BBC 454 build

Tiny
MIKE MARCHMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1973 CHEVROLET BEL AIR
  • 1,000 MILES
Ryan, I’ve been watching your videos on the 454 build, I’m building the same motor for my 1957 Chevrolet. I’ve got a tremec 5 speed transmission, would you still recommend the same cam and I’m using the cast iron heads #353049? Would it still be the same lifters, cam and rocket arms? Also, I’m using the same small dome top pistons. Going to get the valve springs that go with the cam. Thank you. Very helpful videos. Mike in Dothan Alabama.
Sunday, May 24th, 2020 AT 7:25 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,443 POSTS
Cam selection for a street engine is normally done to put your cruise rpm in the middle of the power-band. So take the rear end gearing, the transmission high gear, if you have a Tremac with OD use 1:1 and not the OD ratio as that will improve the mileage a bit and you just drop back one gear for more power, use those gear numbers to determine the rpm of the input shaft on the transmission at whatever the normal speeds you drive are. For instance say you are building this as a simple cruising machine and will drive it at 65 mph most of the time. You would build it to drop the rpm's mid-range in the power at that speed. That gives you an engine that is fun to drive, but it won't be a fire breather on the track.
Because Ryan is using a slush box his cam will be a bit different because of the torque amplification in the TC.
Your best bet would be to call the cam companies tech line, give them the tire sizes, gear ratios and vehicle weight and a real description of what you want to use the car for. Then let them give you a couple recommendations. They can give you a good idea for your application. Just be truthful on your intended usage. I have built a lot of engines and the only time I got complaints was when the buyer would tell me they wanted a fire breathing BBC to rule the drag strip and in reality they were trying to drive in cruises and parades and run it on the track once or twice. Two very different applications that do not use the same parts.
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Monday, May 25th, 2020 AT 1:31 PM
Tiny
MIKE MARCHMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Okay, thank you very much.
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Monday, May 25th, 2020 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,443 POSTS
You are welcome. Camshafts are the heart of an engine and they can make you tear out your hair if they are not right. Hope you return and post a few pictures of the build, the tri-fives are always neat cars.
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Monday, May 25th, 2020 AT 7:38 PM
Tiny
RYAN L
  • ADMIN
  • 256 POSTS
Hey Mike!

Looks like Steve got to your question before I could. I just wanted to add, thank you so much for watching my engine build and coming to post about it on our site. Keep an eye out this weekend we should be putting the ignition system together.

Thanks again!

Ryan
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 10:18 AM

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