Performance boost
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Performance boost
I'm hooked on this forum!
I have a 70 454, beautiful and original but she's a bit heavy (ac,ps etc). I can't put her on a diet so I'm thinking of giving a little bit of zip. Can anyone recommend any performance upgrades that won't break the bank but will also keep the car 'original'. I'd like to install the performance upgrade and then one day replace the component with the factory original piece...as if it was never there.
I'm thinking in the lines of a 25-50 hp upgrade ideally. Any Headers that you guys think strongly about? I'm sure you guruz have alot of experience at upping the performance on the big blocks. I'd like to keep the component to under $600 if possible.
Any recommendations?
I have a 70 454, beautiful and original but she's a bit heavy (ac,ps etc). I can't put her on a diet so I'm thinking of giving a little bit of zip. Can anyone recommend any performance upgrades that won't break the bank but will also keep the car 'original'. I'd like to install the performance upgrade and then one day replace the component with the factory original piece...as if it was never there.
I'm thinking in the lines of a 25-50 hp upgrade ideally. Any Headers that you guys think strongly about? I'm sure you guruz have alot of experience at upping the performance on the big blocks. I'd like to keep the component to under $600 if possible.
Any recommendations?
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I would do a compression check. If all is good, new plugs gapped @ .035, New wires, new quality points, set dwell, cap, rotor, Performance distributor recurve, Air filter, fine tune carb. There is your 50 HP upgrade, seriously, for under $100 and no removal or replacement of parts needed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Make sure the throttle cable is rotating the carburetor shaft completely open. If not, try carefully bending the accelerator pedal linkage underneath the dash. After 42 years of mashing the pedal to the floor, most (if not all) have suffered the same fate. If you ain't so lucky with this quick (and cheap fix)...better develop a plan B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
Electronic ignition - pertronix, hotter coil, better wires.
Headers, $600 is kind of low because if you do the headers without upgrading the rest of the exhaust it's kind of a waste - that said, you could get 100 hp at the motor, but if the exhaust is choking it, you'll never know except that you'll be getting worse mileage.
I like Hooker side pipes, but those start at 800.
Get the carburetor tuned, it's amazing (to me) the difference you can make by simply doing that - most carbs can make a car run, but age, or poor tuning in the beginning can make huge differences in how it runs.
These guys http://www.fastraces.org/ are amazing at what they get out of their cars.... follow a few of them and use their tricks (the ones they're willing to talk about)
Headers, $600 is kind of low because if you do the headers without upgrading the rest of the exhaust it's kind of a waste - that said, you could get 100 hp at the motor, but if the exhaust is choking it, you'll never know except that you'll be getting worse mileage.
I like Hooker side pipes, but those start at 800.
Get the carburetor tuned, it's amazing (to me) the difference you can make by simply doing that - most carbs can make a car run, but age, or poor tuning in the beginning can make huge differences in how it runs.
These guys http://www.fastraces.org/ are amazing at what they get out of their cars.... follow a few of them and use their tricks (the ones they're willing to talk about)
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Headers way worth it dont think anyone would cry over that if they bought the car.
Id give some heavy work to the heads+ a cam/intake (paint it to look stock) then go have fun. Lotsa power on tap while looking factory
Id give some heavy work to the heads+ a cam/intake (paint it to look stock) then go have fun. Lotsa power on tap while looking factory
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 285
Likes: 36
From: Cedar Park TX
Absolutely start with what they all said. Most cars do not get all the attention they deserve, and are not “dialed” in. Fine tune the carb, check or replace the ignition to put out more spark. Seal all leaks, exhaust, intake, fluids etc. Once you get what you have at it optimum level, you should have saved a little to get the next step.
Let it breathe, baby! Intake – Exhaust upgrades.
Let it breathe, baby! Intake – Exhaust upgrades.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
I would do a compression check. If all is good, new plugs gapped @ .035, New wires, new quality points, set dwell, cap, rotor, Performance distributor recurve, Air filter, fine tune carb. There is your 50 HP upgrade, seriously, for under $100 and no removal or replacement of parts needed.
If you could install a slightly taller than stock filter, that would improve things as well. To determine how much "headroom" you have, get some plumbers putty. Roll some into some small cylinders (maybe 3/8" or 5/16" in diameter) and stand them on top of your existing air cleaner in two or three places. Carefully close the hood and reopen it to check your clearance. I was able to install a filter that was almost 3/4" taller than stock on my '74 smallblock.
A taller filter will require a longer holddown stud. It's 1/4 - 20 thread.
