Hello all. Motor is a stock 455 rebuilt shortblock. Heads are TA Stage 1-SE's, cam is a TA212 (stock springs, pulls good to around 5500), carb is a Edelbrock 850 q-jet, current intake is a performer, and 1-7/8 headers. It will be in a GS or skylark, with 3.42 or lower gears with a converter. Would stepping up to an SP1 be a waste with the smallish TA212 cam? Or will I feel a boost in power? Thanx.
The SP1 only makes bigger numbers in the rpm range above 5500 or more, and you'll lose torque down low. You'd probably be better off sticking with the Performer and have a port match job done and possibly cut down the center divider just in the back by the secondaries.
Unless you are pulling hard past 5500 and have at least 3.55 gears i would not go to the SP1, i have a SP1, and when i stepped up to the SP1, i only felt a power difference above 5000 rpm, and saw only a tenth in the quarter improvment, i have ported S1 heads 232/246 cam 373 gears and shift at 6000 rpm. I will go back to my ported stock intake someday so i can run the stock aircleaner , so my car will appear stock except for the headers, (15x8 rallys on the way) but at this point i am still trying to go faster, but i do miss the stock look under the hood!
I am also probably going to be going back to a Performer and q-jet. I already have the intake and carb, just need to send it to Gessler so he can work his magic. I'm in the process of putting in a 200R4 in right now, so after I see how that affects the car, I'll be doing the intake/carb next. You really don't NEED an SP1 unless you're really running the engine up past 6000 rpm!
