'74 454 acceleration... hesitation?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
'74 454 acceleration... hesitation?
I looked at an extremely nice '74 yesterday, NCRS stock everything with a 454 ci bored .40 over, automatic. Everything in the engine compartment and on the drivetrain looked pristine. Drove it in consideration of buying it.
When I punched the gas to the floor, I expected a kick, but instead got a 1 or 2 second hesitation (very slow acceleration) followed by a moderate acceleration. I hope I don't offend anyone here, but is this normal for a carb engine--even a 454? If so, can one get it to really kick and accelerate with newer parts--carb, ignition, etc.?
Thanks very much in advance. (Formerly drove a FI engine, LT1 with mods, that was very quick.)
When I punched the gas to the floor, I expected a kick, but instead got a 1 or 2 second hesitation (very slow acceleration) followed by a moderate acceleration. I hope I don't offend anyone here, but is this normal for a carb engine--even a 454? If so, can one get it to really kick and accelerate with newer parts--carb, ignition, etc.?
Thanks very much in advance. (Formerly drove a FI engine, LT1 with mods, that was very quick.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
or the secondaries are opening up too soon
accellerator pump
timing
probably just needs a good tune up
my 72 454 with a square bore speed demon will light the tires up at part throttle with no lag but it took someone that knew what they were doing to look at the engine and tune it.
accellerator pump
timing
probably just needs a good tune up
my 72 454 with a square bore speed demon will light the tires up at part throttle with no lag but it took someone that knew what they were doing to look at the engine and tune it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
Thanks very much for the great inputs. I don't know enough about carbed engines at this point to figure it out myself.
The car seemed to purr along at 50-60 mph nicely. No backfires during decel or anything like that. Pretty smooth at speed, just the initial hesitation and only moderate acceleration.
The engine had some work in the 90's. Ground cam, bored .40 over, pistons, and rr's installed. Wires were 2-3 years old. Looking down the carb it looked fairly clean.
I was up at my brother's near Detroit when looking at it, so it isn't convenient to see again. Sure was a beauty, though, otherwise.... top to bottom.
Ya think with a little work it has potential to kick some bootie when punching the accelerator thus putting a WIDE smile on someone's face again?
The car seemed to purr along at 50-60 mph nicely. No backfires during decel or anything like that. Pretty smooth at speed, just the initial hesitation and only moderate acceleration.
The engine had some work in the 90's. Ground cam, bored .40 over, pistons, and rr's installed. Wires were 2-3 years old. Looking down the carb it looked fairly clean.
I was up at my brother's near Detroit when looking at it, so it isn't convenient to see again. Sure was a beauty, though, otherwise.... top to bottom.
Ya think with a little work it has potential to kick some bootie when punching the accelerator thus putting a WIDE smile on someone's face again?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
most importantly check your timing
the stock distributer on the 454 BBs will not allow the timing necessary for good power without a spring change.
recurve it so that it is making 36 degrees with no vacuum at 3000 rpms
you will notice a big difference right there
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
absolutly, i remember when i first got mine running well enough to spin em from a stop. it was very nice
most importantly check your timing
the stock distributer on the 454 BBs will not allow the timing necessary for good power without a spring change.
recurve it so that it is making 36 degrees with no vacuum at 3000 rpms
you will notice a big difference right there
most importantly check your timing
the stock distributer on the 454 BBs will not allow the timing necessary for good power without a spring change.
recurve it so that it is making 36 degrees with no vacuum at 3000 rpms
you will notice a big difference right there
