power question

SS Shaun · #1 06-24-2012, 10:10 PM

ok guys i finally said let me follow someones build of a 454 to see what kind of power one gets. So i followed a person's build. He has a lot into it
11:1 pistons
rods
cam
port and polish heads
and so much more
he got it in the car and running took it to get dynoed and after tuning and everything he got
333hp
461tq!

how is it that a 7.4 (454) makes 333hp and my stock ls1 with just headers makes 317?

is something wrong here?

Ms Grumpy · #2 06-24-2012, 10:44 PM

Sure sounds like it. Big money does not necessarily mean more horsepower.

SS Shaun · #3 06-24-2012, 11:13 PM

I just think its crazy to me that he spent all that and I'm still faster them him.

fleming23 · #4 06-25-2012, 05:17 AM

You can spend 10 thousand on a turd.

You need to purchase the correct combo and have everything work together, correctly.

Heads need to work well with the intake, cam needs to match the heads, trans, gear, compression, etc.

Also consider, torque is what gets the heavy car moving off the line. Horsepower is what keeps it moving down the track. I'm guessing the cam in that 454 is probably done by 5-5500 rpm.

SS Shaun · #5 06-25-2012, 08:27 AM

yeah i know the tq is whats needed to get the car going but man. I look at it like this with my ls1 if i have 2000 bucks to play with. I can do heads, cam, better exhaust, intake and get 500hp 500tq and still have money left in my pocket to get a good tune. scary in my eyes.

Ms Grumpy · #6 06-25-2012, 09:42 AM

When Dart rebuilt my motor, after a defective part which was there fault, it produced more power and torque than a friend of mines motor. He had put a lot of time and money into his, just like your friend, and my friend was really pissed. But, like Eric said, it is so important to match your parts. We had made many phone calls, and asked many questions before we came up with my motor combination.

So my suggestion to you, research, research, research and then ask many questions.

SS Shaun · #7 06-25-2012, 09:51 AM

o i am not touching my 454 unless its shot and if it is i have a nice law suit against the machine shop. because i asked him to check everything for me and replace the replaceables. like the rings, bearings and seals on the block, and on the heads i told him if the springs dont come up to spec replace them and replace the valve seals. his report back was all was good replaced all valve seals and piston rings and bearings. so if my 454 has 250hp and 250tq i am ok with it as long as it runs. THEN the question will be when i get the car going and i want more power out of it what do i want to do...lol to be honest with you i think i would save the money and buy a crate motor that is proven to have the power instead of taking the gamble like all of these builders i am seeing.

Ms Grumpy · #8 06-25-2012, 11:28 PM

You know, I think that many of us, at one time or another, have thought "I should have". But those "what if's" and second guessing just end up making you frustrated.

Figure out what you want out of the motor. And that should help you make your decision.

carpoor · #9 06-26-2012, 04:07 PM

Too many variables, I saw a fox stang on a 100 shot make only 299 RWHP. It went deep 11s at the track the following week. A dyno is a good tuning tool. It is not the supreme standard of the land. The numbers are mostly for bragging rights IMO.

Bullcrappy · #10 06-26-2012, 06:44 PM

Thats all worthless info unless you give us cam and head specs. thats where the power is made. period.

whats the timing set at,,, afr ratio?

that motor in the car? upto 20% drive train loss? auto or stick? that would be 400hp on the motor. typical build will get one hp to c.i. so its not way off...