Vortec 454: School me!

[cantvalve16]

Does anybody know the dirt on the Vortec 454 engines? I have been researching all over the internet looking to find out what it is that holds the power back on these engines. They are factory rated at 290/410, but this is a 454 we are talking about here. In a mild form these things should be good for 350 horspower and 450 ft/lbs right?

In all my daydreaming, I figure the restriction has to be in the heads, cam, intake, or computer. Well the computer does leave some room for improvment (according to some forums I have read up on) as well as something I read that really made me wince. I read that the cam on these engines is factory installed 9 degrees retarded. That would move the powerband up and decrease the lowend torque. The motivation for doing this was to make the difference between the 454 and new 6.0 less noticeable on the lowend. Again, this is what I read, but I cannot prove it. Does anybody else know?

Also, is the intake manifold any good on these things? I have seen pictures of them and they look pretty free flowing aside from the pinched inlet. Can anybody tell me whether or not these would be a choke point once the heads, cam, and exhaust are free flowing?

This is my first big block, and I understand there are generation differences in them. Does that mean you cannot put early heads on a late model block or vise versa? Are the '97 engines considered rectangular port or oval?

I know that's alot of questions. School me fellas.

[squirrel]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

there are water passage differences in the deck between early and late big blocks that will affect head swaps. later truck engines like that are peanut port, smaller than ovals. not a high rpm engine, which is why hp numbers are low.

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Does anybody know the dirt on the Vortec 454 engines? I have been researching all over the internet looking to find out what it is that holds the power back on these engines. They are factory rated at 290/410, but this is a 454 we are talking about here. In a mild form these things should be good for 350 horspower and 450 ft/lbs right?

In all my daydreaming, I figure the restriction has to be in the heads, cam, intake, or computer. Well the computer does leave some room for improvment (according to some forums I have read up on) as well as something I read that really made me wince. I read that the cam on these engines is factory installed 9 degrees retarded. That would move the powerband up and decrease the lowend torque. The motivation for doing this was to make the difference between the 454 and new 6.0 less noticeable on the lowend. Again, this is what I read, but I cannot prove it. Does anybody else know?

Also, is the intake manifold any good on these things? I have seen pictures of them and they look pretty free flowing aside from the pinched inlet. Can anybody tell me whether or not these would be a choke point once the heads, cam, and exhaust are free flowing?

This is my first big block, and I understand there are generation differences in them. Does that mean you cannot put early heads on a late model block or vise versa? Are the '97 engines considered rectangular port or oval?

I know that's alot of questions. School me fellas.

the cam/intake and heads.. are killing the power..
my 454 ho crate is 475 hp /500 ft lb it's a roller cam.. like the vortec..
buy rec. port heads,, but only 8.75 to 1.. an intake change and a little more cam and I was over 500hp..
the heads are small oval ports.. and a tiny cam..
I'd think a cam change (and adjustable valvetrain) should wake it up..
if I can get 500 hp out of a 454 with 8.75 to one..
you can get more out of that..
I'm sure the truck vortec 454 is just like the older 454 truck engines.. the heads ports are small...(peanut ports)
but you still can get 400+hp out of them

[ss427]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Well, to the average poor guy(like me) a 454 is still a big motor. You Must have headers. And I don't care what your compession is, if you're gonna pound on it, you better have at least some premium fuel in it. That will enable you to
run a bit more advance. And here's what people don't realize(for heavy tow, or foot to the floor action) you will be somewhere one day, and it will for whatever reason, get a little warm(hot) on you. If you're in a situation, where you
must keep going, (towing up a big hill), that premium fuel will help keep you from getting to far into detonation.
If I hear correctly, aren't the BB vortec intake ports similar to the original (big) oval ports? Which means you almost
can't go wrong on the cam, and it will rock.

[cantvalve16]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Those responses are pretty much what I thought. Now, let's add the wrench to the gears that this engine is in a 1 ton 4wd crew cab truck. Staying N/A, what would you do to get this thing to make more usable power? Let's say 1500 rpm up to 4500-5000 rpm. I want this thing to be able to pull as close to a diesel as possible. I know this is NOT a diesel, but I don't like diesels. I like big blocks. Oh, and it's gotta be smog legal. Have I tied your hands enough? LOL. Bench race away fellas.

