Offshoreonly.com - 540 or supercharge ths 454?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by machloosy (Post 3713812)

540>454sc
There is no contest that the N/A motor is going to give you more reliability and the mpg is going to be similar. I think a supercharged 454 APPEARS cheaper because you aren't thinking of the little things. Cometic head gaskets, she'll need rings if not pistons, head rebuilds with at least better springs and really should have valves as well. Fuel pump, gauges, and a few other odds and ends. Now tally up selling your 454 and bolting in a 540, I bet the final cost is pretty similar

That is what I was thinking. What should I look to get out of a 454 mag with 400 hrs (or maybe more hrs by time I pull it)

Also...sell it as is or freshen it up then sell?

Quote:

Originally Posted by machloosy (Post 3713812)

Not sure I can agree with ya on that. There really isnt a need to replace rings, pistons, valves, on a 454 mag with relatively low hours, just because your bolting a supercharger on. Heck, most engines that have superchargers sitting on top, were bolt ons.

To build a 540CI running engine from scratch, youll probably need somewhere around 15k by the time its fully dressed, and ready to bolt in and run. Esp if you sell your 454 mag and need accessories.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER (Post 3714295)

You've got a good point. I was saying replace valves, springs, and pistons from a reliability standpoint. I missed that it was a 454Mag

I would do a 454, you could bolt that blower on and rebuild the engine 2-3 times over just in the cost of buying one 540.

Buy a used blower kit that is like new off E-bay for around 1800-2500$ (I see them all the time) and next year when you want even more speed you can turn up the boost/hp more by simply changing top pulley, Smitty

i am pondering the same ideas mentioned here, either big cubes or supercharger. if a supercharger is kept at say 5 pounds on a relativiely well built motor such as a 454 mag, how long is it going to last? i have a 454 that i was going to do a 496 stroker kit on, forged crank, forged pistons, H beam rods, full roller and then possibly add a supercharger later on as my budget allows. i was thinking about scraping the 496 and going to the 540 but the cost goes up to the point that the supercharger would be more cost effective. not trying to thread jack sorry if i am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER (Post 3714295)

Quote:

Originally Posted by machloosy (Post 3714344)

You've got a good point. I was saying replace valves, springs, and pistons from a reliability standpoint. I missed that it was a 454Mag

Take it from me. I have almost twice as much into 2 sets of heads, intakes and carbs on my 454's than I do in my 2 B&M 250 blower setups that I just bought. Granted I have custom ported heads and intakes, the best in valves, and springs. This setup on my 454's are 600HP on a 540 it dyno'd @ 783HP with a dual carb tunnel ram setup. If I had to spend my money again I would first buy the blowers and then do the heads and then cubic inches/or bigger blower.

Get the blower! It will be 1/4 the cost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mild thunder (Post 3712589)

put some fresh valvesprings in it, bolt on a blower, and enjoy! To get similar power and torque from a 540 n/a, you'll need good heads, decent cam, new intake/carb, etc. Money wise, best bet in my opinion, do the blower. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

I had a buddy install a pair of whipples on 454 mags years ago. Engines had about 300 hours on them at the time. Ran great after the blower install for a long time.