I apologise if this is already covered, but my search didn't turn it up. I'm rebuilding my 71 454 4 speed with 3.08 rear. I'm wanting to keep the engine stock on the outside, but this is the time to select compression ratio and cam for street performance. Does anyone have an engine combo that really works well for a "driveable-by-wife" hot rod? I can swap rear gears if necessary, but prefer not now.

Paul4031 said: I apologise if this is already covered, but my search didn't turn it up. I'm rebuilding my 71 454 4 speed with 3.08 rear. I'm wanting to keep the engine stock on the outside, but this is the time to select compression ratio and cam for street performance. Does anyone have an engine combo that really works well for a "driveable-by-wife" hot rod? I can swap rear gears if necessary, but prefer not now.

what kind of 4 spd, close or wide ratio ?

but overall i like my cam for a street car..

good low end big block cam..

comp cams magnum 270H

here is a desktop dyno report for it

http://www.vetteprojects.com/cthulhu/misc/my69BB.pdf

It's a wide ratio, so it launches OK. That's a nice torque curve on yours--high and flat across the street RPM range. I notice you show 10.5 to 1 compression. Is this race gas territory or do you have the timing dialed back?

Paul4031 said: It's a wide ratio, so it launches OK. That's a nice torque curve on yours--high and flat across the street RPM range. I notice you show 10.5 to 1 compression. Is this race gas territory or do you have the timing dialed back?

I run premium and I have my timing fairly aggressive..

I run with a small limit bushing and mid strength ramp rate springs.

I bring in full timing around 3500 instead of the normal 3000..

with 14 initial...

it took quite a bit of messing around with the limit bushings and ramp springs to get the right combo but the msd makes it a snap.

also I dont run a vacuum advance.

also.. I wqas able to go a little more agreesive when I changed intakes.

the air-gap rpm made a pretty big difference.

once I get my frome off finished im going with water/alcohol injection and im gonne set it up really aggressive.

by the way I ran the specs on mine and changed to to a 454.. the curves stay the same.. the horsepower is nearly identical. even with the same peak at the same place. however.. the peak torque jumped up to 562 @ 3500

I ran an optimal cam timing test and came up with a cam that gives you the best area under the torque curve. but not necessarily peak torque

http://www.vetteprojects.com/cthulhu/misc/paul.pdf

|UPDATED|10/30/2004 6:04:59 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|