'74 454 Engine Upgrades IDEAS NEEDED
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
'74 454 Engine Upgrades IDEAS NEEDED
I just purchased an 74 Big block 454 to go along with my 03 pace car.
I'd like to open up the engine some and would appricate any and all ideas you guys (and gals) might have for me.
they can range from inexspensive to fairly priced. I'd like to maintain the value of the car (have been told headers and straight pipe and Dynomax mufflers would actualy hurt that) so any discussion or help would be appricated.
I'm trying to target 400 HP, but if it were to exceed that I wouldn't mind!
Thanks!
I'd like to open up the engine some and would appricate any and all ideas you guys (and gals) might have for me.
they can range from inexspensive to fairly priced. I'd like to maintain the value of the car (have been told headers and straight pipe and Dynomax mufflers would actualy hurt that) so any discussion or help would be appricated.
I'm trying to target 400 HP, but if it were to exceed that I wouldn't mind!
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Millersville Maryland
There is an article here written by Zwede that is informative. He breaks down what he has done and it is well documented with dyno results and such. I have a 454 and right know I have only done the Headers and Sidepipe deal. Not really sure if I have a HP gains (probably) but she sounds good. There are a couple of guys here that stayed true to the 454 without dropping Crates that know how to unlock the beast. Be prepared with the $ though.
Last edited by Terrordome; May 25, 2006 at 10:41 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
You have a 270 HP LS4.
Mod it to LS5 spec and you have 365 HP......cam alone should almost do it
Get a set of rectangular port heads on Ebay and 400 HP is easy
For more HP you get into new pistons, dome, carburetor etc. etc.
Then the HP god swallows you whole and you are screwd forever....
Mod it to LS5 spec and you have 365 HP......cam alone should almost do it
Get a set of rectangular port heads on Ebay and 400 HP is easy
For more HP you get into new pistons, dome, carburetor etc. etc.
Then the HP god swallows you whole and you are screwd forever....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
How does a different exhaust system hurt the value of the car? That can be changed back to stock easily. Are you plaaning on selling it? It is your car do with it what you want and who cares what "other" people say about the value. Build it to have fun with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
A cam swap,..maybe Comp's HE-268, some GM Performance aluminum O-port big-valve heads, 10:1 compression, and 2" headers.
I'm a big fan of the smallish cam/biggish heads theory.
Do you wish to keep the cowl hood and cowl induction working? (I like it!). If so, you may be stuck with with the stock intake and q-jet.
I'm currently trying to learn if a Performer will fit,..some say it's an easy fit,..some say it won't.
Regardless, the above will bring you up to about 425 flywheel HP and have enough torque to crack the pavement. And you could paint the alum heads (and Perfromer intake if you use it) that beautiful 'Chevy Engine Orange' and with the q-jet sitting atop, it would look stock as a rock except for the exhaust.
Good luck!
I'm a big fan of the smallish cam/biggish heads theory.
Do you wish to keep the cowl hood and cowl induction working? (I like it!). If so, you may be stuck with with the stock intake and q-jet.
I'm currently trying to learn if a Performer will fit,..some say it's an easy fit,..some say it won't.
Regardless, the above will bring you up to about 425 flywheel HP and have enough torque to crack the pavement. And you could paint the alum heads (and Perfromer intake if you use it) that beautiful 'Chevy Engine Orange' and with the q-jet sitting atop, it would look stock as a rock except for the exhaust.
Good luck!
Last edited by 73, Dark Blue 454; May 25, 2006 at 10:16 PM.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liking these ideas, will be pricing them next week. Thanks for the quick responses. And by all means keep posting if you have new ones
yes I do plan on keeping the cowl and induction if possible.
And the value vs. exhuats upgrades is still going in my head. I have no plans to sell her, but I want to keep her value up out of respect to the car
yes I do plan on keeping the cowl and induction if possible.
And the value vs. exhuats upgrades is still going in my head. I have no plans to sell her, but I want to keep her value up out of respect to the car
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: New York
Originally Posted by Gordonm
How does a different exhaust system hurt the value of the car? That can be changed back to stock easily. Are you plaaning on selling it? It is your car do with it what you want and who cares what "other" people say about the value. Build it to have fun with it.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
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Originally Posted by Pakdaddy87
Where would the easiest place to find these specs be?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=398926
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Joplin Missouri
what I did
I am currentlly rebuilding my 74 454 big block. What I have done is totally rebuid the engine. I tore it down to the block, had it bored over 60 added a 4.25 stroker crank to bring the displacement up to 496. Found a set of cast iron hi-perfomance rect port heads, added new pistons with a dome to bring my comp up to about 10:1. I added a comp cam 284 xtreme cam kit (might be a little big, but it sounded bitchin in the demo). Finally I topped it up with a weiland stealth intake and a holley 800 double pumper. I waned to have some fun with this one and go for about 600 horseys.
