Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Ok

This is the first engine that i will completely rebuild on my own. I am going to need a lot of advice along the way. Its not in my boat, its in my 72 nova. I figured i would tackle this since i wouldnt have any downtime in my boat if things went wrong :D

Heres what im starting with.

454 block, needs to be bored .060 over.

cast crank, been turned and in good shape .010/.010

I have a set of stock rods that are in good shape.

The heads i have suck, and need recommendations on that.


So where do we start?

Im taking the block in to be bored. do i need anything else done?

are the rods good?

what should i start thinking about as far as pistons and a kit go?

The goal here is to have a streetable car that is fast. i do have a budget, but at the same time want to build a decent engine. no top of the line, but no junk either. i would like to see 500hp out of it.

Please be patient with me as i will be asking a ton of questions, ive never done the entire thing before and am looking forward to it. Ill post pics and progress as we go along.

Thanks to all in advance

Jason

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

if you can get a forged crank and rods, bettr....then put in flat top aluminum pistons, low compression, a good set of Brodix or Dart heads.......and ready for a blower in the future .........why stop at 500hp:D

good luck

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Why do you think you need to bore it .060?
You are better to bore it the minimum, so you have room for future rebuilds :eek:

Get the rods checked out and resized if needed.

Take the block to a good machine shop and they will lead you in the right direction.

Another option buy a stroker kit and you can make easy H.P.

Best advise buy a book like Dennis Moore high performance big blocks good reading even if you are building a car engine.
I bet most people on the board started with car engines before taking the plunge into high dollar boat engines :drink:
Hell I paid more for my current set of heads than I did my first two cars..

JIM

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

not to be smart but best to buy a couple of books on the subject then ask which of the theories are the best to go with there are many many good books out there Im sure if you ask everyone will chime in with there favorite


just a suggestion

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

"How to HotRod Big-Block Chevys" H. P Books. Bill Fisher and Bob Waar.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I was thinking the same thing! That book has been around for a long time, but has lots of good info in it...it's an execellent book to read!

Also, take the engine to a good, reputable, precision machine shop in your area with all the right equipment that is familiar with hi-perf engines. They should be able to tell you what is good or bad.

I would do a search on here about rebuilding a 454. There's a TON of good info to be had in the archives. Have fun with your project.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

lmao, thats the book I had pictured in my mind when I wrote it, been around as long as I can remember

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Heavy car you need torque:
Block if it can go .030" you are better off for the future if not .060" is fine and .070" pistons are common. I personally like the KB Hypers, they are a great piston for the money and if the rings are gapped correctly they will run for 100K miles no problem. You can also use them as press fit for OEM rods or floaters for aftermaket stuff.
Line hone is critical on an engine. Be sure the shop checks it and corrects it if need be.
Fresh deck surface is always a plus to insure gasket seal. Have them deck the block. If you want to "blueprint" the piston to deck then you'll have the block square decked and proper clearance set for quench. Std decking runs around $100, square decking will cost around $300.
Cast OEM crank is fine for 500HP goal. Have the shop champer the oil holes.
Stock rods need to be checked for tolerance and machined if out of spec. Put a good set of rod bolts in. Now new aftermarket rods are very affordable. If your OEM rods need bolts and reszing then it may be cheaper to go with a new set of aftermarkets.

That should get you started.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

from what I see and I am really no expert. I only have put together 3 engines in my life, but had a good machine shop walk me through it. If you need to recondition the rods, turn the crank, and new Hyper pistons, you might just want to get a good inexpensive stroker kit. I think Scat has a good kit for a little more than you machining of your old parts. That is what I'm looking to do. Still have your machine shop look over all your new components though.

Also I thought I saw somewhere that there are now DVD's out about building engines. (for those of us who can't read, and by allot of peoples spelling it is the majority of us)
my $0.02

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Thanks. Im going to get all that going.

As far as heads. Ive got 3 sets that i have access to. 049's 188's and 781's. Whats the best out of those, or should i go aftermarket?

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Jason, call Dave at the Cylinder Head Shop 331-1110, tell him I referred you. He's done all my machine work and knows big blocks as well as anybody, if not better than most. His shop is on 620, near Anderson Mill.

