Thoughts on doing some 454, 330 upgrades?
12-03-2013 | 09:06 PM
#61
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From: yorkville,il
I agree. I also think people underestimate the limits of a cast BBC crank, in a 4 bolt main setup. How many 455 Buicks, Olds, Pontiacs, raced back in the day with cast cranks and 2 bolt mains, twisting out 500-600FT lbs at the strip every weekend? or the old Ford 427's racing back in the 60's spinning big rpm with a nodular?
Im not disagreeing that it is not near what a forged crank can handle, and wouldn't try to run 600-700HP with one. And definitely wouldn't run one with a roots blower hanging off the snout at that level. . But my original advice of bolting a pair of vortec L29 heads on, which can be had for pennies, would be a nice upgrade. Even if he stayed with a flat tappet setup, those heads, better intake and exhaust, he can see a nice increase in mph for not a ton of money.
Guys over on yellowbullet, chevelles.com, and some other sites, are running GM nodular bbc cranks, shifting at 6500+ making 600+hp with very few failures. They aren't as bad as people think. And I know Dave Wessledyke would not have used them in some of his customers builds at 475HP level if he felt they were timebombs.
Im not disagreeing that it is not near what a forged crank can handle, and wouldn't try to run 600-700HP with one. And definitely wouldn't run one with a roots blower hanging off the snout at that level. . But my original advice of bolting a pair of vortec L29 heads on, which can be had for pennies, would be a nice upgrade. Even if he stayed with a flat tappet setup, those heads, better intake and exhaust, he can see a nice increase in mph for not a ton of money.
Guys over on yellowbullet, chevelles.com, and some other sites, are running GM nodular bbc cranks, shifting at 6500+ making 600+hp with very few failures. They aren't as bad as people think. And I know Dave Wessledyke would not have used them in some of his customers builds at 475HP level if he felt they were timebombs.
12-04-2013 | 07:32 AM
#63
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 237
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
I agree. I also think people underestimate the limits of a cast BBC crank, in a 4 bolt main setup. How many 455 Buicks, Olds, Pontiacs, raced back in the day with cast cranks and 2 bolt mains, twisting out 500-600FT lbs at the strip every weekend? or the old Ford 427's racing back in the 60's spinning big rpm with a nodular?
Im not disagreeing that it is not near what a forged crank can handle, and wouldn't try to run 600-700HP with one. And definitely wouldn't run one with a roots blower hanging off the snout at that level. . But my original advice of bolting a pair of vortec L29 heads on, which can be had for pennies, would be a nice upgrade. Even if he stayed with a flat tappet setup, those heads, better intake and exhaust, he can see a nice increase in mph for not a ton of money.
Guys over on yellowbullet, chevelles.com, and some other sites, are running GM nodular bbc cranks, shifting at 6500+ making 600+hp with very few failures. They aren't as bad as people think. And I know Dave Wessledyke would not have used them in some of his customers builds at 475HP level if he felt they were timebombs.
Im not disagreeing that it is not near what a forged crank can handle, and wouldn't try to run 600-700HP with one. And definitely wouldn't run one with a roots blower hanging off the snout at that level. . But my original advice of bolting a pair of vortec L29 heads on, which can be had for pennies, would be a nice upgrade. Even if he stayed with a flat tappet setup, those heads, better intake and exhaust, he can see a nice increase in mph for not a ton of money.
Guys over on yellowbullet, chevelles.com, and some other sites, are running GM nodular bbc cranks, shifting at 6500+ making 600+hp with very few failures. They aren't as bad as people think. And I know Dave Wessledyke would not have used them in some of his customers builds at 475HP level if he felt they were timebombs.
12-04-2013 | 03:11 PM
#64
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420 hours on the boat, not sure if that is the same for the engines but both passed with great numbers for the leak down test and about 6 hours of run time without the slightest concern.
If I keep this boat I am going ahead with the upgrades to the 330s. The way I look at it is I can run around for another 2-3 years waiting to have the boat do what I want or I can do it now and roll it out in the spring time so I can enjoy it for the next two to three years.
I have just bought my first set of heads today for $185 I will pick them up tonight and have them in the shop tomorrow. If I can buy one more set of heads for a good price I will be easily on my way and under budget.
The way things have been going I will probably be able to buy a newer faster boat in 3-5 years If I want the same as many other OSO members have done.
If I keep this boat I am going ahead with the upgrades to the 330s. The way I look at it is I can run around for another 2-3 years waiting to have the boat do what I want or I can do it now and roll it out in the spring time so I can enjoy it for the next two to three years.
I have just bought my first set of heads today for $185 I will pick them up tonight and have them in the shop tomorrow. If I can buy one more set of heads for a good price I will be easily on my way and under budget.
The way things have been going I will probably be able to buy a newer faster boat in 3-5 years If I want the same as many other OSO members have done.
