Weiand 177 and aluminum heads on 454
01-04-2013 | 05:45 PM
#1
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Weiand 177 and aluminum heads on 454
Over this winter I'm going thru my 454 in my 252 liberator. I picked up a set of revolution brand exhaust manifolds and a weiand 177 that came out of a boat with very low hrs. Here's my question, the blower came with an oval port intake and I have cast iron stock heads. I'm debating between replacing the heads to aluminum with inconel valves and going oval port. On the other hand keep cast iron heads and buying rectangle intake? I know I'll have a big weight savings with going aluminum but how much performance is the question? 500.00 for intake or 2000,00 for heads? Thanks for the input guys. 
01-09-2013 | 05:50 PM
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From: tn
A 177 blower is only efficient on a 454 at lower boost pressures. Above 4 or 5 psi you start whipping the blower into the zone where it heats the air too much. So with that said, you're going to be staying below 5 psi of boost with that blower.
Running the blower intake with oval ports on a short block with rectangle ports won't hurt you nearly as much as you think. BUT are you SURE you have rectangle ports? A 330 doesn't come with rect ports. They come with cast iron ovals.
Inconel is only needed if you run boost over 5psi, run your motor dangerously lean, or if you run stock style exhaust manifolds with a can that allows reversion. They never HURT, but aren't really necessary unless you plan to run it lean and mean.
Budget is the question.
You have a bargain blower. You have bargain performance exhausts.
You will spend $$$ on aluminum heads, yet if you are running cast pistons and a small blower, you won't be able to turn up the knob far enough to take full advantage of it.
I say bolt the blower on "as is". Keep your boost around 4psi, and enjoy it.
When you want more, determine exactly what components are in your motor and start formulating a new build plan.
Of course, at that stage, you'll be ready to sell the boat to somebody and start over with something focused more towards speed in the first place. Once you start trying to go fast, the worst thing you can do is pour lots of money into power that is sitting in an inefficient hull. the same HP in an efficient hull will run much faster, be safer, more fun, and save on gas too. It will also have more resale whereas a hopped up medium performance rig is worth less than a stock one.
MC
Running the blower intake with oval ports on a short block with rectangle ports won't hurt you nearly as much as you think. BUT are you SURE you have rectangle ports? A 330 doesn't come with rect ports. They come with cast iron ovals.
Inconel is only needed if you run boost over 5psi, run your motor dangerously lean, or if you run stock style exhaust manifolds with a can that allows reversion. They never HURT, but aren't really necessary unless you plan to run it lean and mean.
Budget is the question.
You have a bargain blower. You have bargain performance exhausts.
You will spend $$$ on aluminum heads, yet if you are running cast pistons and a small blower, you won't be able to turn up the knob far enough to take full advantage of it.
I say bolt the blower on "as is". Keep your boost around 4psi, and enjoy it.
When you want more, determine exactly what components are in your motor and start formulating a new build plan.
Of course, at that stage, you'll be ready to sell the boat to somebody and start over with something focused more towards speed in the first place. Once you start trying to go fast, the worst thing you can do is pour lots of money into power that is sitting in an inefficient hull. the same HP in an efficient hull will run much faster, be safer, more fun, and save on gas too. It will also have more resale whereas a hopped up medium performance rig is worth less than a stock one.
MC
