Please let me know what you think about this 455 build

Don't forget a quality high stall converter from JW.

 

Looks like an old thread ...still can't figure out why anyone thinks good flowing heads = high rpm race type head. If the CSA and valve sizes are similar the engine will just plain make more power everywhere no brainer .

 

It is an old thread, but I still appreciate the input. The project is moving forward. Molnar rods were purchased to fit with the JW supplied .008 over autotec forged pistons to help with 1 thinner cylinder wall. Block is getting zero decked and balanced. According to JW this should get 10.3 to 1 with stage 2 se heads. I have not purchased heads as I want to complete the short block. Not sure if cam selection or heads should come first. Still want a street car not a racer. Picked up a square bore original b4b that will most likely get efi as of now. Picked up a rebuilt th400 hopefully will get gear vendor od after everything is together. Rearend will get positive and deeper gears unsure of ratio yet.

Thanks for reviving this topic and adding more input.

 

If you can swing it ..go with a small hydraulic roller .. get the benefit of lots of lift and small duration ..once again best of both worlds..good idle lots of power .

 

The price of a custom cam vs an off the shelf version is almost nothing. I would pick the desired RPM range, then the heads, gears, and lastly a custom cam and converter to match it all together. I could make a strong argument for a flat tappet cam for anything under 6000 RPM and the roller would really be best if you want to spin 6500+ rpm. The huge flat tappets give up too much low rpm torque where as the roller cams are the best of both worlds. A mild flat tappet doesn’t give up much vs a mild roller cam.

 

If you're buying assembled heads, you might want to have a pretty good idea of cam type and characteristics before purchasing to make sure they have the right valve springs.

 

Ta timi g cover. Ta waterpump. Ta oil pump cover with plate and gears kit. Gasget shim kit. Roller rocker. Ta se stg 2 heads. Assambled with their good valve job. New balancer . Get zero deck deal from JW or get the spherical dish pistons sportman rods and livd with the stock deck height from ta. Shorty headers and complete exhaust from ta. Get flywheel from JW. Best way to not have flywheel ishues. B4b intake. An 800 cfm rochester from Cliff R. Built to your specs. Get a TA catalog and pic ur cam. Im sure theres more. Dual grove dual feed cam bearings ta.

 

Can you use long tube headers?

 

Stage 2 long tube headers are supposed to be a good fit in the car. Headers on stock or stage 1 heads are said to be really tight fit. Something about the angle on the heads is different if I remember correctly.

 

I plan on headers and have not purchased any yet.

 

X2, I’d rather have my heads flow too much that not enough