mild 454

[85SBC400]

hey guys, i'm debating on building a mild 454 to go into the 85 chevy. its got a smallblock 400 in it now that i've told ya'll about. and my plans for it.

what do ya'll think of the idea of instead of doing all that to the 400 just building a mild 454 and dropping in there?

[Rodms]

It would run like hell thats for sure but gonna cost more for parts

[1FAST68]

I just built a sbc 400 for a friend that runs 11.80's on pump gas in a 71 swb. The only thing expensive was the heads.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by 85SBC400

hey guys, i'm debating on building a mild 454 to go into the 85 chevy. its got a smallblock 400 in it now that i've told ya'll about. and my plans for it.

what do ya'll think of the idea of instead of doing all that to the 400 just building a mild 454 and dropping in there?

I just built a "mild" 454. Mild was 520 hb and 540 pounds of torque.. 4500 bucks later.. wooot.

[Ford Assassin]

BBC are more money to build, but not a sure huge difference. Plus BBC under hoods are instant respect because of so many SBC normally found.

I like all GM V8's, but BBC are my bread and butter. I'd say go for it.

[85SBC400]

yeah i think it would be cool to have that wow factor too of just saying i have a bbc under the hood lol. street credit lol

now what tranny should i go with behind it? th400?

[Ford Assassin]

Depends on how wild.

I ran a mild TH350 behind my 550+HP 454.

[85SBC400]

well it'll be a nicely built th350 if it'll hold up.....it'll have a manual valvbody and brake. looking for around 550-600 out of the 454. th350 should be able to be built to hold that huh?

[Ford Assassin]

If you are going to run a brake, I'd just go with the TH400. Transbrakes are pretty hard on the trans. Better to build one tranny once and have the piece of mind.

[85SBC400]

what if i didn't go with a brake......i'm going to be running the foot brake class anyways

[71Dragtruck]

A mild 454 won't make 550-600hp.

[85SBC400]

ok well what i mean by mild is basically a head/cam/intake 454

nice dominator carb of some sort

i dont really know much when building a big block if i do it then it'll be a learning experience for sure.

[Super73]

What's yhour budget?

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by 85SBC400

ok well what i mean by mild is basically a head/cam/intake 454

nice dominator carb of some sort

i dont really know much when building a big block if i do it then it'll be a learning experience for sure.

I wouldn't run a dominator on anything making less than 800+HP, even then with a race only setting. Dominators are not the most ideal street carb. A Holley 4150 HP series is more than enough for all but the most serious race engine and can be made to be pretty street friendly.

Building a decent street/strip 454 or 496 is easy enough. GM iron oval port heads with 2.19/1.88 valves and a mild port job on top a 9.5:1 compression 454/496 and decent size cam (like Lunati Voodoo series) and you'll have tons of torque and more horsepower than your tires can handle. 12's are pretty easy at that point.

Don't get wrapped up in the 'bigger is better' problem that lots of folks end up doing. Things like single plain intakes, huge cfm carbs, 2"+ primary headers, 3500+ stall converters, manual valve body trannys, and 4.56+ gears are not needed on anything but the more serious race car/trucks.

[Ford Assassin]

Here is a good example, I ran this 454 in my little Datsun Z car:

Bottom End:

-454, 4 Bolt Block w/ARP Main Studs
-Bored to 4.280" (0.030" overbore), Honed w/Torque plate
-Stock 454, 4.00" Stroke Cast Iron Crankshaft
-Stock Big Block Chevy I-Beam 'TRUCK' Rods w/3/8" ARP Wave-Loc Bolts
-TRW/Speed-Pro L2465F Forged Pistons (25.7cc dome volume) appox 9.5:1 Compression w/119cc Heads
-GM .020" Steel Shim Head Gaskets (Copper-Coated, pre-torqued)
-ARP Head Bolts

Up Top:

-Chevrolet '049' Large Oval Port Heads, 2.19/1.88" S/S Valves, Pocket Ported
-UltraDyne Designed, Lunati Ground 402A2 Solid Flat Tappet Cam: .550"/.570", 272/282 adv dur, 238/248 dur@0.050", 112 LSA and 4* advance ground in
-EDM Oil Pin 0.021" Hole Solid Lifters
-3/8" Chrome-Moly Racing Pushrods
-1.7:1 Crower Stainless Endoro Roller Rockers
-Edelbrock Performer RPM 'Air Gap' Intake Manifold
-Holley 830HP Carb
-HEI Billet Distributor


Tranny/Exhaust:

-TH350 Tranny w/Trans-Go Shift Kit
-ATI Streetmaster 11" 2500 Stall Converter
-Nissan R200 VLSD w/3.45:1 gear ratio
-Ground Control Adjustable Coilover Conversion
-Tokico Struts
-Custom Block Hugger Headers, 2" primaries, 3.5" collectors
-Dual 3" exhaust, Dynomax UltraFlo Race Magnum round mufflers

[85SBC400]

well as far as budget goes, i'm not going to be throwing his together in a few months. i'll run this 406 that is in the truck while i'm building the 454. so i lots of time to be able to piece the engine togither. if it takes me 6 months to get a nice 454 built then it takes me 6 months. i'm willing to wait to make sure i get the right parts and good parts to get it together.

and i dont even have the 454 yet. i'm still trying to scroug one of those up right now.

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by 85SBC400

and i dont even have the 454 yet. i'm still trying to scroug one of those up right now.

I have one.

Too bad you aren't closer.

[chevy72blu]

Originally Posted by Ford Assassin

I ran this 454 in my little Datsun Z car:

PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(sorry for the hijack, but I need to see this)

[joeys66pickup]

X2 on datsun pics(my friends 383ci is a MONSTER)the THING must rule the streets

[85SBC400]

bummer lol

[Ford Assassin]

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/685533

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/M...454_132909.htm

[Super73]

Starting with what you want it in finacially will give a better understanding of what motor/setup to run. That's just me though..

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by 71Dragtruck

A mild 454 won't make 550-600hp.

Mine is considered mild. Its not 540 to the wheels but puts out 540 on the engine dyno.... Thats cast heads to. Not aluminum...

[87Lowrider]

I just finished installing a mild 454 into my '87 SWB.

Here's what it looked like recently;



All the info about the build is in this thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=279281

I don't think it's as BADAZZ as that Z but it's pretty nasty. It's around 450 hp / 500 ft. lbs at the flywheel according to software.



Kenny

[d10s69c10]

i picked up a 85 4 bolt 454 turn key for $500. pretty high miles but im redoing everything and so far my block has checked out.

if you got a motor in the truck and got time just dont rush it and find a good deal and have it rebuilt with some good light Balanced internals. along with you cam intake and Carb, "the toilet bowl isnt nessicary".

i think you will be completely satisfied with results.

Big blocks are about 40% more expensive for all parts across the board. compared to sbc's