454 Build Help Please
 

I just picked up a 32 sunsation dominator with no engines. I purchased 2 Gen Vi 454 that we are ready to reduild. They are 330HP all cast internals. We are upgrading to Icon flat top pistons, scat forged rods 7/16, reusing the stock crankshaft, as well as the HGE exhaust manifolds that cam with the setup. Holley 780, torker oval port, The heads are L29 votec heads with 100cc chambers with stock valve sizes and pocket porting, nd bowl polishing. Should be about 9.3-1. I need to know what cam I can get away with. I am heavily looking at the Comp XM270HR, as well as the 224/224 .483 .483 502 Mag cam. I prefer the Comp as it shows much higher potential for our goal of 450HPbut also shows an overlap of 49 where the 502 cam shows -7. So can I do this without getting reversion. Thanks for the help guys.

Welcome to the Sunsation Family as you will find great advice and ideas in this and over in the Sunsation forum as well..

Your cam selection is Good and safe (lobe center wise) as I have ran comps Marine series before on Carb and injected BBC.

No reversion even and low low idle and not a spring killer either.

My experience with the Edelbrock Torker series was short lived as I changed to a Dual plane air gap performer after the rebuild and it was noticeably better. Single planes do tend to have a lower vacuum signal off idle and im not sure you will utilize a single plane in the rpm range you'll be running.

Hopefully some of the Engine builders may chime in on exact combos for you. I have gotten a lot of valuable info over the years on OSO.

Best of luck and post up some pics .

What is your budget and performance goals?

One quick word of advice. DO NOT REUSE the oil cooler and lines.. Buy new ones.

Chris

Engine budget is 6k. Goals are 75-80 with 28p propellers. Machine work and long block components is eating 4300. Still need carbs intakes distributors crossovers 1 alternator And bracket, both remote oil filter replicators, drive reservoirs and brackets, engine wiring

So we can't just do a flush? The engines weren't blown. The rotted out due to open cooling in ocean and inadequate flushing

I'm afraid to tell you that neither cam will get you to your 450hp goals.
The comp cam is 218/224 at .050", 112LSA.
The Merc cam made 385hp on 454 and 410 on 502 with 2.19/1.88 rect heads.

Neither cam should / will revert.

What cam can I get away with for max effort with what I have? Gonna do exhaust as soon as I find a good deal

Also planning on head swap next season to edelbrock marine heads. I have buddy that has the 454 mag cams for $100. Thought about just running it for a season like this to save. But I'm all ears on max effort cam

Crane 132561 makes 420hp with 2399 Pistons, rectangle port heads and a weiand intake.

Is it roller?

Where are you located?

Phoenix ax

132561 is flat. Came on 370, 420, 525sc, and possibly 440hp

Oh ok. I am redoing engines and will be selling some stuff, rectangle port heads, weiand single plane intakes, custom madera roller cams etc. all were on a merc 420 454 that had a roller cam upgrade and was around 450 horse. You will have a hard time getting 450 horse with the peanut heads.

I have 2 pair of 088 heads for sale if interested. 740 817 2245

Mr. Maine - i sent you a PM with a few questions about your set-up. Thanks

Mr Maine- how much for the whole setup?

mggdoors, I haven't really put a price on the stuff yet, but was thinking half of new for the cams, as they have low hours and are in great shape.

If you would pm me a package price

I can get you a price, one set of heads are 088, the other set is 12562934, which are gm factory replacements, identical to the 088s. Both sets are in great shape with isky valve springs matched to the cams.
Are those the style you need?, and the problem is shipping them will be pricey because the are heavy.

The L29 heads are not peanut ports, they are large ovals. I have built several small budget L29 engines with these heads and should be right around 450hp but its never been on a dyno. I run a crane 731 cam in my L29 on a stock cast rotating assembly, air gap dual plane intake, gil exhaust and a pro form 750. sounds and runs great

The L29 heads have a strange combustion chamber. It has a large chunk of steel in the combustion chamber I think to help a swirl condition for the intake charge. That chunk of steel is prone to cause detonation. I've used these heads in multiple combinations, the total timing must be limited to 27 - 28 rather than the usual 34 - 36. They are not a good choice for performance builds, if they are all you have check your air fuel ratios under full load and keep them rich.

Why not call Bob @ Marine Kinetics?

http://www.marinekineticsonline.com/

HP 500 carb'd cam will get 450hp, Mercruiser used it on their 454 HP450. They used square port heads but I bet torque would be better with the ovals.
You need a cam with close to .600 lift to get there