427 vs 454
#1
Instructor
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427 vs 454
My 50th Anniversary Corvette book, (published in 2003 by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide) says that both the 427 and the 1970 454 have the same bore and stroke, 4.25 x 3.76. It lists the 1971 and later 454 at 4.25 x 4.00. Is this a typo? If not, how could two engines with the same bore and stroke have different displacements?
And of course, which was the better engine?
And of course, which was the better engine?
#2
Safety Car
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C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
2017 C2 of the Year Finalist
My 50th Anniversary Corvette book, (published in 2003 by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide) says that both the 427 and the 1970 454 have the same bore and stroke, 4.25 x 3.76. It lists the 1971 and later 454 at 4.25 x 4.00. Is this a typo? If not, how could two engines with the same bore and stroke have different displacements?
And of course, which was the better engine?
And of course, which was the better engine?
#3
Le Mans Master
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Location: "You may all go to Hell- and I will go to Texas- Davy Crockett
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St. Jude Donor '12
My 50th Anniversary Corvette book, (published in 2003 by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide) says that both the 427 and the 1970 454 have the same bore and stroke, 4.25 x 3.76. It lists the 1971 and later 454 at 4.25 x 4.00. Is this a typo? If not, how could two engines with the same bore and stroke have different displacements?
And of course, which was the better engine?
And of course, which was the better engine?
Others experience may vary.
#4
Le Mans Master
Jim
#7
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(A long, long time ago running C/Stock at the local strip.)
#8
Instructor
Back in 1970 I put a 454 450hp engine into my 64 Coupe. I still have the original receipt from the dealer. Would you believe that the crate motor cost me all of $749.50? Boy, how things have changed. FYI
PS: Stock bearings were junk. If you didn't replace them right off, then you spun them in a heartbeat.
PS: Stock bearings were junk. If you didn't replace them right off, then you spun them in a heartbeat.
#9
A couple of little parts you are leaving out of the equation, the heads and deck height. I know that on the small block, 1970 were the last year of the open chamber heads, but am not sure if that is true for the BB heads or not.
#10
Burning Brakes
It's not only the cu.in. of the engine, but the tranny, rear end ratio and most importantly, the driver that makes a car fast.
I remember my buddies 396 vs. a 454 (both Chevelles). The 396 won. It was easy to see who won, but it was close.
I remember my buddies 396 vs. a 454 (both Chevelles). The 396 won. It was easy to see who won, but it was close.
#11
Team Owner
Generally speaking, the longer the stroke, the higher the torque, and the shorter the stroke, the higher the redline. The 454 is really just a "stroked" 427, so in theory at least, it has higher torque, but lower redline. Just to make things clear, the answer to the question "which is the better engine?" is "it depends". Again speaking theoretically, the 427 would be the "better" engine for road racing, and the 454 would be the "better" engine for drag racing.
#12
Melting Slicks
My experance was even worse. My Friend had a brand new 69 Nova SS396 375HP with turbo hydromatic. First race was with a stock 4 speed 390 Mustang. The Mustang beat us with two on board in the Nova. Needless To say he was embrassed and I was shocked .
#13
Race Director
Oh really? Please explain how these items have anything to do with engine displacement.
#14
Race Director
Generally speaking, the longer the stroke, the higher the torque, and the shorter the stroke, the higher the redline. The 454 is really just a "stroked" 427, so in theory at least, it has higher torque, but lower redline. Just to make things clear, the answer to the question "which is the better engine?" is "it depends". Again speaking theoretically, the 427 would be the "better" engine for road racing, and the 454 would be the "better" engine for drag racing.
#18
I've gotta' disagree with that too based on this: My 69 L88 Corvette is pretty much original drivetrain wise. (see "pretty much" above) So are both my LS6 cars, built to the same level of blueprinting. Although my L88 was delivered from the factory with 4.11 rear, the 1st owner fancied himself a top end racer and put a 3.08 chunk under it. It's never been changed, so that does hurt some with the M22's 2.20 first gear. My LS6 Chevelle has 3.31 and the same transmission and the two are remarkably close from a roll up to about 90 or so where the L88's lighter weight overcomes the gearing. My '69 Camaro has an LS7 crate motor. Granted it DOES have Hooker Super Comps where the other 2 cars have exhaust manifolds and smog pumps, but the Camaro is like a 44 magnum against a 9 MM by comparison with the others. There's also a '68 Biscayne in the mix that was supposed to be a 427/425 clone but somehow all those ole' L88 parts were laying around when the motor went together and it ended up as a first design L88 except it too has cast iron heads. The Camaro, granted lighter, will blister the Biscayne through the gears, even though the Camaro is 3.73 geared and the Biscayne is 4.56.
The old LS7 vs L88 debate has been around a long time. It'll probably go on until all the old guys are dead and everybody else has switched to the new LS stuff.
#20
Le Mans Master
My 50th Anniversary Corvette book, (published in 2003 by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide) says that both the 427 and the 1970 454 have the same bore and stroke, 4.25 x 3.76. It lists the 1971 and later 454 at 4.25 x 4.00. Is this a typo? If not, how could two engines with the same bore and stroke have different displacements?
And of course, which was the better engine?
And of course, which was the better engine?
I always find it interesting that there are always new books about Corvettes, especially old Corvettes, and they often get information wrong. The funny apart is that most are simply copying that information from other books or other previously published sources and yet, they still get things wrong.
As to which is the better engine, obviously the 427. Look at all the $100,000, $200,000, $500,000 Corvettes over the years that were 427s and then check how many were 454s.
The 427 will rev faster than a 454, and due to stroke, can rev higher and keep the same piston speed as the 454. However, at speeds over 7000 rpm, you only have about 10 - 12 hours of life in the rods, which you aren't punished so harshly by the 6500 in the 454.
The 454 is cleaner emissions-wise, so if that is your criteria for better, then the 454 is.
The 454 produces more torque, and on the street stop light grand prix, torque is king.