Best way to get to ~400hp, 454 tbi. Anyone build one?

[LynnJr]

400hp from a 454 to my way of thinking is oval port heads and a decent cam with 10.5 to 1 compression and a carb.
When you add up all the costs from the add-ons it will be cheaper and you will have the power.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Or ditch tbi. Get a good cam flat top pistons and headers and a 650cfm carb and 400hp comes easily. Or stick with tbi and take twice as long and twice as hard to do it. Tbi is for economy not performance. Stick with its designed root and no issues.
IMO massaging tbi for performance is like a one legged dog trying to bury a turd on a frozen pond.
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[Redcap]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Or ditch tbi. Get a good cam flat top pistons and headers and a 650cfm carb and 400hp comes easily. Or stick with tbi and take twice as long and twice as hard to do it. Tbi is for economy not performance. Stick with its designed root and no issues.
IMO massaging tbi for performance is like a one legged dog trying to bury a turd on a frozen pond.
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Quoted for truth. Also...I agree.

[JAMESCHURCH13]

Great info. So with an 87 454 running long tube headers and a torquer intake what would be the best carb to hold a tune and add some power? Rebuild the Q-Jet 750 or go with Holley or spend god money on the Fast EFI? In a few months I will also get a mild cam. I want it to spin tires and sound nice. I drive it on occasion my Buell gets most of my daily drive/riding. This truck is just for fun and hauling the bikes to the dirt bike track which is 5 miles away.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Any good carb holds a tune it's the people that won't leave well enough alone that have problems
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[JAMESCHURCH13]

Sorted. Got an 800CFM Quadrajet tuned for my motor on the way from Sean Murphy Induction. Once it arrives I will do a no kidding start to finish TBI off Carb on Build thread. Can't wait. I miss my 68 short bed in the great state of Maryland with it's 327 that runs like a top but this toy hauling 87 Dually will do once it is making more than 230HP. Thanks for all the help with this forum fellas!

[DallasTxImpalaSS]

Get a 6.0 liter Lq4/Lq9 block and build a 408 stroker. That is the route I am going.
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[Wellgeo03]

Subscribed. My 90 454tbi does ok just running along, but pulling my trailer keeps it busy, and it is still stock height with stock tires. The lift and tires are going to hurt it, so more power is going to be on the list.
Good info here guys!
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[meatwagon83]

people around really drank the ls kool aide didnt they? 400 horse out of a 454 is simple and will have tons more torque than an ls

[DallasTxImpalaSS]

yeah that ls kool aide is gooood too!!

[DallasTxImpalaSS]

I added one of these last week to my 454 TBI. Definately breathes better under hard throttle.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-239451

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by DallasTxImpalaSS

I added one of these last week to my 454 TBI. Definately breathes better under hard throttle.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-239451

hhhmmmmmm.........looks familiar!

[DallasTxImpalaSS]

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

people around really drank the ls kool aide didnt they? 400 horse out of a 454 is simple and will have tons more torque than an ls

i think i mentioned this before but the tq in the 6.0 or 6.2 is on par with a 454. the 6.2 stomps everything but the 70 engines. the 70 ls6 made around 500 ft lbs and was very high compression and runs on leaded gas. building a 454 to 400 hp is going to have about the same tq as a 6.2 and still have less power. its hard to beat the ls combo sorry. you can shave down and hog out 454s heads to get 400 hp but then its gonna run on higher octane and be thirsty. or do aftermarket heads but by the time you sink all the money in you can have a ls engine that making the same power out of the box. to the op you could super charge your 454. thats the cheapest easiest option.

[gchemist]

Ram Jet it!! Aftermarket FI will wake it up.

[anubisani]

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE

HERES MY AIRCLEANER

[DallasTxImpalaSS]

Meatwagon, When it comes to heads what are your thoughts on 781 or 049?

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by DallasTxImpalaSS

Meatwagon, When it comes to heads what are your thoughts on 781 or 049?

oops i didnt see this, they are both good heads and with work they will support 600hp, but for 400 they will do it stock, both are large oval

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Peanut port heads still support 400hp it offer better torque production. Torque wins races. Hp sells engines
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[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Peanut port heads still support 400hp it offer better torque production. Torque wins races. Hp sells engines
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this is true as well

[BigBlocksRule]

Torque at RPMs wins races. Torque down low is great for towing, burnouts and engines that won't hurt themselves because they're done at 5500. Best for street in a truck, you spend more of your time in it's power band than the higher strung fender shaker.

[LynnJr]

On the westcoast I don't see anybody using peanut ports on there 454's making 400 hp.They might be out there but you would really have to look to find one.
Does anybody make a decent intake manifold for peanut heads? or are they running oval port manifolds?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by LynnJr

On the westcoast I don't see anybody using peanut ports on there 454's making 400 hp.They might be out there but you would really have to look to find one.
Does anybody make a decent intake manifold for peanut heads? or are they running oval port manifolds?

You can run ovals with no drawbacks.

The west coast has demon engines. The regularly build 400hp peanut port big blocks
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[LynnJr]

http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...g/viewall.html

This engine?
It made 119 horsepower more with oval ports.

[BigBlocksRule]

If it's a TBI, single plane oval and port matching of the head. There's an Edelbrock - Performer? - that's peanut or close to it and not very tall if you want to go with a carb.