would work great with your application and still run power brakes.... very choppy.... sounds awesome.... ....

[webfoot]

Probably a little out of the RPM range of those PP heads with that cam, as well as lacking compression.

[Dontletitfoolya]

yah... i've got dome pistons, and a really nice set of worked heads......10.5:1 compression...

[DieselEater]

GO HERE......


http://www.chevelles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

[webfoot]

Originally Posted by DieselEater

GO HERE......

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

x2!!

Although I'll tell ya right now, with stock PP heads and CR, you are probably looking at not much over stock replacement cam.

[mnunn454]

Maybe I missed some vital detail, but as far as I can tell from the post above, he said he had oval port heads, not peanut port. The head casting numbers cast between the valve spring seats will tell for sure.

If peanut port then definitely a mild RV or truck torque cam. However if they're decent valved oval ports, then personally I'd go a little more agressive on the cam. Plus I'd stay with flat tappet for all but pro-street or racing applications just for cost reasons.

I'm running a Comp Xe262H in my 454Elky. It's right at .500" lift and it's a bit mild for me, but really turns on above 4000 RPMs. The Comp magnum 286 I have in the C10's 454 has a .550" lift and is just right for me, but probably a little too much for use as a stout street cam.

[Billla]

Budget, casting numbers, target HP, rear-end gears...all important things before getting into specifics.

[70C10Step]

Okay here is some more info:
Block Casting: 3999289
Head Casting: 353049

My target horsepower is 500 streetable horsepower!

My budget is about $2000.00 for the engine build. I have already purchased a Edelbrock Airgap intake.

[danzka4u]

Hey did you pull that head yet?

[70C10Step]

Originally Posted by danzka4u

Hey did you pull that head yet?

I am going in the garage right now and pull the heads...

[Yullose]

Plenty of info in this thread.

See post #28.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=270040&page=2

[496stroker1]

2 g's budget for a big block is TIGHT i always start with a figure like that in mind for an engine build but it spirals outta control pretty quick

[DieselEater]

I'm building a 470 now......I'm into it 5 grand, and I haven't even bought a cam, lifters, rockers, or had the machine work and assembly done yet!!!!!

A........

[webfoot]

One of the better open ovals there - still going to want some domed pistons to increase the CR if you want to run a hot cam - combustion chambers are 122 ccs.

The 289 block is s'posed to be a good one too, if you believe the "higher nickel blocks are better" theory. I have the same one. Yours a 2 bolt or 4 bolt main?

[Already Gone]

ttt

[mnunn454]

500 horses sounds very achievable with those parts. A $2000 budget though doesn't. That's $4 per horsepower. A more realistic figure is around $7 to $10 per HP.

If all you do is machine it, use your existing parts and stick pistons and a decent flat tappet cam and springs in it maybe you could get it all done for $2K. That'd net you about 450 HP I'd guess. Heads that breathe well are the key though. Those 049's are decent as is, but some portwork and port matching will help a lot if budget allows.

One of the car mags ran an article called "bumpstick blowout" that compared 3 or 4 different cams on a close to stock 454. Top runner made 550 HP as I recall. Email me and I'll look for it.

Also, don't overlook the nitrous option. Your setup should be able to handle a 100 to 150 shot w'little problem. If you go this way, make sure the rods and rod bolts are top notch though. Nitrous is a reasonable method of cost effectively adding extra power in a BBC up to about 600 HP. Beyond that a few special parts are needed.

Overall though $400 for a great block, great heads and a TH400 tranny is a super bargain. Perhaps the bargain of the month. Nice stocking stuffer.

[Billla]

For $2K you need to make some very hard choices - IMHO, this leaves you with a basic hypereutectic piston overhaul kit from someone like Northern Auto Parts (www.northernautoparts.com) and the machine work to bring it together. If you reuse everything possible...you might just squeak in under $2K or so. The intake probably wasn't a great buy - you spent 10%+ of your budget! Remember there are parts you can upgrade later, like the intake, carb, distributor, etc. - even the cam!

$400 was a great buy, but if you're serious about your budget you need to STOP making any purchases and get your plan together.

Complete the teardown and get everything to the shop to be measured and find out what your options are and what machining is required. Remember to keep EVERYTHING - for example, rockers and balls must be kept together if they're going to be reinstalled together. Talk with the shop about rebuild kits they offer, and compare to the Northern kits. FOCUS on getting the basics, then if you have money left over think about performance upgrades.

90% of the builds I see that end up sitting on the stands forever or on CL for .25 on the dollar are because there was a minimum budget and no planning...

[70C10Step]

Bill,

I have a plan and I wanted your thoughts to make sure my plan was solid. I said 2k because that is how it always starts. I finished a 331 Stroker for my 65 fastback last year and when I was done I had $6500.00 in a 302 smallblock. I am very picky about my builds and the budget will tend to go up as I learn more about Chevy big block engines. I want 500hp for the street and I will build the engine to meet that goal. For now I am replacing the head gasket on the 350 that is in the truck and I will drive it around until my build is complete and my goal is accomplished. Reading your post and others is setting a foundation or vector for my overall plan. This is my first Chevy project and I want to do it right. I sold three old Ford trucks to get to the point where I decided to cross the line and say the hell with my friends and build what I want. Everybody thinks they know what I am going to do next but they do not realize I have big Chevy plans in the works for this truck. I really appreciate your honesty. I am sending the intake and heads over to my buddy in Phoenix who is going to port the heads and then gasket match the heads and intake. Worked great on my 331! So far I have only purchased a Air Gap Intake and Sfi Fluid Damper.

[Billla]

Cool - that really helps. I think I just felt that I had a "keyhole" view and I was getting worried.

Given that you're looking for more flow from the heads we can circle back on the cam choice (does your porter have a flow bench?) - but 500HP from a 454 is more of a choice about where to make the power than how to achieve the target

[70C10Step]

Yes Bob has a flowbench and he will ensure that my combo is correct for what I am trying to accomplish. I think this project is going to come together really nice one I get all the parameters defined.

[70rs/ss]

If he has a flowbench he will tell you what cam to buy. When he does the flow bench test, it'll be at each lift, .100, .200, .300, .400, .500, .600 ect look at the numbers, as long as the flow continues to climb then those heads should flow to that lift. if the flow between .500 and .600 is minimal don't go too much over .500 lift. If you choose a cam without the flow numbers you are guessing at best.

[duane67c-10]

eagle 496 stroker kit! i put it in my 454 with stock oval port heads,9.1 pistons, performer dual plane intake, 288 roller cam and had it bored 030 so it was a 489 ci and it made 494 hp and 548 ft torque.

[70C10Step]

I think your reading my mind!!!

[496stroker1]

hey duane67 any work done on the heads? im doing a 496 right now and gonna use the stock 781's cuz i dont have money for aluminum. what are the specs on your cam? just asking so i know what to expect. my combo is basically same as yours but 496 10:1 srp pistons, comp xe 282 hydraulic cam
ede rpm intake, 850 annular demon and roller rockers. as long as my heads are ok il just re use the valves and bolt em back on. i was kinda hoping for 500 hp