Big block chevy advice

[montecarlofast]

So Ive finally got my El Camino running, not knowing much about the motor (came in the car when I bought it) its a 454 with stock internals and looks to have been rebuilt (at least the timming chains new, intake manifold is new, and spotless inside, and it doesnt blow any smoke, even after sitting for a long period of time) I am not impressed with its power or torque. So I need more. I have been thinking about doing a different Cam, which means valve springs, lifters and timing chain, But Ive also been looking at like a broadix top end package with heads. I am not scared to do cam and heads although if I could just do a cam and get some better power I would prefer it. Does anyone have any good recipies for power with a Cam Heads and mabye rockers? which cam will be good for the street but not to wild not to idle? Any advice is greatly appreciated

[94 Z28 w/issues]

in case you didn't know, you can do a cam, but if you don't to the mods to support the bigger cam, you won't notice a difference, i.e. you need better flowing heads, intake, carb if you have one, headers and full exhaust, all those mods support a cam, so i would say a whole top end, with cam, and headers and you should feel a substancial difference

[Transamman25]

My best guess is you have a 454 with some smog heads -- total turd - thats whats on my 454 Dually ... which i plan on doing the same Brodix top end kit to add some power

[montecarlofast]

Those Brodix top end packages done include a cam. are you gonna do one? if so which?

[ulakovic22]

What do you want to accomplish with the motor? I make a list of what I want to do and what my goals are. Then I see how much money I have and start knocking shit off the list, lol. I went with a custom cam so I can't comment on an off the shelf grind, but it mainly depends on your goals. For heads I went with RHS heads and Promags for rockers.

[mtperformance]

I know a guy that had a stock bottom end 454 with Edelbrock rpm cam and heads with a 750 dp holley and a 150 shot th400 3600 stall 3.90 gears in a 70 Chevelle it put down very low 11's . And yes it was very streetable .

[SlowAss93LT1]

I have a cam for that thing that would wake it up a lot.

Isky

.565 lift
.280 dur.
110 lope seperation

comes with lifters

NEVER USED!

[BBC SHANE]

hi , im very new to this site (just joined today lol) just thought id comment, ive owned several bbc from 396 to 540 but hands down my favorite was a basicly stock 454 60 over (468) with a set of gm casting#781 (last 3 digits on the cylinder head casting #) with some mild port work /bowl blending and a comp cams nitrous series hydraulic cam and a 125 shot it ran a 6.60 6.70 in the 1/8 in a 3300 77 camaro on pump gas believe it ! those series heads are very common and with some mild port work and a set of 2.19 /1.880 valves REAL #S and make awesome power up to around 6200-6500 , wich is really more than you want to turn that externaly balanced 454 wich are notorious for spinning bearings, the only problem with those heads is the combustion chambers are huge and drop the compression way down , although the can be milled a good bit , but its all according to what you want to do, if you call around and check with any one who knows anything about a big block they ll tell you those heads are real cheap power, and compared to ,brodix "s race rite series and afr s magnum series at 2500 .00 a pair the only thing your really gaining is weight savings also a good cam choice can can improve that cylinder pressure and if you look around several companys are selling 454 crate engines with 8,5-1 copression that 500hp/500ftlb tq just some food for thought hope it helps

[NightTrain66@msn.com]

most aftermarket BB Chevy heads have BIG chambers (119-129 and most are 3-5 cc's larger than they claim) so that kills compression as well as the aluminum losing efficiency in the chamber and making it seem like you lost even more compression.

You need to run an extra point of compression with aluminum to offset the difference in cast irons efficiency.

If you do not have an aftermarket dome type piston, you will want to stay away from most alu heads. I think Edelbrock offers a 110 cc head but most do not offer anything in this range.

As mentioned, the 781/049 castinsg work AWESOME on a street build up (9.5-11.0 to 1) and depending on the pistons in the engine and what cam you duration you are using (related to gear, stall, weight, drivability, etc), you can also get away with some of the old closed chamber heads (063, etc, castings) and buld a REAL TQ MONSTER.

Install some 1.19/1.88 valves and a mild port job with just about any cam and the car will be a beats.

Just make sure and address the compression/heat loss issue when considering heads.

Lloyd

[21BoyzRacing]

I just joined your site so like most things I'm probably a day late and a few dollors short. What was your intentions with this engine? If you plan on mainly street driving with occasional trips to the strip, then I would keep my port volume low. BBC have very large ports which are not always conducive for moving air swiftly. If you want to keep your fuel well atomized, I agree with everyone's thoughts on 781 or equivalent GM heads. Aftermarket aluminum heads that are less than 310 cc (preferrably 290 - 305 cc) intake runners would be best for what you are doing. These heads will help you with low and mid range power output. Many of these heads have a combustion chamber volume of around 113 cc. A set of port 781 heads can provide tons of power in a 468 application.