12-04-2013 | 04:43 PM
#65
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11,332
Likes: 73
From: chicago
420 hours on the boat, not sure if that is the same for the engines but both passed with great numbers for the leak down test and about 6 hours of run time without the slightest concern.
If I keep this boat I am going ahead with the upgrades to the 330s. The way I look at it is I can run around for another 2-3 years waiting to have the boat do what I want or I can do it now and roll it out in the spring time so I can enjoy it for the next two to three years.
I have just bought my first set of heads today for $185 I will pick them up tonight and have them in the shop tomorrow. If I can buy one more set of heads for a good price I will be easily on my way and under budget.
The way things have been going I will probably be able to buy a newer faster boat in 3-5 years If I want the same as many other OSO members have done.
If I keep this boat I am going ahead with the upgrades to the 330s. The way I look at it is I can run around for another 2-3 years waiting to have the boat do what I want or I can do it now and roll it out in the spring time so I can enjoy it for the next two to three years.
I have just bought my first set of heads today for $185 I will pick them up tonight and have them in the shop tomorrow. If I can buy one more set of heads for a good price I will be easily on my way and under budget.
The way things have been going I will probably be able to buy a newer faster boat in 3-5 years If I want the same as many other OSO members have done.
12-04-2013 | 05:13 PM
#66
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 237
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Cool! Now that you have a specific direction in mind it puts us all on the same page. I know some of my previous posts may have suggested otherwise but personally I would take much more pride in a pair of 400hp 454's I built myself than 500hp motors built by someone else. I have always had a greater respect for the guy that "built it himself" than the guy with the fat wallet and the big name on the valve covers.
420 hours isn't allot on a 330. I know of 330's that have gone 1200+ hours without ever being apart and a good leak down rate is a good sign that the short blocks are OK. You should be able to tell if the motors have ever been apart once you dig into them.
I'm going to assume you plan on doing all of the work without pulling the motors completely out of the boat. I'm not familiar with that engine compartment but make sure you have at least 22 inches from the timing cover to get the cams out.
420 hours isn't allot on a 330. I know of 330's that have gone 1200+ hours without ever being apart and a good leak down rate is a good sign that the short blocks are OK. You should be able to tell if the motors have ever been apart once you dig into them.
I'm going to assume you plan on doing all of the work without pulling the motors completely out of the boat. I'm not familiar with that engine compartment but make sure you have at least 22 inches from the timing cover to get the cams out.
12-05-2013 | 10:31 AM
#67
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I bought a set of L-29 heads. I already have two Mercruiser aluminum hi-performance intakes and on hp500 carb in my collection so I am hoping that these parts will work together, if not I will keep shopping until I get what I need.
I believe there is enough room to do the cam swap but I am pulling the engines out so that I have better access and the ability to clean and refresh everything in the bilge area. I far from a beginner at working on boats and pulling engines/drives but I am new at doing my own engine work so this will still be a fun learning experience.
I believe there is enough room to do the cam swap but I am pulling the engines out so that I have better access and the ability to clean and refresh everything in the bilge area. I far from a beginner at working on boats and pulling engines/drives but I am new at doing my own engine work so this will still be a fun learning experience.
12-05-2013 | 06:51 PM
#68
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Posts: 237
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Did Merc. ever have a oval port aluminum intake? I am pretty sure all Merc. motors with aluminum intakes where rectangle port. I know GM made a large oval port aluminum intake, but for some reason Merc. never used a large oval port setup.
Last edited by dandercam1; 12-05-2013 at 06:54 PM.
12-05-2013 | 07:22 PM
#69
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From: Chesterfield Va.
Just my opinion, which you can add a buck too and by a cup of coffee,there are many many guys running some screaming 468's with cast stuff in them and oval port heads. You can make decent HP and alot of torque with Peanut port heads . Now I'm not talking about a 8 thousand RPM engine but they run Damn good.
12-05-2013 | 08:31 PM
#70
Pirate of the Chesapeake
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: North Point Creek, Md.
My 32 fountain has a pair of bone stock blue water 454 merc inboard motors in it.Came out of a 39 sea ray.Boat with a a pair of stock 27 3 blade mirage props,1/2 tank fuel and 3 people in it will run on GPS 71.4 with the drives out WOT.I think if he just puts some decent used exhaust on it he will pick up some MPH then he could use the exhaust on a new build when the time is right.That is what we are going to do.Boat cruises all day at 48 MPH and around 33 3400 RPM It is a non step with 1.50.1 bravo's and easy on fuel. Just my 2 cents PS got the motors off craigslist for 3000.00 we ran cast cranks and 2 bolt motors with no problem for years in the ss flat bottom NP We were always on a budget.
Last edited by Fenderjack; 12-05-2013 at 08:33 PM. Reason: add
