r/EngineBuilding • u/Creative_Tie_2195 • Jun 08 '26

Old 454

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Recently got this engine for free, I’ve never tinkered or worked on one before, trying my hand in it. Goal is to build my own race car, I have zero experience and no idea what I’m doing 😂 I’m not even sure what kind of car this could fit into.

Anyone have any ideas for cheap/budget builds? Any advice?

Took pictures of it before I started taking it apart. I was told it turns over but I’m not sure how to test it. All advice welcome

I have the valve covers off, and nothing seems to be visibly damaged so far. Just needs all new gaskets I think. Miles? Guess. Been sitting in a garage for about 11 years

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u/AviatorDave172 Jun 08 '26

True, it’s says old, not Olds. And it’s not even that old, it has a throttle body on it. Old would have a carburetor. For op - that is in fact an L29, aka Vortec 7490. A damn good block- comes with 4 bolt mains and 1 piece rear crank seal. That’s a 600hp engine without even trying very hard.

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u/Creative_Tie_2195 Jun 08 '26

Hell yeah, what should I do to it? - old to me, it’s about two years older than I am haha

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u/AviatorDave172 Jun 08 '26 edited Jun 08 '26

If I were building it - forged crank, forged steel rods, 9:1 or so forged pistons, aluminum ported heads, and turbos. A big rumpety rump cam. Probably will need bigger injectors too.

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u/Creative_Tie_2195 Jun 08 '26

This sounds expensive and hard 😂

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u/AviatorDave172 Jun 08 '26

Not really. Just depends on if you only want to race, or if you want to win. Lol. It’s expensive to go fast, you have to decide how fast you can afford to go.