454 7k rpm choices

[cv67]

Domed pistons and 62cc chamber
I put some good stuff in it when I have it out
Had plenty of low compression sb/bbc wasnt happy with them just dont have the snap I like
Different strokes.

[F-BIRD'88]

Just swap the domed pistons for the correct pistons with a D Dish to the get the cr right. It will have plenty of "snap" and you can then drive it.

Forget the race gas BS. Thats why it sits in the garage most of the time.
You are your own worst enemy.

if the heads are 62cc measured you want a new 385 piston with a -16cc
D dish volume. It will likely weight LESS than your current dome piston.
You can make that up with the piston pin choice.

If you want more "SNAP".... BIG torque that you can feel when you drive it
change the single plane racing intake manifold for a BIG dual plane high rise
intake. It will have a lot more "SNAP"
That Dual Quad RPM dual plane RPM intake will Equal the HP of your single plane and EXCEED it in torque, especially in the lower end where you Feel the SNAP when you drive your car.

use 2 Big Eddy carbs on it. Not the lil 500's. 2x750's
If you do use carb spacers for added height try Fully divided spacers on it to Keep
"The SNAP"
The 260 deg Isky roller cam is just right. May help a hair to advance it if it not already advanced.
It will be a whole different car even with the bit lower but true pump gas friendly 10:1 compression.
I bet it will go QUICKER and FASTER in the 1/4 Mile too.
Cause its got more "Snap" right where you want it.
The engine will feel BIGGER.
You just need to fix what you already got.

[F-BIRD'88]

Which version of that T-56 transmission do you got there?
Model # or GearZ ratioZ

Doing a lil math... I have fixed many many cars like yours.

Ends up QUICKER and faster. Runs correctly on real pump gas
and Drives MUCH better. Doesn't sit in the garage.

[Old as Dirt]

It will run fine on Premium and a splash of AvGas.. @ 11:1, my 496 runs straight AvGas @ 12.5:1 and does very well.. cheaper than race gas..

[statsystems]

I run 11:1 on pump gas with iron heads.

Holy shit it's 2017.

[cv67]

I hear ya
Have the F body T56 2.66 low 4.11 gear 26 in tire love it
Motor grabs rpm quick
Its not too low a gear if motor can not be topped out too quick. Any less gear meh...I dunno. Maybe Im old.
Too much low end Ill just go up in smoke not afraid of a little fine tuning or losing some "low end" tq its not for every car
I want it to run hard in the 1/4 and "just be" driveable on the st even if some consider it limping
just dont want to feel like shaft rockers and roller lifters are a requirement. wont cry if a FT starts going, drop another in and keep on going.

not changing tire size MAY regear depending.

I believe I can run some compression with todays heads good tuning right cam.

[F-BIRD'88]

Gearing: The car is under geared for that motor.
What is the 1/4 mile ET and MPH? or 1/8th et and MPH?
True car weight with driver -all in?

Your car really needs 4.56 gears with your 260deg @.050" roller cammed 385
It wants to rev. You are not trapping at near enough rpm.
You are not using all the motor in the 1/4 mile.
And you have 2 overdrive gears for easy hyway cruise.

The heads etc and cam etc won't make a big difference in octane tolerance
on the street in real street use. 10:1 is plenty 10.50:1 a practical real world limit for 91 octane.
You will need to be on your game to do even that with 91 pump.
This is not a computer controled knock protected LS motor.
A bit too much compression is a lot too much cr as soon as it goes into detonation.
You do not want to ride the edge of cr limit on a real street pump gas motor.
You do not need to. Your engine will not self heal from detonation damage.
it becomes a OLD motor real quick (piston ring seal damage) . it looses its power edge very quickly
if when detonated, even if you never hear it. (it is real hard to actually hear high speed WOT detonation from the drivers seat and you will not react fast enough anyway.
Now your 11.5:1 motor cannot even make the real power of a 9.5:1 healthy motor.

If when a flat tappet cam goes south where does all that lobe metal go?

You have some concept beliefs that are making your street car un - user friendly.
Thats why it sits in the garage. You can change that. Make it daily drivable and also make it quicker faster and drive a LOT NICER.

With 4.56's you will have a whole new concept of "Snappy" ha ha.

Remember 5th and 6th gears really tame that down for easy hiway cruising.

[F-BIRD'88]

So whats the story on that 385 SB? Got a lot of stuff coming out of the valve cover
breathers?

[cv67]

nothing coming out the valve cover its tight only 200 mi
it sits because most the time I cant walk anymore too painful but can still drive and plan too soon.

I know its atad undergeared but still grabs it quick. Just want more I dont see how less compression etc is going to make more power. Not knocking just saying
Had a couple nice BBC yrs ago miss em. Sure this runs good but doesnt have the sheer brutalness until I get some rpm.
And....dont make the money I did with youth and a good economy yrs ago . So its gotta be good only spend it in the right places still convinced I can have some fun.

Firm believer in a good head/core cam sold all that old junk iron stuff off yrs ago. not worth it to me plus hate porting iron

[F-BIRD'88]

Compression ratio drop: It won't make more power. Theoretically it will loose 3% to 4%
The gear Change to 4.56 will more than make up the acceleration
And you will be able to drive it using pump gas.
The power will be right there too, with more gear. Net car Performance will actually INCREASE

You'd like the powerband and drivability of the Dual Quad RPM hi rise manifold w 2x4 carbs
over your racing single plane intake.
Again the power will be right there, right now. Overall broader powerband
Cannot beat the Visual impact.
Car will end up quicker and you can drive it.
A fraction of the price of building a BBC for it.

A different car with much more usability. The 10:1 10.50:1 pump gas motor you should have built for this car. And can.

[F-BIRD'88]

I'd keep the current Isky roller cam. It's a good one.
Often the motor will make a bit more power by running the valve lash a bit tighter than the .028" hot lash of the cam card.
Try .016"-.018" set Cold on that one. It may well pick up a bit of performance in the 1/4 mile
and it will be more reliable in street use with the tighter net lash setting.
Try it. Don't fret on the lifters.

I think you will like that with the 4.56 gears and the Dual Quad 2x4 induction.
Do you ever actually drag race this car?
If you are going to be in a wheel chair some of the time, That is a good car for you.

[RevTheory]

I think the man wants to build a 454. Shouldn't we give him our opinions on that instead of telling him all the different ways to "fix" his small block?

[cv67]

LOL thanks man. Ill listen to all viewpoints though but yes if I can bbc is the next step
To be fair if I can ill get an 02 on this one to maximize it
Do like the ported single plane/AED 850 fwiw
not looking to be the fastests just scare myself once in awhile and find something else to fix.
Hopefully i can keep this thing its been with me 20 something yrs but health has kept me out of it.
It never leaves ya as they say

[RevTheory]

Rompin', stompin', big block torque is hard to beat!

Sorry about your health, man.

[murre]

This is what I use. in my chevell 65 street/strip. th400. gear 4,56. tire 30. went 10,59s. 125 mph. hp.?? dont know mayby 550+
bbc 454
cr 12;1 trw piston
solid ft crane nr 134761 110 266/276 310/320 600-620
demon 1090
rpm intake
head 215 bigger valvs and home ported

I suppose you can go faster with aluminum heads and right solid ft