Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Darko,

It really depends on your budget. If money is really tight right now, believe me there are several of us here which can empathize with you. To keep things simple a different set of cast iron heads, a better intake system, a nice cam, nice carb and good ignition system should help. If you can't afford the cam try to find a decent set of good used heads. I've seen some decent (not great, but decent) used heads out there for $250 or $200. Try to set a budget first and work with that.

I would not recommend nitrous on a stock engine from 1989. Otherwise it's going to go kaboom. And kaboom is never good with regards to an engine.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

well i've run nitrous on many things, and usually when they get "loose" its nothing to really worry about.

The thing is, that I plan on eventually selling the car probably in the next year and I dont really want to dump too much money into the motor, but I need to pull the 350 out of the car now because its pretty much toast and I cant sell it with that motor in it.

so right now I got a good 89 454 shortblock with 90k miles all cleaned up and painted, the 360 heads bolted on it with new gaskets, the edelbrock cam (think its a 218/228 .500 lift but i'm not sure) need to get another intake and a holley 3310 750 carb. I'm thinking about just running it like this, but I really dont know what to do as i've never run big blocks before so I dont know how it will run.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

A CC 268HE or 270 Magnum cam, a cheap set of 1.75" dia., 4-tube long headers and a E-brock Peanut Port Performer 2-O intake and a stock Q-Jet and you are good to go, imho.

I would pull the heads and install better valve springs b/c the stock ones are very weak and low lift!!

Then install a pair of .020" thick steel shim headgaskets to bump up the CR about 0.3 of a point! Every little bit helps here.

A BB like this will be a blast! Nothing fancy at all.

pdq67

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

The peanut port 454's can and do run very well. Go easy on the cam and induction, and it will surprise the heck out of you (and many who lines up next to you!)

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Ummmm... don't forget there are other mods required when you swap to a big block. Front springs, linkages, exhaust etc that could cost a lot more than doing a quick overhaul on the 350 if you just want to sell the car.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Ummmm... don't forget there are other mods required when you swap to a big block. Front springs, linkages, exhaust etc that could cost a lot more than doing a quick overhaul on the 350 if you just want to sell the car.

well I dont have a heater core so I dont have to mess with that, i'm going to order the big block engine mounts, the long tube headers are $150, and I need to get another flywheel....as far as springs go i'm hoping the ones in there will work out ok

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

The peanut port heads don't flow as well in the upper RPM range, but they were never designed to do that. They were made to produce a ton of torque in the low to mid range. The smaller ports means increased flow velocity in the low to mid range. As long as you run a torquey cam, you'll be fine if you want to keep the heads. Otherwise, you can pick up large oval port heads for about $200. If you are on a tight budget, run it the way it is, just keep RPM down to about 5k.

I agree with pdq, get a cheap set of 1.75" diameter headers and an Edelbrock Performer or Performer RPM intake. However, I would get the Xtreme Energy series CC cam (not the Magnum series). Like maybe XE262H if you want fairly mild or XE268H if you want a little more power and a slight lope.

You didn't say what pistons you have, but the orginals are probably cast dished for low compression. If you are boring it out and planning on using nitrous, then get flat top forged pistons. They are stronger to handle the nitrous and will increase CR a point.

The big block weighs more than the small block, so it'll compress the stock springs more. If your old springs are good and you like the lowered look, then you might be ok. Chevy used stiffer "big block" springs in the SS396 cars. You'll need both the engine mounts and the frame stands for big block too.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

The cheapest way to up a BB like this one is to install a pair of -206 heads that are down around 96.7 to 98 CC's along w/ .020" thick shim headgaskets. I'm thinking like you will be up at 9.2 to 1 CR.... Up from 7.9 or so??

Do a mild bowl-blend and port cleanup and add a good valve job and better springs and go.

And I want to say that if I was to use a more aggressive cam than either the CC 268HE or the 270 Magnum, then I would install the 268 VooDoo!!

I figure that it is SOTA and made by UDHarold so will be about the best going.....

pdq67

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Like pdq said earlier, any cam change will require better valve springs regardless of which heads. I agree, if you don't change the pistons out, then maybe heads with smaller compression chambers would help. Not sure I'd go closed chamber though. The reason I don't recommend the 270H Magnum cam is that peanut port heads like the split pattern cams better.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Years ago when we just bolted stuff up for the fun of it I ran a 454 w/ a lunati .555/.566 solid cam, closed chamber domed pistons ????, a torquer rectangle port intake and peanut port heads "w/ good springs" :clonk:

Dont ask me how I came up with that combo but it was all used crap and ran 12.20's @ 114 mph in a '69 nova w/ cheapo 10" conv. and 4.10 gears and $49 headers :beers:

I wouldnt use the heads unless you have to, but they do work.




bob

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

does anyone know what kind of pistons are in the 89 chevy dually truck 454 blocks? Trying to figure out what kind of compression i'll get if I go with an open chamber or closed chamber head?