John

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Thanks John, just got off the phone with him. he does sound like he knows what hes talking about. hes checking on some heads for me.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

you'll be ok with the cast crank up to 500 or so hp, if you are thinking about a blower down the road find a good used oem forged steel crank. have the rods resized with arp rod bolts, have the rods set up with floating pins, have the block aligh honed so you get the right bearing crush, have the block decked and squared, balance the roating assm, if you on a budget get some eom large oval port heads and buy and intake from summit, 850 dbl pumper you should be able to locate one here on the boar, there are probablyt some oso members with a set of the heads here too. oh btw, kb hypereutectic pistons are still cast crap, marine engines see a lot of detination so go with trw/speed pro flat top forged pistons. most imprtantly find a good hi po machine shop with bhj fixtures to do you work!!!

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Whats the highest compression i can run with 93 octane and iron heads? Looking at pistons now.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I would build based on 89 octane. No more then 9 to 1.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I recently finished a 383 with Dart Iron Eagle heads for my Camaro. Went 9.5:1 based on Dave's advice. I'd say you'd be in the ballpark with that CR, but it would also depend a lot on cam you choose. You really need to consider all of the parts as a "system". Choose gearing for the RPM you want to have for the type of driving you'll do - then cam to run well at that RPM - then compression to match the cam - heads to flow the right amount of air at that RPM and lift - intake to flow at that RPM - and so on.

Dave can help you with all of that.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

The block and crank are going to dave right now to get started. :evilb:

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Yeah to what he said! These different fixtures are like a sort of "jig" usually refered to such as "deck plates" or other jigs like a "deck true" that a machine shop uses to true up a block and accurizes the different machining processes they may undergo. They help to make a block as "square" and as about as true/perfect as it can be/get. A good, reputable, precision machine shop will have these sitting in their shop and use them when/if needed.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Trust me, I know nothing about building engines, but I saw a good article in this months Hot Boat about 454/502 rebuilds complete with cam, head and manifold recommendations. Might be worth taking a look

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I hope you stayed in a Holiday Inn last night :drink: :drink:

Just kidding


Take your time and listen to everybody's advice.Good machine work is a must,The engine how to books will give ya a better understanding,theres a bunch out there.The how to blueprint is also a good one.


Do a search on the board theres some good threads on here on build ups..

Rob :drink:

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Ok, machine shop magged and dipped the block, everythings ok.

He asked if i wanted to stud the block and align bore it?? he said it looks straight and doesnt think its necessary for what im going after but offered it. should i?

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

For the power your going to make studs are not required. The line hone is either within tolerance or out of tolearance.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

There are many good comments here. Several have said to get a book or two. Tons of great info.
How much have you budgeted for this project? You can spend alot of money on good parts and not have the right combination to make the power and torque you want at the rpm you intend to use it. GM among others offer several crate engines that are dyno prven combinations and some even have a warranty of some kind.
I am looking at a Summit Performance catalog right now. A new GM ZZ502 Is 7459.95. 502 hp and could run on pump gas. All you need is carb and headers.
Any that is my 2 cents worth.

Good luck, Jerry.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I would change the frezze plugs,cam,ck CR,ck piston wall clearance.Head gasket?,prob has a narrow .060 exhaust seat etc.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

As I understand it this engine is going into a nova. Not a boat.
I would not recommend it for a boat without modifications as Strippoker says.
Jerry.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I forgot it was for a car.oops :D

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

i always have my blocks align honed so the bearing get the right crush for heat transfer, same with the rods have em resized and i always set the pins up as floating.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

I always have my blocks align honed!

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Unless you are trying to gain engine building skills, have you thought about crate motors ? It seems like what you want is a good application for a Chevy crate motor.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Well I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is the nova project is stopping.

The good news is I just picked up its replacement a 72 chevelle ss.

Its a small block car, and im going to leave it that way, so ill be back real soon to start the small block work up.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Chevelles are nice but heavy.


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...light=chevelle


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...light=Chevelle

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

True, This wont be as fast, but it is MUCH more pimp.

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

more pics

Re: Help me build my 454, step by step
 

Nice Chevelle. I like them much better than the Nova anyway.
Still needs a big block thou.

Good luck.