454 winter upgrades-update
 

Well, after going back and forth with a set of 049 heads I bought a little while back for my 454/330 HP. I ended up going with a set of 396 closed chamber big oval port heads. This should bring my compression up to 9.0 (I had stainless steel valves put in them, hardened seats and matching valve springs for my new camshaft).

I went with a comp cams Marine extreme camshaft (Duration @050 226 int./236 exh., Lift .544/.547int. w/112 lobe separation). With the Crane roller rockers, performer RPM intake, holley 750 dp, msd ignition and stainless Marine exhaust I bought a couple months back. I 'm hoping it will put me at about 430 horse power.

Has anyone run a stock 454/330HP bottom end up to 5,000 rpm with the cast crank, stock rods and cast pistons? If so, is it still running or did it come apart fairly quickly? I'm not looking to take this motor past 5000 RPM. I just want to know what I might be in for if I spin it up that high. Thanks, Mark

While I have broke some... I spin 5k plus a bit for short runs. Usually no probs. I broke by pumping all the oil up into the top using too small of pan, high volume pump and bad gages...
I now have big pans and all new gages. So far so good...

Got a buddy running 465HP Baker 454's based off of 330HP motors. He's got 3 seasons and over 100 hours on them and the bottom ends are still holding. He is propped to turn 5,000 - 5,100 RPM. Motors had about 300 hours on them when Baker modified them. The bottom ends were not touched other than the pistons were notched for proper piston to valve clearance for the new roller cams.

Good info guys...thank-you! It kind of makes me feel a little bit better about spinning a stock bottom end that high. I have also upgraded all the oil lines and fittings to -12 and have a hp-6 filter head now too. Got my fingers crossed that everything stays together for a little while!

Hey MustangMark...

I've got a pair of 365hp 454 Mag's out of my Formula as we speak...

I saw your post and I wanted to ask you about the cams you are using:

"comp cams Marine extreme camshaft (Duration @050 226 int./236 exh., Lift .544/.547int. w/112 lobe separation). With the Crane roller rockers..."

How is the idle on them? Is it more like a stock cam, or does it have a nice lumpy idle to it?

I'm asking because now is the time for me to do any changes!

I haven't put it together yet so I'm not sure how it's going to idle. I assume that it will have a decent idle to it. the stock 454/330hp cam is 214/218° @ 0.050" & 0.460/0.480" lift...if I'm correct. This is the smallest cam I have ever bought and the first hyd. cam (I have always gone solid flat tappet or solid roller but this is a "temp motor" until I get my 502 put together so I decided to run this cam due to the stock bottom end and cost or a roller...) Griff has been great when it comes to info on this board. If you look up "454 winter upgrades" there's some info in the post about cam selections. My biggest concern when I selected my cam was reversion. I really do wish that the lobe separation was at 114 but at 112 I don't suspect there will be any issues. I should have it together in around a month. When I do, I'll post an update and video of it running.

This is what I did to my 454/330. Working on it's 4th season.
Started with;
*1986, MIE/340 (7.4) 454 Big Block
Dip it and hone the decks and cylinders (the cylinders did not need to be cut and are standard bore)
Block was detailed with all casting debris removed
Stock seasoned crank (also cleaned up)
Reconditioned connecting rods
ARP Rod bolts
.210 Domed Speed pro pistons and pins. (They should give me 9.38 to 1)
Molly piston rings
Federal Mogal bearings (cam, main & rod)
Cloyes true double roller timing chain
Moroso Chevrolet 454 Stud Girdles #6729 BBC
Crane #132561 hydraulic cam--Duration Advertised: 298° Intake / 306° Exhaust Duration @ .050'' Lift: 228° Intake / 236° Exhaust Valve Lift w/1.7 Rockers: .530'' Intake / .551'' Exhaust Lobe Separation Angle: 114°
Crane #99277 lifters
Comp Cams High-Tech pushrods #7954
Completely refreshed Chevy 14096188 heads / 454 Open / 118cc / 3angle valve
Comp Performance Valve Springs #911-16
Pioneer head bolt sets
ARP 1.90 rocker studs
Norris S/S 1.7 roller rockers
Melling H/V oil pump
Melling HV oil pump shaft.
EDELBROCK BBC R2 AIRGAP INTAKE
JEGS 15951 - Mechanical Fuel Pump
Pro Comp ignition
Pro Comp distributor
Super Stock coil.
8mm Accell Hi performance wires
New single wire alternator
Mini (gear reduction and fully marine) starter
Edelbrock 750 carburetor
Edelbrock aluminum air cleaner (with K&N filter)
Brass freeze plugs
Stainless steel bolt set
4” Stainless steel risers
GLM aluminum manifolds
Sherwood motor mounted raw water pump.

I ran mine for 3 season with the cast internals regularly at 5K rpms. Did some upgrades and made it 3 seasons before the crank snapped.

damn...that sucks! I would have though it would have lived longer than 3 seasons after you did the bottom end!

sounds like a nice combo!