Thread: need advice

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I have a 454 out of a 1977 GMC high sierra. It has a turbo 400 behind it and i'm putting it in a 1977 Monte carlo with 3.73 posi rear end. I'm keeping the stock pistons since the engine only had 90,000 miles on it and they look good. also keeping stock head (going to have them port and polished). Carb will be a q-jet (don't laugh i have a guy that worked for GM that says he can rebuild and adjust it so there will be no hesitation off the line). The trans has 1000 miles on it and i'm putting in a b&m shift kit. Also adding headers. what i want to know is this. What size cam can i put in it with out adding a high stall converter? can i put in a hydrolic cam? roller rockers? I'm looking for idle to 5000rpm power. This is a summer driven only car. i take it to car shows up to 100miles away. some have drag races the night before the shows and i'd like to not look to slow. thanks for any advice. oh and i'm not doing the work my buddy is and i just want to check prices. thanks.

Hey Leonard,
Sorry I can't help you on your questions but welcome to the site. I grew up in Evansdale and spent many nights cruising University on Friday nights. Do you belong to the Blackhawk County Street Machine Club? My dad belongs to it and am good friends with a couple of other people in the club.

For what you're doing I'd use an Edelbrock part #2162 cam and lifter kit. Should give you prenty of low end grunt right in the operating range you're looking for. Stock rockers will work fine.

Might want to check the piston to wall clearance on the block...at 90,000 miles the pistons could be a bit loose in the bores for proper ring sealing.... When you pick the cam and convertor some consideration should also be given to the total vehicle weight....

you can put a hyd roller in it .thats the only way to go .less you feel very lucky .i build many bbc its hyd roller or solid roller only for the bbc engine .but as a engine builder i not going to warranty a flat lifter cam in a bbc. i have seen way to many fail in the last 28 years of working on them.the engine you have has a low CR and small heads so a Rv cam is what you want gear for TQ and go from there. if you do not need a block mounted fule pump . then a GM take out cam Gm #12551622 .483lift 224@050 on 115 will work .this is a mark 5/6 cam but will work in older block with the right timing set .dist gear. you would need a retro roller lifters and push rods not a big deal i done it many times . if competition products still has the cams in stock there only $40. each

thanks all. no i'm not a member of the blackhawk county club but i'll be checking them out. the engine casting number is 361959 the head casting number is 336781 (118cc chamber, 256/114cc ports) ovalport heads. The pistons will be getting new rings. my mechanic said that is all it needs no need for honing or boring. i will be putting in new seals and bearings. all new gaskets. It has a mechanical fuel pump so i think i have to stick with that. hopfully this new info will help you in helping me decide what cam, lifters (if needed), and intake manifold. thanks again in advance.

well them are good heads .i would bore it put some CR to it .watch what and were you grind on them heads for porting you can turn them to junk. alot of bbc start getting loose at 90.0000 cast pistons will not take alot if walls are abit big on size

i'm not doing the work. i'm the muscle lol i move the heavy parts and lift stuff. My mechanic has built and rebuilt sbc and bbc since he was in 8th grade. he is now a top mechanic at the shop his uncle owns. he will be doing all the grinding and stuff. I don't have a ton of money to put into this engine (well i do it's just my wife won't let me). so a new cam, lifters if needed, port and polish, intake, carb rebuild, b&m shift kit, and rear posi are all i can do for now. I had to promise alot to get her to let me do that thanks for the advice. hoping all this works out for me. i'll be putting it back in at the end of march. snow might be gone by then .

yep i been working on engines for some time to heres how i would do it .i get $160 to bore and hone a engine .thats money well spent and is about that price every were or less ? seeing that the rings seal up the engine and your only going to 5000 . i would be wast much money and time on the heads they will flow fine with a 4 angle valve job and some bowl work. pistons are not to much you may get some used pistons or some speed pro hypers if they still make the 360 hp cast piston? they would work as well

ok thanks i'll let him know what you have said. hopefully i can squeeze a little more money out of momma's purse. lol

Originally Posted by leonard williso

ok thanks i'll let him know what you have said. hopefully i can squeeze a little more money out of momma's purse. lol

the only thing i have now is some 427 060 overs now and some blower pistons for a 4.500 bore . look on e bay there are always a set or two of 454 piston on there .you could call comp products ask if they had any on the broom sheet .they may be all go but they did have some hot deals on speed pros

since i'm mech talk stupid what bore size am i looking for when i look them up on say summit or ebay. if i was going to go with .030 over stock. would i need new connecting rods? flat top pistons? i might have to wait a few years but i would like to see how much it is now i might be able to swing it if i can talk her into it. she hates my car

stock bore is 4.250 so +030 would be 4.280 as for rod size you would buy then for a 454 that a 6.135 rod and 4.000 crank that stock for GM 454 .how much CR do you want ? small dome will get you 9.5.1ch or so a flat top would be 8.2.1 this has abit with who makes the pistons

ok so i can't use my stock rods i got? thanks for all the info. how do you add a pic to your profile so it shows up when you post.

Originally Posted by leonard williso

ok so i can't use my stock rods i got? thanks for all the info. how do you add a pic to your profile so it shows up when you post.

i never said that ???yes you would used the stock rods less you are going to more stroke on the crank and you can or not go with a longer rod the CH of the pistons would not be the same .the bore size has nothing to do with the rods