[min301]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Torque biased cam, Perf RPM(if carb'd) intake,
bumping compression...you know maximize torque,
and you'll be happy.


Is this a TBI, PFI, or carb?

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Well, to the average poor guy(like me) a 454 is still a big motor. You Must have headers. And I don't care what your compession is, if you're gonna pound on it, you better have at least some premium fuel in it. That will enable you to
run a bit more advance. And here's what people don't realize(for heavy tow, or foot to the floor action) you will be somewhere one day, and it will for whatever reason, get a little warm(hot) on you. If you're in a situation, where you
must keep going, (towing up a big hill), that premium fuel will help keep you from getting to far into detonation.
If I hear correctly, aren't the BB vortec intake ports similar to the original (big) oval ports? Which means you almost
can't go wrong on the cam, and it will rock.

no
the vortec are like the old peanut ports.. my crate engine has the rec ports..

[min301]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Well, to the average poor guy(like me) a 454 is still a big motor. You Must have headers. And I don't care what your compession is, if you're gonna pound on it, you better have at least some premium fuel in it. That will enable you to
run a bit more advance. And here's what people don't realize(for heavy tow, or foot to the floor action) you will be somewhere one day, and it will for whatever reason, get a little warm(hot) on you. If you're in a situation, where you
must keep going, (towing up a big hill), that premium fuel will help keep you from getting to far into detonation.
If I hear correctly, aren't the BB vortec intake ports similar to the original (big) oval ports? Which means you almost
can't go wrong on the cam, and it will rock.

no
the vortec are like the old peanut ports.. my crate engine has the rec ports..

Correct, peanut port.

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

Those responses are pretty much what I thought. Now, let's add the wrench to the gears that this engine is in a 1 ton 4wd crew cab truck. Staying N/A, what would you do to get this thing to make more usable power? Let's say 1500 rpm up to 4500-5000 rpm. I want this thing to be able to pull as close to a diesel as possible. I know this is NOT a diesel, but I don't like diesels. I like big blocks. Oh, and it's gotta be smog legal. Have I tied your hands enough? LOL. Bench race away fellas.

a nice roller(it is a roller now)
rv cam

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

only issue is the factory vavletrain is non adjustable..
you have to change over to adjustable rocker studs and nuts and rockers

[jays67]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

only issue is the factory vavletrain is non adjustable..
you have to change over to adjustable rocker studs and nuts and rockers

comp sells the studs for this that screw right in to your heads i did mine this waytill i can get some beter heads for it

[cantvalve16]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

It is MPFI. The stock intake has to stay to stay CA smog compliant. That is also going to limit my head choices since the intake is oval port if the heads are right? And this is a factory roller setup. What cam would you guys recommend with stock heads? Does anyone have any experience with these late model 454s? Remember, 6k lb. truck. ;)

Jay, what is your application you are running with your 454?

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

It is MPFI. The stock intake has to stay to stay CA smog compliant. That is also going to limit my head choices since the intake is oval port if the heads are right? And this is a factory roller setup. What cam would you guys recommend with stock heads? Does anyone have any experience with these late model 454s? Remember, 6k lb. truck. ;)

Jay, what is your application you are running with your 454?

you could install the 8.1 heads and intake..
and bye bye flow issues

[cantvalve16]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

believe it or not, the 8.1 uses the same heads as the Vortec 454 as well as the same cam (from my research). I thought the same thing, 8.1 swap, but I think the 454 has a bit of potential with a few changes.

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Vortec 454: School me!

believe it or not, the 8.1 uses the same heads as the Vortec 454 as well as the same cam (from my research). I thought the same thing, 8.1 swap, but I think the 454 has a bit of potential with a few changes.

IF THATS THE CASE,
I wonder what a set of 454 oval(not peanut port) heads and a rocker change(up ratio)
if be funny, if it was only the throd body, holding it back( and the ecu tune)