454mag rebuild in progress
 

Alright, well I've got enough to start posting pics of the rebuild.
Jeff from JC Performance is doing the work.

The block is original mark IV, bored 30 over and decked.
It needs a bit more sanding at the cylinder openings, otherwise ready to go.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

looking great :D

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

The heads are new dart iron eagles.
Jeff still needs to clean up the ports to get them to flow better.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Pistons are new & shaved. Connecting rods are original, but redone and cleaned up, new ARP bolts.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Crank is original, and has been rebalanced.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

What are you putting into it and what kind of power do you expect? What boat is it going into?

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

This is for my 1995 Pantera 24SE.
Everything besides the block, conn. rods and crank will be new.
Will be putting a hotter cam in, 850holley carb, new intake, stainless marine exhaust. Expecting around 550hp. This will be dynoed.
Hopefully Jeff will chime in to answer these questions better.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

These are the 308s, and compression should be around 9.3.
Had to replace my oringinal large rectangular ports since one was shot, so Jeff suggested these. And I know the originals are too big for marine use.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

what drive do you have and what is your dimension from the prop shaft to the pad?

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

I know my X dimension is around 17 1/4".
I currently have a bravo one, but I'm thinking of changing to an XR upper.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Hey Storm ..thanks for the post and info ....please keep it up through the entire project .... was it a $$ issue on not replacing the rods ? or maybe less than 600 HP is ok ?

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Jeff said there was no point on replacing them, they are in mint shape. And they are forged, not cast so they are the good stuff.
I guess I could have replace them, but $ is always an issue, otherwise i wouldn't have rebuilt, just woulda gone new.
I'm trying (with jeffs help) to put the $ towards the stuff I need, like a beefier drive.
I'm sure you all can appreciate that.
And I will try to take pics w/ updates when i make it to the shop, which should almost be weekly.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

I've heard very good things about Jeff and I'm sure he's checking everything. You'll be pleased with the finished product.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

I'm sure of it. That is why I went with Jeff.
I originally wanted to have Mesa do my engine, but being so far I was hesitant.
Then I spoke to Jeff, and he was exactly what I was looking for.
He really knows his stuff and has had a long time relationship w/ rich zul.
He's really easy to talk to and I feel he'll be there to help me in the future, especially since he is local.
I'm glad I jumped on board w/ JC performance, and look forward to having him work on my boat(s) for years to come.

I'm posting this rebuild because I felt there were plenty of others out there in my situation and would like to see what I'm doing. There are also others out there that just like to see these works in progress. And then there is the shameless plug. :D

More to come.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

A nice option would to do some bore notching----it would be an ideal thing to do as long as the block is bare....good for about 20-30hp according to JimV. But it will lower your compression a bit. JimV could tell you more about it. Anyway, looking good-----have fun!

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

:D :D :stupid:

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is bore notching????

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

KAAMA, I know we've discussed this at length before (over bags of Oreo cookies and Cokes)
and I can understand the theory behind it but I still don't think that it's good for the 20 to 30 horsepower that has been suggested, depending on the engines being built. I find it hard to believe that SuperV's engines would have made another 20-30 on the dyno down at Earhart's shop that day.
In a nutshell, bore-notching is grinding away the cylinder material that hangs out past the head gasket in the areas near the valves. Lay the headgasket on the block and notice the oval appearance of the gasket hole and the metal that can be removed from the bore, effectively unshrouding the airflow path into the cylinder.
I'll admit that it can be done cheap enough to be worth the effort.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Looking good Storm... :drink:
Did you decide to upgrade to a roller cam?
How fast is that baby going to spin to make 550HP?

If you do buy an XR upper, I would be interested in you stock Bravo upper.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Pat, we're sticking w/ a flat tappet w/ roller rockers.
Jeff didn't think the cost of a roller cam was worth it.
I'm sure he could tell you why better.
I think it was going to spin 5500.
And as far as the bravo upper... I'll know soon if i upgrade.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

The 7 1/6 Chevy rods work just fine up till about 575Hp.I put ARP bolts in them,magnafluxed them,and resized the big ends.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

You spin your motors up to 6500 rpm? Your drives can take that?

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Crazyhosre/Dave,

Yes, I hear you Dave---I suppose it's not one of those things that is written in stone. JimV said he found 30hp or torque from a 454cid engine on Earhart's dyno years ago. I know that 30hp sounds a bit opptomistic---a controversial thing, but even if it's only half that amount it's still something that can be very easily done while the block is bare. It's one of those little things that is realatively simple, and takes very little time---but hey, it was only a thought/suggestion is all. I would love to see it with my own eyes on a dyno myself! ;)

Cmoney,

Crazyhorse explained it pretty well. If you ever look at a stock block you will usually see that GM does this a bit with a cutter---kind of harsh. But a better job can be done with a die grinder and a steady hand. However, most engine builders usually don't want to mess around by doing this---perhaps because they don't think it is worth the bennefits of it. I suppose it's kind of a controversial thing to some and think it is insignificant, and that is okay. It still isn't difficult to do, and doesn't take much time, BUT the person doing it MUST KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING!

These days (on engines such as a 502 or larger), it isn't much needed because of the larger cubic inch displacement engines are more streamline now with the larger piston bore diameters. However, I like the idea of a bore notch job on a smaller piston bore of a 454cid and I am all for it. I had it done a couple 454's of my own by JimV. He only charged about $50 per engine to do it---pretty inexpensive I would think. Even if a person wanted to lower his comp ratio a little it would be a good, inexpensive way of doing it. JimV can tell you more about it---he's an airflow guy and he apparently believes in it.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Rob...the motor looks like it is coming together real nice!! Keep the pics of the progress coming.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Stopped by the shop again.
Block is almost ready for assembly.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Rods and pistons are connected.
Crank is cleaned up and ready.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Also took a ride down to MRD.
Here is an engine awaiting install.

And then Jeffs Motor from his activator.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

And a few boats in rigging.
30 Superboat.
Nice new skater!!!
and the obvious... cigar.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Rob....with 550 HP what top speed do you expect ? She should really hall ass! I can't wait till summer to find out...

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

I can't wait to find out too.
I know a of a 24 pantera w/ 570hp will run 82 all day and has hit 84.
So I'm thinking 80 may be achievable.
But wont really know till she hits the dyno.

We'll just have to wait and see...

And I'll pass out depends w/ lifejackets. :D

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

they make a dyno for women? :D :D i know the last 1 broke my rod :D :D :evilb:

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Stopped by the shop again.
The head on the left is mine. The one on the right has not been done yet. Gives you a good idea of before/after.

Valve seats and porting all done by Jeff himself.
These should flow real nice.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

He also had a set of Big Chief 14° heads.
Here they are next to mine.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

He also had a set of the new 18° Chevy Style heads.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

I'm looking for a cam for a similar rebuild. What cam and intake are you using for 550hp ?What comp ratio?Thanks

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

He will have 9.5to1 compression.A ported dual plane[rect.port].The cam is going to be a Crane flat tappet [solid]..580 and .600 on the exhaust.244 and 252 for dur. at .050 and on a 112 center.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Nice to see someone still using solid flat tappets!! Solid flat tappets really rap out a tune! What is the anticipated WOT RPM?

Craig

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Expecting around 550hp(+?) at 5700rpm.

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Sweet. I guess the KE exhaust is pretty resistant to reversion. What would you think would be the largest cam I could run with Rev Marine(Gil copy)without getting into reversion?

Re: 454mag rebuild in progress
 

Using stainless marine, not KE.
Got the long risers.
And it better be resistant to reversion.