I am picking up a set of 049's bare for $25 this week just because they are such a good deal, but don't know if I'm going to use them or not. I've found a bunch of heads around here for around 300-400 I could use but I want to try and figure out what the best way to go about it is depending on what piston those motors came with

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Again, unless you change pistons, the -049's will put you about 7.9 to 8 to 1 is the reason I mentioned going to the early closed chamber -206 large oval heads and .020" thick shim headgaskets to get you up close to 9.3 CR. so that you can run a half decent cam is all!!!

Please look up Mark, VORTECPRO, over at Team Chevelle b/c he did a test w/ peanut port heads! It's a LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGG thread tho!!

And I would buy a 505 engine off him in a NY minute if I had the money!!

pdq67

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Again, unless you change pistons, the -049's will put you about 7.9 to 8 to 1 is the reason I mentioned going to the early closed chamber -206 large oval heads and .020" thick shim headgaskets to get you up close to 9.3 CR. so that you can run a half decent cam is all!!!

Please look up Mark, VORTECPRO, over at Team Chevelle b/c he did a test w/ peanut port heads! It's a LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGG thread tho!!

And I would buy a 505 engine off him in a NY minute if I had the money!!

pdq67

Thanks for that, my peanut port 9.2 comp 475 made 540 Hp and 582 ftlbs of torque with a 280 mga cam 550 230 108 flat tappet hyd cam on 91 octane, and thats 10 sec hp in a camaro easy!

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

The 454 light truck engine I'm using had flat top pistons with a 5cc recess in them. It is about a 1986 or 87 model. The so called peanut port heads had 123cc combustion chambers. I think it would have had a compression ratio of about 7:6 to one. I'm using speed pro pistons with .220 dome and using these heads. i think it will be about 9:5 to one after facing about .025 off both heads. I'm running a comp cam 280h magnum cam. Performer intake and 750 cfm eldebrock carb with headers. I also had the rotating assembly balanced. Maybe in a couple weeks I'll see what this thing will do. :noway:

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Save a few bucks more and lose the peanut heads. Ya may be thinkin about changin too soon after install IMHO.
For $795 in this site's performance classifieds are a head and cam package that will really take charge.
Do some math including the peanut heads and what ya have to do then re-examine that head/cam package.

"049 GM Heads Ported Stainless Valves 2.250 Int/1.880 exh Bronze lined guides Cut for PC Seals (heads are Open Chamber) New Never run $795 Crane 615 lift Solid Lifter Cam ..." is the ad.

Edit from first try...Wow....didn't read full post and agree that 049's may not work because of low comp.
Sorry pdq67.
Good luck.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Sure PM Mark, (aka, vortecpro), above! Post 16.

pdq67

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

A 475" is a .100" overbore 454" is all.

And I figure a lot of Mark IV, 454's will bore at least .125" over, but to be sure, I would sonic check the block I wanted to use.

pdq67

PS., and I have a new box of, never been touched by my greasy hands, .100" over flat-top K/B hyper's out in the garage now for sale. I want to say PN KB 202, .100" overs.

I was going to make a 475" until I stopped by Lunati's one summer years ago and ended up buying their 4.25" stroked crank. Now I have a 496"!

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

A 475" is a .100" overbore 454" is all.

And I figure a lot of Mark IV, 454's will bore at least .125" over, but to be sure, I would sonic check the block I wanted to use.

pdq67

PS., and I have a new box of, never been touched by my greasy hands, .100" over flat-top K/B hyper's out in the garage now for sale. I want to say PN KB 202, .100" overs.

I was going to make a 475" until I stopped by Lunati's one summer years ago and ended up buying their 4.25" stroked crank. Now I have a 496"!

We do sonic check the blocks, I like the the bigger bore because it unshrouds the valves, you cant beat free HP, but it does take longer to bore the block.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Mark..if you can not go bigger with the bore to unshroud the intake valve,is this why Rat engines with canted valves love lift?More lift in a bathtub vs open chamber?For a street deal/high mileage engine..the open chamber with a less aggressive cam profile might live longer and still flow the reqd #,s to meet the hp goal.

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

do you stillhave the 454 .100overpistons ifso call me at 208 703 6778 mark

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

pdq67 do you still have the 454 .100 over pistons? if so call me at 208 703 6778

 

Re: building a budget 454 with peanut heads

Um, way old post.
PDQ was banned a LOOOOOONG time ago for being an ......

Ron

pdq67 do you still have the 454 .100 over pistons? if so call me at 208 703 6778

 

I built a budget 454, 4 spd BW T-10, for $2000, not including the $1500 for the tranny and the stuff to go with it, and now I get 8 MPG! Ouch!