is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

my dad has a 92 1 ton dump with a 454 tbi.

I know the 454 tbi is no monster power house, but for what we use the truck for it serves us just fine. we are looking at the possibility of some broken exhaust studs in the heads, which would likely mean removing them. I know the stock TBI heads are not that great, but is there a direct bolt on head we could swap to?

the only thing I can find that seems remotely bolt on is a set of aluminum edelbrock heads for $2k- we really aren't looking to spend that much

or the L29 vortec heads- but Im not sure if these are a true bolt on. seems like a new intake and possibly a bigger throttle body are required?

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

Any older big block head head will bolt on. The early TBI 454s were nothing more than a standard 454 with a 4 barrel intake with an adapter for the TBI to bolt on. Use any small oval port head. Vortecs I think have a different pattern, but haven't messed with one..

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

older bbc engines were also screw in rocker studs . not press in like sbc engines used most of the time .

and if you change cams in bbc engines i have heard they also need the correct springs if over anything other than stock cams .

and if looking for more power in a head swap go smaller CC chambers as bbc in the tbi days and 70's - 80's also had LOW compression from the factory . smaller CC heads = bump in compression .

and dont forget changes to stock can equal custom burnt tbi computer chip to run correctly .

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

There is no intake spacer under the tbi on a 92. Straight tbi manifold.

Not looking to change cams or get into the bottom end. Just wondering if there a head I could bolt on that would bump compression a bit. Not sure about mark V block with older heads

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

No, nothing for what you are asking. $2k is really cheap for a set of big block heads, its a lot of material.
For the money perhaps just rebuild the heads and have them ported with bigger valves.

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

Probably cheaper to just have a machine shop repair those heads than try to replace them.

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

A 92 should be a Gen V block, so be careful on head selection if you opt for replacing the heads instead of repairing them.

The coolant passages were redesigned for the Gen V & Gen 6

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

I guess price is relative to the project here. $2k might be cheap for heads if this was some high hp build, but on a ratty 92 4x4 dump that i paid $4k for, not sure spending 2k on heads is smart :lol:


i was hoping maybe a set of 781 or 049 heads would bolt on, but that doesnt seem to be the case.

still cant find much info on the vortec 454 heads- L29. seems like they would bump compression, but I dont know if the stock tbi manifold fits or not.

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

Its only dumb if your doing this to sell the vehicle. If not then it doesn't matter.

Re: is there a bolt on 454 tbi head
 

The big block Vortec heads have the same intake bolt pattern as the older Mark IV heads. This did NOT change like it did on the small block.

I've never owned a Gen5, just Mark IV and Gen 6 big blocks so don't know on head compatibility on your block.

ARP makes studs that allow you to change Gen 5&6 non adjustable valvetrain over to adjustable