OK, this is sort of a hypothetical "what if" kind of question...

I'm thinking the next project on my 72 will be to pull the motor and detail it and the engine compartment. And of course, while the motor is out...

The car runs fine, but it's no "tire melting monster". The motor is a 1990 L-19 4-bolt main 454 from a truck. I believe that the heads are the same ones that came on the motor originally. The previous owner of the car says that the motor was rebuilt with "TRW forged 10:1 pistons with LS-6 connecting rods".

I've found that this guy has been pretty honest, but maybe a little misguided. I seriously doubt if I'm getting a 10:1 compression ratio with these pistons in this motor. I'm thinking that these pistons would be 10:1 with some other heads, but not the low-perf heads I've got. Does this make sense?

My question is: do you think I could replace these heads with something more performance oriented and wake this thing up? What heads would you recommend?

I'm not looking for a race car, just more punch for the street.

Here's the current cam info. (http://www.gigem.com/images/cam.jpg)

Carb is a 750 Edelbrock performer.

Trans is a TH-400. Rear end is 12 bolt posi with 2.73 gears that I don't plan to change any time soon...

Thoughts?

Any idea at all what the specs are on the current heads?

A pair of closed chamber heads will get you to about 9 to 1 if the motor has flat tops..you'd want some old 063's,215 castings etc.Thats a decent mild street cam..works well with lower compression..I've run in a stock 8 to 1 454 and in a 396 with about 9.5 to 1 and was happy..I had 3.31's and a 4 speed.Nice car that you have there too btw graemlins/thumbsup.gif
A mild stall convertor would wake the car up too if you don't already have one.

Fritz,

Take off one of the valve covers and get the casting # of the heads you are working with then go from there. If they are stock "peanut" heads you should get a lot better flow from a set of earlier large ovals, especially with larger valves installed.

If it does really have 10:1 open chamber pistons you will probably want to go with a open chamber casting like 781's to stay on pump gas.