Thread: 1978 454 performance tips.

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I need help trying to get the max power out of my 1978 454. Don't want to tear the engine apart without really having too. I was told it has peanut heads. Are these heads worth having work done to them or should i scrap them. If i use other heads wont this mess with my compression. Any advice would be great.

Need more information ---
Intended use, vehicle, how far into it do you plan to go?
IE-- stock, mild street // strip, 4 x 4, hill // rock.climbing, low end horse power, mid range, top end, etc...
Heads will play in compression.
Cam will play on power along with heads.
This should be mated in what you intend.
Automatic or manual transmission....
Paint a picture of the result desired, more help can be given.

( edit )
For the Camaro?

It's a 1980 pro street camaro. 411 9 inch Ford rear back half ladder bar. 8 point roll bar. Turbo 400 shift kit 3000 stall. Car had a 572 in it before I got it. Set up for the track but I want to pro street it more street than track. The 454 that's in it is a 1978 truck 454 I pulled the numbers. Long story I purchased the car out of flordia about a month ago under the impression that it still had the 572 in it I got screwed should of did the reserch before hand but I trusted the man. I can't screw over people, I'm too honest. It has the torker two intake on it small cam but not a lot of power. I don't want to pull the engine and rebuild it . It's got.plenty of compression as is I just want max power out of it, maybe in the future ill do pistons and crank I don't know.

In the old B&M catalogs, They had several documented builds for suggestions: a motor with the heads you have and the addition of one of their blowers equaled 600 hp.

Originally Posted by Scooting

In the old B&M catalogs, They had several documented builds for suggestions: a motor with the heads you have and the addition of one of their blowers equaled 600 hp.

less i am blind i do not see head numbers cam size . if a bone stock 454 bottom end ? if your going by block numbers that will not say what has been done to it . i built many 496 /489 out of stock blocks and built 454 in to 427s has well has 510s so its really hard to say what can be done or is done ??less you know for sure it.s a bone stock 78 454 in that case there not much more you can do to it . if you can tell me head numbers i could tell you if the heads can make any power . your only going to go so far with a recamed 454 but if sealed up good with the right cam intake headers it should be 400 hp easy. if you want more PM me i build machine and sell bbc from 427to 638 or check out mccarthy performance. com

Took the car out for a test ride today,I don't need to change a thing it has more power than any car I have owned even my 2008 Corvette. Wish there was some way of finding out what's in it without taking it apart. Blew the tires off if it in all three gears 29x15.5x15 mickies. Thanks for everyone's advice

Glad you are enjoying the ride!! : )