454 from what???
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 70
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From: Lima, Ohio
454 from what???
Hey all,
I have a 76 and would love to drop a 454 in it. Anywho I've been looking around and online and am wondering which is better. A big block from a low mileage RV or a high mileage from a truck? My thoughts are this: 1. The lower mileage RV worked harder during the short miles 2. The higher mileage ran a lot easier.
Would like to hear some feedback.
Thanks
I have a 76 and would love to drop a 454 in it. Anywho I've been looking around and online and am wondering which is better. A big block from a low mileage RV or a high mileage from a truck? My thoughts are this: 1. The lower mileage RV worked harder during the short miles 2. The higher mileage ran a lot easier.
Would like to hear some feedback.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Hey all,
I have a 76 and would love to drop a 454 in it. Anywho I've been looking around and online and am wondering which is better. A big block from a low mileage RV or a high mileage from a truck? My thoughts are this: 1. The lower mileage RV worked harder during the short miles 2. The higher mileage ran a lot easier.
Would like to hear some feedback.
Thanks
I have a 76 and would love to drop a 454 in it. Anywho I've been looking around and online and am wondering which is better. A big block from a low mileage RV or a high mileage from a truck? My thoughts are this: 1. The lower mileage RV worked harder during the short miles 2. The higher mileage ran a lot easier.
Would like to hear some feedback.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Later model 454's that were installed in both RV's and trucks, (same thing in GM's eyes), mostly have "peanut" port heads. They don't flow worth a hoot but are great for low RPM torque. Early ones had the oval ports that were pretty decent.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,136
From: Shamong, NJ
I would take a low mileage RV engine, over any truck engine (low or high mileage). Most 454 truck engines, come out of stake bodies, dump trucks, etc. Very few 454 truck engines, were installed in private use pick-ups.
Odds are that an RV engine has been maintained better, than most truck engines. RV's are usually owned by individuals, who tend to take care of them, while trucks often belong to companies that don't service them as well, and have multiple people driving them. Drivers of work trucks, often abuse them, and don't care much about servicing them or taking care of them.
I don't think RV engines are worked harder, than an engine in a work truck. Most truck engines are worked just as hard, and probably harder, then an RV engine.
As others have said, which ever you pick, your still dealing with a truck engine. The 70's and 80's 454 truck engines, were designed for low RPM and high torque service, not high performance.
Odds are that an RV engine has been maintained better, than most truck engines. RV's are usually owned by individuals, who tend to take care of them, while trucks often belong to companies that don't service them as well, and have multiple people driving them. Drivers of work trucks, often abuse them, and don't care much about servicing them or taking care of them.
I don't think RV engines are worked harder, than an engine in a work truck. Most truck engines are worked just as hard, and probably harder, then an RV engine.
As others have said, which ever you pick, your still dealing with a truck engine. The 70's and 80's 454 truck engines, were designed for low RPM and high torque service, not high performance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
Likes: 46
From: Crestline CA
Id go RV. Anyone who has owned a RV knows that most of the time they just sit there while trucks are used and abused on a daily basis.
Did anyone read the article in Car Craft a while back where they took a late 70s/early 80s 454, put better heads, head gaskets and head bolts on it and installed 2 turbos...they were up to 1000hp before the fuel pumps couldn't keep up and the thing held together, all OEM bottom end, cast crank,pistons and all.
They did something similar to a LS engine and it came apart around 750hp.
Did anyone read the article in Car Craft a while back where they took a late 70s/early 80s 454, put better heads, head gaskets and head bolts on it and installed 2 turbos...they were up to 1000hp before the fuel pumps couldn't keep up and the thing held together, all OEM bottom end, cast crank,pistons and all.
They did something similar to a LS engine and it came apart around 750hp.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
Did anyone read the article in Car Craft a while back where they took a late 70s/early 80s 454, put better heads, head gaskets and head bolts on it and installed 2 turbos...they were up to 1000hp before the fuel pumps couldn't keep up and the thing held together, all OEM bottom end, cast crank,pistons and all.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...-engine-build/
I found a 454 shortblock on Kijiji (Craigslist) for $150 and built it up,
its not cheap by the time you machine it, new pistons,heads, exhaust etc
