Engine Delima
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis IN
Engine Delima
Ok, my stock 73 454 was rebuilt a few years ago and has about 8K miles on the rebuild. Since this is the case I was considering leaving the bottom end alone to save $$$ and work from there. My stock compression ratio is listed at 8.25:1 Here are the 2 options I'm considering.
1. Go with the small chamber Edelbrock aluminum heads at $1600.00 for the pair. This would give me good heads and a compression ratio of about 9.2:1. Then add the cam, intake, etc.
2. Go with the existing heads instead of the Edelbrock heads and have them reworked with bigger valves, better springs, street port/polish. Put the $1,000 I save towards a new bottom end with better pistons and rods and get the comp ratio to about 10:1. Then add the Intake, Cam, etc.
So those are my choices and they're tough. I'm leaning towards option 1 because I think it should give me over 400 HP and save a few $$. If the bottom end goes bad in a few years then I can deal with it and upgrade it all at that time.
Any opinions? I'm not asking too much from my stock bottom end as far as I know.
Thanks in advance
[Modified by blunsford, 1:14 AM 10/4/2003]
1. Go with the small chamber Edelbrock aluminum heads at $1600.00 for the pair. This would give me good heads and a compression ratio of about 9.2:1. Then add the cam, intake, etc.
2. Go with the existing heads instead of the Edelbrock heads and have them reworked with bigger valves, better springs, street port/polish. Put the $1,000 I save towards a new bottom end with better pistons and rods and get the comp ratio to about 10:1. Then add the Intake, Cam, etc.
So those are my choices and they're tough. I'm leaning towards option 1 because I think it should give me over 400 HP and save a few $$. If the bottom end goes bad in a few years then I can deal with it and upgrade it all at that time.
Any opinions? I'm not asking too much from my stock bottom end as far as I know.
Thanks in advance
[Modified by blunsford, 1:14 AM 10/4/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Re: Engine Delima (blunsford)
Best bang for your buck, new heads and use a steel shim head gasket and compression will be closer to 10:1 now you need new cam :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Engine Delima (blunsford)
Unless you have doubts about the quality of the bottom end assembly, leave it alone. Compression ratio alone is not going to net you that much power. I like your first suggestion. 9:1 is a nice, safe compression ratio to have. Good for pump fuel, and it's not going to rob you of horsepower.
:cheers:
:cheers:
