454 upgrade
- Thread starter kevalaska
- Start date
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
That's a pretty all encompassing question without much to go on. How does it run when the engine is running correctly? What gear and prop? Boat size and weight?
The 454 in stock form is not a big power maker. I call it "All the weight of a big block, most of the power of a small block". You can rebuild it to make big power (stroke, heads, cam etc.). My experience is that rebuild to stock trim is pretty cheap and worth it if that works. But if looking for significant power upgrades it is cheaper and quicker to purchase a package deal.
One Eyed Gator
Well-known member
If want to keep the BBC, do a search for Crowhater on SA. He did a Budget friendly 496 build for a buddy.
Or my old boss had a 540 with Aluminum heads it was on a 16x8 alumitec with very high sides (heavy) but it has plenty of power. His boat got run hard and had a good number of hours was 15yrs old when he sold it.
Good Luck with whatever direction you decide to go!
Or my old boss had a 540 with Aluminum heads it was on a 16x8 alumitec with very high sides (heavy) but it has plenty of power. His boat got run hard and had a good number of hours was 15yrs old when he sold it.
Good Luck with whatever direction you decide to go!
Prototype
Well-known member
Without driving you nuts how do LS's or LT's do in Alaska?
I went Blown LS6 vs the 572 and can't look at iron again for about every aspect of an owner should consider! About the same cost and half the fuel burn but actually more thrust than a 572 and gobs of less weight! But some still love them moose's behind them?
Assuming its not dd and plenty of prop pitch left on the table?
If it's a camper 454 re-purpose on it's last leg plus 20 years, okay to ignore my above!
Just getting into the gen v LT's and extremely impressed with them but those dicatate mount changes also
I went Blown LS6 vs the 572 and can't look at iron again for about every aspect of an owner should consider! About the same cost and half the fuel burn but actually more thrust than a 572 and gobs of less weight! But some still love them moose's behind them?
Assuming its not dd and plenty of prop pitch left on the table?
If it's a camper 454 re-purpose on it's last leg plus 20 years, okay to ignore my above!
Just getting into the gen v LT's and extremely impressed with them but those dicatate mount changes also
Kevalaka, you have some very good sources of information here already. The main question is what is your existing rig? How many hours are on it? What is the original hp estimate and rpm? If you have a reduction, what is the ratio?
If this is a work boat, I would think you want several thousand hours of reliability out of it.
What are your expectations of your next drivetrain?
SWAMPHUNTER45
Well-known member
Hard to beat a well built 496 or 540 BBC for durability. Just don’t get compression stupid and use good fuel.
Learn about blending in a little race gas for protection in the summer months.
Learn about blending in a little race gas for protection in the summer months.
Prototype
Well-known member
Swamp,
It's actually real easy to beat any iron bbc on a boat but I hear ya about feeding it! Dam 400$ in fuel for less than a days use is a hard on my wallet!
A little 110 never hurts either unless there is a 02 sensor in the mix? I killed 3 of them with the lead in 110 Race gas before I realized my mistakes. But the poster is gone so let it die!
It's actually real easy to beat any iron bbc on a boat but I hear ya about feeding it! Dam 400$ in fuel for less than a days use is a hard on my wallet!
A little 110 never hurts either unless there is a 02 sensor in the mix? I killed 3 of them with the lead in 110 Race gas before I realized my mistakes. But the poster is gone so let it die!