SuperFast80

As I ramp up the 454 project, I have come across a complete (yes complete) minus the carb 454 from a 1977 full sized Chevy truck for ~$800 USD. It apparently has all new accessories and intake but internally it is stock.

Can someone please explain the difference between this cam and the LS5 and LS4 cam and the difference between the heads. I want to be able to weigh the options and I am thinking of buying this and doing a frankenblock with the '72 LS5 I have.

Ganey

More cam needed & valve springs. Heads are smaller than normal oval port so if you need to use them, then more cam needed for intake. If the other 454 has heads, you could use them. Long water pump & access. as opposed to short wp Corvette.

:cool:

no_radio

I have a '76 Suburban with the original 454. As Ganey pointed out, these engines could use some cam and valve spring upgrades. Also, the compression ratio is ridiculously low, like 8:1.
I installed a Comp 256XE cam, and had the springs replaced with matched springs. Really improved the higher RPM breathing (still only about 5000 RPMs though). Also, the engine builder I have been using said they pick up BIG HP gains with headers compared to the truck exhaust manifolds.
My '76 Suburban at about 6000 lbs. with Comp 256XE cam, stock heads with fresh valve job and springs, Accel HEI distributor, Edelbrock Performer Intake, and DynoMax CeramCoat headers posted a 10.2 @ 70 mph 1/8 mile last year. Compare this to Hot Rod Mag's new Tahoe with 5.3 V8 plus catback and power programmer that ran a 10.3, had FI and computer control, and weighed a lot less.
Chalk one up for "The Beast". Speed Demon 750 soon to come...
Jeff

GDaina

don't forget the truck blocks are .4" higher. You may have to have custom made headers.

72 Stingray

It should be safe to say that the stock 77 truck cam is tailored for low-end torque and not performance (over 4k rpm) oriented at all. You are going to replace it with a new one anyway, right?

Go here: http://www.mortec.com

You can look up the block and head casting numbers to get a general idea of what they are. If the heads are original to the engine/vehicle (75 truck), they most likely are the infamous "peanut port" castings that are generally shunned for performance usage.

I'm looking for a 454 core right now too. The cheapest thing I've found so far is an engine very similar to the one you're describing and the asking price is $1300! So, depending on your area, $800 might not be so bad. My area stinks. :cry

Good Luck

72 Convertible
Frame-off and conversion to BBC/TKO in progress

no_radio

True, but only for the heavy duty stuff. Most light trucks (one ton and less) are the same block as a passenger car block, so all the accessories will fit. I went through this with my '76 454 truck engine, and found out about the HD thing.
Jeff