Big Block combo advice
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Big Block combo advice
Hey guys, After much thaught and reasoning I have decided that a Big Block is the way to go. The problem is I'm not very versed on BB parts and what to look for like blocks, cranks and heads. I want to build the motor myself so a crate motor is out of the question. I want the motor to have good torque and power but still remain streetable. I would love to hear some combinations including head typse(cast #'s etc.), cam profiles, pistons, intakes, etc. Also is there any printed books that I should invest in? I want to stay with a 454 and not the more exotic stroker combos. Thanks for any and all help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 6
From: NC USA
Re: Big Block combo advice (wadew10)
You may want to start with this website so that you can id the parts you want or find:
http://www.nastyz28.com/bbcmenu.html#intake
I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions. Good luck and good hunting! :cheers:
http://www.nastyz28.com/bbcmenu.html#intake
I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions. Good luck and good hunting! :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Big Block combo advice (wadew10)
Wade
Upgrade sus. to 77 FE-7. Heads 049 or 781. Al. intake rec., Edel. Torker fits under hood. L-88 hood needed for taller intakes.
Manual or auto.?- needed for cam.
:cool:
Upgrade sus. to 77 FE-7. Heads 049 or 781. Al. intake rec., Edel. Torker fits under hood. L-88 hood needed for taller intakes.
Manual or auto.?- needed for cam.
:cool:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Re: Big Block combo advice (Ganey)
Hey Ganey,
I am already upgrading the suspension to the VB street slalom with the 550 springs. I'm almost finished with this job. I am going to be running a 4spd for now with a later upgrade to an overdrive. The gear that I installed is a 3:70. Wouldn't I be better off for a street car to use oval port heads and a Performer style intake? I always heard that the ovals give you better low end torque and the D ports are designed more for higher rpm's. :cheers:
I am already upgrading the suspension to the VB street slalom with the 550 springs. I'm almost finished with this job. I am going to be running a 4spd for now with a later upgrade to an overdrive. The gear that I installed is a 3:70. Wouldn't I be better off for a street car to use oval port heads and a Performer style intake? I always heard that the ovals give you better low end torque and the D ports are designed more for higher rpm's. :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Big Block combo advice (wadew10)
Wade
Sounds good.
Yes to both. There are hood clearance issues w/ higher than stock intakes. Med. rise 73-79 hood rec. if not L-88 hood. Comp Cams XE274 if you drive hard.
:cool:
Sounds good.
Yes to both. There are hood clearance issues w/ higher than stock intakes. Med. rise 73-79 hood rec. if not L-88 hood. Comp Cams XE274 if you drive hard.
:cool:
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 446
Likes: 62
From: Sugar Land Texas
Re: Big Block combo advice (wadew10)
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. I HAVE JUST REMOVED MY 496" HIGH PERFORMANCE MOTOR AND AM GOING WITH A 454 COMBO. I AM ALSO REPLACING MY CURRENT 700 R4 TRANSMISSION WITH A TREMEC 6 SPEED AFTERMARKET T-56 FROM FORTE'S PARTS. THE 454 CAME FROM A 1990 SS-454 TRUCK: 4 BOLT BLOCK, CAST CRANK AND 9.6/1 KB HYPEREUTECTIC PISTIONS. THE CAM I CHOSE IS A COMP CAMS BASELINE TURBO CAM, AS I INTEND TO TURBOCHARGE THE MOTOR. I HAVE GM PERFORMANCE PARTS ALUMINUM OVAL PORT HEADS #12363390. THESE HEADS HAVE LARGER INTAKE VALVES AND THE SEAT PRESSURE IS 140#, GOOD FOR HYDRAULIC ROLLER CAMS, BUT A LITTLE TO STRONG FOR STANDARD HYDRUALIC CAMS, SO YOU WOULD NEED TO REMOVE SHIMS OR INSTALL +.050 STEM LOCKS. IF I HAD GONE WITH A STANDARD STREET CAM, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE CHEVY CAM #12353922. GOOD TORQUE, STREETABLE AND GOOD CRUISE RPM. LASTLY, I INSTALLED THE FULL VB SUSPENSION SYSTEM ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. I BROKE THE BACK SPRING AND REPLACED IT WITH A TRW UNIT, OTHERWISE THE SUSPENSION IS GREAT, TUNABLE AND A JOY TO GO CORNERING WITH. I DON'T REALLY DRAG RACE THE CAR, JUST LIKE THE POWER AND WINDING ROADS. MY REAR END IS A 3:55 AND I RUN 255 ZR1-16 BF GOODRICH TIRES. THERE ARE LOCAL GM WEBSITES EVERYWHERE BUT THE ONE I USED IN TEXAS IS: http://www.sdpc2000.com
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Ft Walton Bch FL
Re: Big Block combo advice (wadew10)
Ganey's advice on a cam is good. Big blocks breath very well, and need the cam to do it. Also, I think World Products is offering the oval port Merlin heads in aluminum now to save a little weight and buy some detonation protection.
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,847
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Re: Big Block combo advice (dually4wd)
wadew10 - Great info by Ganey & others. Just want to make one small point. Trying to use oval ports just to gain additional low end torque doesn't make much sense. Big blocks have so much torque to begin with that traction will be a much larger concern for you. WP does make both rect & oval in aluminum - you can see lots of pix of the Grumpy Jenkins jobbers on my site. Basically just assess the rpm needs & let that dictate whether you use oval or rect. For the street rect are pretty useless, but then most mods on my car are pretty useless ;)
