454-330 build up help
12-09-2002, 05:03 PM
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454-330 build up help
i know this has been beat to death but there is so much old info on this its almost confusing. I am in the process of rebuilding a friends 1988 454/330. i want to change the cam intake and heads. what would be a good over the counter combo for this motor. of course he is trying to make as much power as he can but this ois going in a chapperal 255sx. not a real performance hull but none the less he is willing to spend the money and make some changes. what would be a good RELIABLE setup for this. I was thinking along the lines of Dart heads torker plus cam and edelbrock air gap intake. what size combustion chambers come with these motors and whats the smallest i can safely drop to on pump gas.
thanx Rob
thanx Rob
12-09-2002, 05:19 PM
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The smaller, oval-port Merlin heads, an Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake and a Torker Plus camshaft would be a great combo to wake up the 330. I think many here will agree. You will get some different camshaft recomendations, but as long as you don`t get too crazy, this combo will work great!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
12-09-2002, 05:42 PM
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I am massaging two of these myself over the winter. This board has help in most details of my build. If I had the heads you mentioned I'd be happier. I have edelbrock aluminum rect ports heads I am going to get wedges installed. Going to use the stock dual plane intake. Comp Cams recommended an 11-236-4 cam grind which is 226/236 @.050 and 544/547 lift on a 112 LSA. I believe I am going with the Comp Cam 226/234 @.050 544/564 on a 111 LSA. Going with that cam because I am trying to build cylinder pressure due to flat top pistons. Also, excaleagle on the board uses it and says it works great. It is also cheaper than the marine cam they recommended. Still working on the exhaust system, but may end up with the stock if nothing used turns up. Will use stock tb IV ignition with the quadrajet carbs. My engines started as magnums from 1988. Hoping to eek out 400hp or so.
BT
BT
12-09-2002, 06:06 PM
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I'm interested in this subject also. I've got the same vintage 7.4 / 330 in a 1988 Baja Force 235. I may be rebuilding and am considering the same modifications. I've often heard that if you don't do anything with the exhaust, the intake mods may not do much good.
12-09-2002, 06:31 PM
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From what I have read, the real bang for the buck in hp through exhaust kicks in over 500hp. I have the 4" stock system which I don't think will hurt too much with the upgrades I am doing. Would like to have better exhaust, just a little pricey with everything else I am doing (X2). Unless I am willing to redo the rotating assemblies to all forged parts (at least pistons), I think exhaust would be a waste.
My magnums were 365hp with the stock exhaust, so I am sure pumping 30-50hp more through them won't hurt. Just need to be careful with reversion and gasket quality on the risers. That is the approach I am taking until something changes.
BT
My magnums were 365hp with the stock exhaust, so I am sure pumping 30-50hp more through them won't hurt. Just need to be careful with reversion and gasket quality on the risers. That is the approach I am taking until something changes.
BT
12-09-2002, 07:06 PM
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The stock peanut port heads have 119 cc chambers. That amounts to 8-1 compression with the stock flat top pistons. I think the edelbrock oval port heads are 110 cc which will help with compression. I have (still) run that cam in built 454's and am real happy with it (no reversion issues). I personally can get more power out of holleys but I dont know quads well either.
12-09-2002, 07:06 PM
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do a search on dyno's 330's on steroids and you will get my combination and results after the mods.....
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12-09-2002, 07:25 PM
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I recently read 105cc chambers give 8.85:1 with flat tops. Unfortunately, I have 118cc edelbrock heads, so am hoping the lower lsa will tweak my cylinder pressures higher. What do you run for compression Formula? If memory serves, the cam you use has a 114 lsa? Do you know what kind of cranking cylinder presures you have?
BT
BT
12-09-2002, 09:30 PM
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yea, that cam has 114. I wanted that to avoid any reversion with the gil magnum choice setup that put the water in very early. I do run it 4 degrees advanced. Cranking pressures are 125-130 on my gauge which I dont think is calibrated. I am at 8.8-1 compression. I am using trw 2399 pistons that have a slight dome.
