Stock 454 rebuild
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Stock 454 rebuild
Hello. Just picked up a '70 LS5 with its original 454, matching #'s. I'm more a performance guy than refurb matching # guy. Thinking of going with a roller cam and rockers, electronic ignition, rework original heads or maybe go with a set of aluminum heads, aluminum intake, headers??, rebuidling the original Qjet, and installing a 700R4. Would like to make 400 hp to the rear wheels but still a driver. ANy thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
No need to go to the expense of roller cam and rockers for this. A 454 with reworked stock heads and a healthy cam good intake and a performance carb with headers and good exhaust will give you an easy 400 RWHP. Go to a roller cam and big heads and intake and carb to match and 500RWHP should be obtainable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
not to hijack the post, but I too would like to have a 400 RWHP from my '71 LS5. what kind of intake, carb combination will get me there?? is a torker II and a perfomer carb from edelbrock will do it?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
if you have your stock bigblock hood your intake choices are very limited either stock or torker. I have read where the factory manifold actually does pretty well. the torker will limit low end power. I used my stock manifold. good luck 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
You will need more than just an intake and carb to get your there. The heads could use some clean up work and you will need to put in a bigger cam. Headers and a good exhaust will make it breathe better also.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
With Gordon. Def do the roller cam a good valve job and at least some pocket porting.
Not many do iron heads so someone that knows what they are doing may charge $$
I pulled some iron heads off a friends 454s and worked over a set of afr 290s...he was stunned at the difference. Its a tubbed 31 bread truck and lifts the tires with minimal throttle just screwing around in a parking lot lol
Couldnt talk him into a roller as hes in love with a healthy HFT that runs good so we had AFR put some FT Pac springs on. Car is fast enough I guess
Not many do iron heads so someone that knows what they are doing may charge $$
I pulled some iron heads off a friends 454s and worked over a set of afr 290s...he was stunned at the difference. Its a tubbed 31 bread truck and lifts the tires with minimal throttle just screwing around in a parking lot lol
Couldnt talk him into a roller as hes in love with a healthy HFT that runs good so we had AFR put some FT Pac springs on. Car is fast enough I guess
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