I am planning on buying aluminum heads, headers, intake, cam/lifters to increase my HP. I want something that will be VERY driveable yet sound and run strong. The engine has been bored .30 and balanced with hypereutectic pistons. Opinions please

 

You answered your own question. Or do you want specifics things like cam numbers and head models?

 

Yes, I would LOVE some feedback on brands and cam #'s. I want everything to match up. Edelbrock heads??

 

hydraulic roller camshaft from comp cams and pro magnum roller rockers is the way to go with of course alum heads from Air Flow Research. and pick up and Edelbrock intake. IF no power adders run 10 to 1.

 

http://www.airflowresearch.com/

 

BBC use various combos of chamber types (closed, semi-open, open) & volumes ... and piston dome types & sizes ... some combos work; some well, some poorly, some not at all.

You (or any reliable advisor) must first know specifics of your current 454 pistons AND 454 block's current deck height ... if you want good advice.

What are NEW pistons' manufacturer and part number??? ... from that, their compression height, dome volume & dome configuration can be determined. Tip: many pistons have P/N stamped into piston top.

Was the block decked??? (material removed from decks to straighten/level) ... IF decked, HOW MUCH? Tip: can you still read the ORIGINAL stamped numbers from flat stamp pad at right front of block? ... How clearly? ... boldly, faintly, not at all? ... ORIGINAL numbers, NOT restamp.

With known piston specs & deck height ... a proper head chamber ... BOTH chamber type & chamber volume can be determined.

You MUST KNOW this stuff before you make the call to AFR etc.

Once you have have settled on motor's compression ratio and heads' intake port type ... only then do you select cam. Intake manifold choices are limited by C3's hood clearance.

BTW, a close friend of mine has a BRAND NEW, never-installed pair of GM aluminum BBC heads he'll sell reasonably ... not cheap, not high. They're GMPP P/N 12363400, 118cc semi-open chamber, rectangular port, 2.25"I/1.88"E. If your pistons' dome volume ranges +20cc to +30cc, these heads would probably work well on a street 454 (460"); they were purchased for a mild 396 ... probably too much head for mild 396 build. Email me (NO pm) if serious.

 

Thanks for the information. The pistons in the existing block are TRW with a current comp. of 10:1 with 119cc cast heads. Trying to find out the exact type. The block has not been decked. Roller Comp cam and hyd, roller lifters 218-224@.50 with 510 lift.

 

Same spec Comp Cam in my 383 SBC made 454 HP and 480 ft-lbs with AFR heads. Too much fun on the street!! I plan on building a similar combo for the 454 in my '76 Suburban.
Jeff

 

I have a 496ci and use Edelbrock oval port heads, Keith Black hypereutectic pistons yeilding 10:1cr, Summit's most aggressive hydraulic flat tappet cam, a low-rise intake from a vintage '69 427 390hp Vette (I like my LT-1 hood) and Holley's TBI EFI. Stock exhaust manifolds (some trade-offs I'm not ready to make using headers) with 2.5" Summit stainless glass packs forward of the cross member (for resonators) and mid-ninetys LT-1 mufflers with H-pipe at the rear. Lots of mid-range torque and very streetable, has a nice resonance free exhaust note and a slightly rumpity idle. Never been on a dyno but I'm sure some of the veterans of this forum could give a HP estimate, 450hp - 500ft/lbs is my guess.

 

Take a look at my webpage. Should give you some ideas. Only change I wish for mine is some mild popup pistons to raise compression to 10:1 and some Brodix Race Rites. Those 2 changes would have made about 50 hp more without loss of driveability. But since I didn't want to swap pistns I was limited to the Edelbrocks.