BBC build ideas?
 

Maybe some of you have ideas on how I should build my engine.
This is my first big block and any help in selecting parts would be appreciated.

The engine is a '77 454 out of a 3/4 ton truck. It is all stock and has never been opened up, it has 100k on it and runs good but I want to go through it and get more power.
It will be going in a 1970 Camaro with a 5 speed behind it. The car will be mostly street driven and may never see the track. But I do tend to have a heavy foot so it needs to be durable. ( I may do a couple open track days on our local road course just for fun)
I'd like to see 450+ hp and 450+ tq. And if possible I want to re use the stock crank and rods unless there is a cost efficient way to stroke it.

Can I reach these levels with the stock heads?
Any thoughts on which cam? Heads? Intake?

Thanks for any help,
Eric:cheers:

I'd definitely go with a new set of heads. If you don't want to spend big money, you can go with a Dart Iron Eagle. A roller camshaft is a must, and I would go mechanical if I had to do it all over again. I would also run a scavenging plate and quality oil pan with baffling. Edelbrock air gap will work well. If the crankshaft needs turned and the cylinder need bored(probably will with that many miles) might as well stroke it to 489-496. You then have a square motor. Meaning bore and stroke very similar.

Thanks Todd,
What don't you like about your hydraulic cam? (I'm assuming that's what you are running based on your post)
And is there a crank manufacturer that you reccomend? Do I need to step up to a forged crank at the 450-500 hp levels?
Eric

I would recomend doing some research over on chevelles.com. They are the big block masters with a lot of very knowledgeable builders on the forum. Mike Lewis at lewis Racing Engines is a regular poster and if pretty much the man when it comes to building stout big blocks. You can find pretty much any combination you would want already built and tested on there.

It's not that I don't like it, I just know I could be making another 40-50 horse with no less engine vacuum and few adjustments. Mechanical cams have more agressive ramps. I would have to agree with Morris that the guys on Chevelles.com are probably your best bet for research.

We have been using a lot of the Trick Flow Ovals on our big blocks. They make killer low end grunt and nice power to low 6000 RPM range. And they are priced real reasonable.

We are using them on a 540 were building right now and looking for killer torque numbers.

We have these on the shelf.

I've been looking at chevelles.com and am about to register as a member there. I'll have to lay low on the car I own, only have a Camaro LOL! Kidding!
I will get in touch with Mike Lewis and try and put a build plan together.

I checked Summit for the Dart heads and they run about 1600.00 for the pair. That is assembled including guide plates. Is this a decent price on these?
I also looked at Scat cranks, forged are only around 700.00 and cast are under 300.00. Do I need a forged crank at the 450-500 hp level?

Thanks again for the help here guys.
Eric:cheers:

PS Todd, what kind of hp and tq are you getting? and where does it come on (rpm range)? If you are happy with yours for street use maybe I could talk you into sharing the specs on it and I could do something similar?

Very well documented. https://lateral-g.net/forums/show...k+hits+chassis Had 593hp and 587 lbft at the crank.

Thanks Todd. I'll check it out.
Frank, thank you too. PM sent on those heads.

Thanks everyone for the input. I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg for questions on this subject.:cheers:

A lot of the BBC chevelle guys are runnign AFR heads with fantastic results. I have 335's on my 540 just to reduce the low end torque a little for more driveabilty but it still made 525ft-lbs at 3000RPM. It ended up making 680ft-lbs at about 5500 and 750HP at 6800. With the solid roller I spin it to 7500RPM easily.