Just bought a new engine the other day.
We've never played with big block Chevy engines, but I just bought one a few days ago. My Son Dan wants to build a little drag altered as soon as his RPU is done, and the perfect engine just came along. We repowered a guys boat at work and had the old motor left over, so I bought it and am setting it aside until we need it.
It is a 2000 454 Chevy Gen 6. It was a freshwater cooled motor, so no salt was ever in it, but we found some water was starting to enter the engine through worn out exhaust manifolds. The motor still ran fine, but the owner didn't want to take a chance, so we put a new crate engine in for him.
I've been doing a little research on it and found out it is the last generation of the 454 engines. They went to the 496 and 502 later on. It is a four bolt main, roller cam motor. Comes stock with some pretty heavy duty parts, like forged rods and 3/8 pushrods. I pulled a valve cover off and it is as clean as a whistle, the guy took good care of it, and the guide plates have "hi perf" stamped on each one. HP rating is 340, but one article I read said they got 500 HP with some standard hop up stuff, like cam, intake, headers, etc.
I figure it will make a nice, consistant engine, and backed by a powerglide in a 2000 pound car it should move pretty well. Maybe 10's, or if we are real lucky 9's. :D Dan has gotten the urge to race, so as soon as we can get the current car done we can start on this one. Gonna send it off to our machinist and see what he needs to do to clean up the bore, crank, etc.
I know some of you are great engine builders, have you had any experience with this particular motor? Any tips?
Don