Thread: Advice for a 454 newbie

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The problem with the FWD is that it stands for Front Wheel Drive and I knew that a truck would not come with Front Wheel Drive. The proper contraction for Four Wheel Drive is 4WD, to differentiate it from Front Wheel Drive. I may have had a bit of a brain fart and so will extend my thanks to Denny for helping out.

There are dozens of active fellows here on Club Hot Rod who have the expertise to help you wake up the old 454
and make it fun on the street. Many of us are senior citizens who have built dozens of projects down through the decades of our lives and who enjoy imparting our knowledge of what works and what does not work on a street-driven big block Chevy.

Oftentimes we skip over the basics of engine building if we have insufficient experience at such things. My suggestion to measure the four corners of the block for Block Deck Height is elementary to establishing where you are. You can't use a map to find out which way to go until you know where you are. Without knowing BDH, these are the things you will just be guessing about in your build.....
Piston Compression Height (without knowing this, you will not know whether to cut the block decks or not, and by how much)
Static Compression Ratio (without knowing this, you cannot choose the correct camshaft)
What head gasket to use (without knowing this, you cannot set the squish/quench for max protection from detonation)

In today's world, with today's gasoline quality and using iron heads, I would build a street motor (which will use pump gas) at somewhere between 9.50:1 and 9.75:1 Static Compression Ratio and would use a Squish/Quench figure between 0.035" and 0.045". This combination will offer good power with maximum protection from detonation.

Using aluminum heads, I would build it between 10.25:1 and 10.5:1 SCR to regain some of the power lost through heat rejection (power) by using aluminum instead of cast iron. I might expect to build a 400 to 450 hp motor with iron heads, or a very nice 600 hp motor with Airflow Research 265 aluminum heads. How much money do you want to spend?
http://www.airflowresearch.com/265cc...cylinder-head/

Now, please measure the block and report back.

Thanks, Richard

P.S. Regardless of the direction you go on heads, you should plan on a retro-fit hydraulic roller camshaft. Hot rod big block Chevies do not play well with flat tappet cams.

P.P.S. 3.73 is the perfect street gear, all you need now is a suspension upgrade and a limited slip diff.