First big block Chevy

[c1500sbc]

I got lucky enough to score a free gen 6 454. Complete motor. I haven’t opened it up to look at anything but previous owner said it ran fine. He was just clearing some space and didn’t want to deal with a bunch of questions and tire kickers. So he gave it away!

I’ve built a few small blocks but first time with a big block. Man they are big and heavy!

Real question is, what can these stock heads produce hp and torque wise? Is 550hp possible with the right cam or is that asking too much?

[Alaskaracer]

Pretty easy these days with mostly bolt on parts and a big block. Some work on the heads, a bit more compression, and the right cam will really wake it up....

[1980RS]

I got lucky enough to score a free gen 6 454. Complete motor. I haven’t opened it up to look at anything but previous owner said it ran fine. He was just clearing some space and didn’t want to deal with a bunch of questions and tire kickers. So he gave it away!

I’ve built a few small blocks but first time with a big block. Man they are big and heavy!

Real question is, what can these stock heads produce hp and torque wise? Is 550hp possible with the right cam or is that asking too much?

If you have the 279 L-29 heads and port them somewhat it will make 500hp. I ran some pretty good time with the set I did last fall.

[c1500sbc]

I got lucky enough to score a free gen 6 454. Complete motor. I haven’t opened it up to look at anything but previous owner said it ran fine. He was just clearing some space and didn’t want to deal with a bunch of questions and tire kickers. So he gave it away!

I’ve built a few small blocks but first time with a big block. Man they are big and heavy!

Real question is, what can these stock heads produce hp and torque wise? Is 550hp possible with the right cam or is that asking too much?

If you have the 279 L-29 heads and port them somewhat it will make 500hp. I ran some pretty good time with the set I did last fall.

Are you meaning an otherwise stock 454 with ported 279 L-29 heads could make 500?

[F-BIRD'88]

I think you have a great start point platform for a 600 hp ++ fun Supercharged street engine.
You already own the capable supercharger .
You already have good practical street blower motor
experience.

[rgalajda]

"Are you meaning an otherwise stock 454 with ported 279 L-29 heads could make 500?"

A well built 454 street motor with these heads may be in the 450 hp range, with a lot of work on those heads.

236 peanut port heads, with work, will get to 500 hp for a true street motor

[bobmc]

stock piston to valve clearance won't allow a 550HP cam, if you change pistons, single plane intake etc the heads will make that HP but the cam won't be fun at lower rpm

[In-Tech]

stock piston to valve clearance won't allow a 550HP cam

Correct

[1980RS]

I got lucky enough to score a free gen 6 454. Complete motor. I haven’t opened it up to look at anything but previous owner said it ran fine. He was just clearing some space and didn’t want to deal with a bunch of questions and tire kickers. So he gave it away!

I’ve built a few small blocks but first time with a big block. Man they are big and heavy!

Real question is, what can these stock heads produce hp and torque wise? Is 550hp possible with the right cam or is that asking too much?

If you have the 279 L-29 heads and port them somewhat it will make 500hp. I ran some pretty good time with the set I did last fall.

Are you meaning an otherwise stock 454 with ported 279 L-29 heads could make 500?

With a bone stock chevy cam, no. With a nice mild performance cam it's possible.

[1980RS]

stock piston to valve clearance won't allow a 550HP cam, if you change pistons, single plane intake etc the heads will make that HP but the cam won't be fun at lower rpm

What's a 550hp cam??? do you mean a .550 lift cam?

[prairiehotrodder]

i personally don't think 550 hp is possible with a just a cam swap on that engine with those vortec heads. But maybe i'm wrong. If it was possible it would mean porting those heads within an inch of their life.
You do however have a very good starting point for as much power as you might want to make using the right pieces.

[1980RS]

i personally don't think 550 hp is possible with a just a cam swap on that engine with those vortec heads. But maybe i'm wrong. If it was possible it would mean porting those heads within an inch of their life.
You do however have a very good starting point for as much power as you might want to make using the right pieces.

Here is what Wallace est. my HP by my 1/8 pass.
Your HP computed from your vehicle ET is 515.59 flywheel HP and 464.03 rear wheel HP.
Your HP computed from your vehicle MPH is 535.30 flywheel HP and 481.77 rear wheel HP.

And my 1/4 est.

Your HP computed from your vehicle ET is 460.54 rear wheel HP and 511.72 flywheel HP.
Your HP computed from your vehicle MPH is 409.70 rear wheel HP and 455.23 flywheel HP.

Might be possible and my L-29 heads are not max ported by no means. They are super good heads as I found out last year.

[prairiehotrodder]

i personally don't think 550 hp is possible with a just a cam swap on that engine with those vortec heads. But maybe i'm wrong. If it was possible it would mean porting those heads within an inch of their life.
You do however have a very good starting point for as much power as you might want to make using the right pieces.

Here is what Wallace est. my HP by my 1/8 pass.
Your HP computed from your vehicle ET is 515.59 flywheel HP and 464.03 rear wheel HP.
Your HP computed from your vehicle MPH is 535.30 flywheel HP and 481.77 rear wheel HP.

And my 1/4 est.

Your HP computed from your vehicle ET is 460.54 rear wheel HP and 511.72 flywheel HP.
Your HP computed from your vehicle MPH is 409.70 rear wheel HP and 455.23 flywheel HP.

Might be possible and my L-29 heads are not max ported by no means. They are super good heads as I found out last year.

Maybe i don't know what L-79 heads are. I have a set of the factory small chamber vortec 454 heads sitting in my shop. From around 1996 - 97 ? They have a heavy looking exhaust valve and giant vane into the chamber and bolt-down rockers ?

[c1500sbc]

I think you have a great start point platform for a 600 hp ++ fun Supercharged street engine.
You already own the capable supercharger .
You already have good practical street blower motor
experience.

I wouldn't think a 177 would be able to build much boost at all on a 454? At least not without hitting a thermal effiency level pretty quickly

[F-BIRD'88]

I think you have a great start point platform for a 600 hp ++ fun Supercharged street engine.
You already own the capable supercharger .
You already have good practical street blower motor
experience.

I wouldn't think a 177 would be able to build much boost at all on a 454? At least not without hitting a thermal effiency level pretty quickly

Boost does not equal power.
Boost is a measure of airflow RESTRICTION in the manifold between the engine and blower.
At WOT; Blower is moving X amount of air.
At WOT the Engine is consuming Y amount of air in and out.. X-Y equals Boost. Boost is the DIFFERENCE in air flow.. (It is WHAT COULD NOT GET IN TO MAKE POWER)

When @WOT when its creating 650 BHP what do you care what the boost is on the guage?
The end game is to make horsepower, not boost.


The 177 is 650 hp capable. (2.29:1 pulley ratio)
Yiu want a easy low CR and need a high perf cam in the 454 to let the air in and the exhaust out.
+ big carb. and headers.

What heads are on that 454?
What is the factory stock compression ratio?
You need a blower intake for that 177 blower on a oval port 454 big block. May need a different blower snout length.

The mercruiser marine SC'ed big blocks all use rectangular port heads. (mismatch) Problem 1
The port mismatch is not a complete bust.

The Weiand Big Block street blower Kit uses the 174 blower , NOT THE 177 BLOWER. (different mounting flange and bolt pattern) problem 2

You need a intake manifold solution to mount the 177 blower on your oval port 454. (May need an adapter plate)

But that 177 blower will make the 650 hp on a street hot rodded 454.
If the boost is 6 psi. what do you care?
650 horsepower is 650 hp.