I recently bought a 1969 camaro that has a 454 in it and a 4 speed with 4.11 gearing. This 454 has no name headers, exhuast, a 750 edelbrock performance carb, edelbrock manifold, cast iron cylinder heads. I'm told it was out of a truck. My problem is its a 4 speed and the power curve seems to be at 4400! This is pretty bad for a 4 speed with a 4.11 rear end, what would be the best thing to do to get that curve up past 5400 at least?
BTW I'm a complete noob right now so go easy on me and don't bad mouth my car, I know its flawed right now but I got a hell of a deal on it and I want to make it right.

Welcome to Team Camaro!
It sounds like you just might have a truck motor but that isn't necessarily bad. The heads and cam are probably what's keeping the motor from reving but there could be other reasons. The pistons are probably a little low on compression as well. The good points are the bottom of the motor is probably pretty strong. Could have a steel crank, four bolt mains and 7/16" rods. It could also be a tall deck motor. Do you have confidence in your ability to tear the motor down? If you can, you can better tell where your at with the motor and what you will need to wake it up. You can also get the stamping number off the block and go to www.mortec.com (http://www.mortec.com) and find out what the block was originally intended for. Good luck.

Check out the "tech talk" section of this website.
http://www.rehermorrison.com/

There are 37 articles about motors and our hobby. Most about the BBC and how to build them. It will give you a great point of reference as you try and decide where you want to go with your project. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be thin skinned. There are alot of people with opinions and they like to make their point. Don't take that the wrong way. Most important have fun, but don't get caught! lol

67 Camaro Built with Cubic Money

My Car (http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/guido67ss)

i have a 427 big block,that was lacking on top end

i put an edelbrock performer intake;and
summits copy of the "performer" cam,and new valve springs,timing gears,and chain,and new "stock type" replacement rockers on the engine,3 years ago.

I also have an Hei dist. from a 1976 Chevy pickup
from the wrecking yard,and Hooker headers

to do it again,i would buy the coated headers,and maybe the performer rpm setup,but overall i am a LOT happier,than with the stock old cam/springs etc.

A stock 454 P/U motor is generally right at 7.9 to 8 to 1 CR. so is low to say the least. The pistons, or at least in my motor were cast, true flat-tops with one valve notch!! That and my open chambered -781 heads made it a low compression motor to say the least...

Also, the stock cam is like 248/195, .398"/?? lift and probably wide centers to boot.

It's a toss-up if you have good large oval port heads with the small, 2.06"/1.72" valves and open chambers like the -049's and -781's. It probably depends on the year and if they aren't the little-bitty, peanut port oval heads..

BUT like already said, it's a great starting point to build a monster if thats what you want.. A 496 is easy to build and not all that expensive, imho...

My 496 started from a core motor like you have and I only have like $3800 to $4000 in it, (and that includes new Merlin ovals, cheap headers and a Strip Dom. intake, too).. With what I know now about the "BSE" combination, I am sure I can build another one a lot cheaper now!!

And per D2K it should produce in the range of 550hp at 5500rpm and 580t at 4500rpm so I just call her my great big "tow-truck" motor!!

pdq67