What would be the most logical way to turn down the power of a 454 for a 16-17yr old?

In your opinion?

Trade the my 350 for your 454! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif That ought to do it!
Really, though, a 454 is a big torquey engine. It would be a bit tough to decrease the power, but possible. Maybe try a milder cam for starters.
That's one lucky teen to be driving that!! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Jeremy J. Bennett
Team Chevelle #298
1972 Chevelle (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/72CHEVELLE2.jpg)

I'm the one driving it, but I'm tryin to figure out what my dad is gonna do to decrease the power, cheaply.

You're a lucky guy, Mike. I didn't get into a Chevelle of my own until I was 19. But I figure backing off the timing'll bleed some power. And maybe rejetting the carb. Those are two cheap quick ways that I can think of off the top of my head

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"...it costs what now?" Lev
Team Chevelle Member #590
70 Malibu
350/300hp
Soon to be 396/325hp

Bolt a 2 bbl carb on it with an adapter plate. Sad to think of a 454/2 bbl...

If it were my son I'd install an MSD 6AL ignition system and plug in a 3000 rpm rev limit chip. But I would probably just keep the keys in my pocket at all times and let him buy his own car like my dad did when I was a teenager.

[This message has been edited by cjlandry (edited 02-17-2000).]

Is there anything you can do to a 454 that will really slow it down considerably?

Put a set of peanut port late model heads on and a nice RV cam, a real stump puller!

Hello bottom end and goodbye top end.

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Wally
Gold #67
67 Malibu "Small Block" second owner
90 SS454
71 Malibu "Small Block"
93 torch red vette(crashed)Bad day at Blackrock! 6 grand in damage!

Take 2 plug wires off http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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Todd Geisler
79 Malibu
11.27@120mph
Malibu Muscle
http://www.qis.net/~tgeisler

Put a blue oval sticker on the air cleaner.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS Murphy's Law is always in effect

ROTF-LMAO http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif heheh my brother and I are both 16 right now and we have a fairly radical 454 in our 70 chevelle SS396 we are always joking that he will weld the secondaries on our quadrajet shut. ahhh memories now we just got a Holley 750 dbl pmpr yesterday

On a holley 4bbl I think you can disconnect the secondary butterflys pretty easily. Not sure how this would affect the motor. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif


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Mr. D
72 454 El Camino
68 RS/SS Camaro
73 RS/LT/Z28 Camaro
99 Firebird TA WS-6 A4

AHHHH http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif better keep a tight eye on our new holley then huh. hmpf people find anything to keep us from going fast. I won't race http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif I just love to drive raw power and the feel of acceleration when I blow others off at the light for the heck of it http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Just put some honda (doesnt deserve to be capitalized) emblems on it along with a powered by rice or powered by honda sticker and theyll be good for at least a 300 hp power drop.

no way, man, people put on honda stickers and they go faster. tinted windows also make you go faster. And don't forget 20" wheels! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Try adjusting the throttle linkage so it doesnt go full throttle. or put a rock under the go pedal. You could always put a hitch on it and drag a trailer with a couple of cows in it.


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71 Chevelle 454
65 Elco 4x4
68 Firebird 400 Conv.

Put a MSD 6AL ignition on the car, and put a chip in for 3000 RPM MAX! Make sure to seal it with wax or something so the little bugger can't change it.

When I took my car in for a wheel alignment or into any shop (SELDOM) I put a chip in so that it would just give enough revs to move the car.

RH

Well, as a dad that has been in the teen's position a long time ago, I can see the situation from both points of view.

You young guys are lucky enough to have dads around in the first place, but ones that help you buy Chevelles, AND care enough to want to try to make it safe to boot. You guys better thank heaven you did something right to deserve all of that.

The only thing that I can think of that would be even better is maybe a two year project working side by side with your dads on a car that you would treasure after that and hopefully care about all the more.

Speaking from experience, teens don't always make the best judgements when it comes to life and death situations. The fear of death is a lot less as a teen than it is when you get older. I did some stupid things as a teen. Luck came into play on why I am here today as much as anything.

It only takes one ticket from a fast take off at the light to make your insurance skyrocket. Sometimes things not even your fault happen and cause insurance to go up. It's already too high as it is. You make it go up and you just might be walking.

Be careful out there guys, and go up and hug your dad and say, "I'm thankful I have you for a father" ...then watch him faint for laughs.

Steve

This post brings back a bad memory for me when i was 15(only 9 years ago)But anyway I got my first chevell at age 14 and me and my dad spent a year getting it painted and doing little odds and ends it was in good shape,and when i turned 15 i started driveing it with a permit,in TN you can drive at 15 as long as you have a licensed driver over 21 in the car,but anyway it was a 72 350 malibu,with a 2bbl.the first thing we done when i turned 15 was make it quiker,we added a cam,headers,preformer rpm intake,holley 650 dbl pumper,and Mallory igniton,the engine had just been rebuilt about 20,00 miles before and the bottom end was beefed up a bit,well to make a long story a little shorter,i though it was something i couldnt wait to stop at a stop sighn or red light to blister the tires and try to get a race. graemlins/clonk.gif Well anyway jst a built 350 was to much power for me at 15 because i did,nt mak it till 16 and i pulled out af a freinds shop one night and put it to the floor,and the next thing i knew about 30yds later i had knocked down a fence,pine tree and went through the front of a apartmen building,and my freind got out and hit the ground i just knew he was dead,but he ended up o.k.The moral of this story is,you will probablly be better of getting you a 4cyl,car of some kind and getting a couple years experience of driving,and drive your chevelle with your dad,when he will go with you.But take it from experience your dad is only doing what is best,and take it from me you'll thank him one day.I wish now i'd have listened cause i'd still have my first car.You might be the type that wouldnt do that now,i was before i got my velle,but when i was that young I had to try and impress all my other frends that was older and evertim one of them told me to "get on it" i'd do it or die. :rolleyes: Well I dont know really how to tell ya to take power from it,I think the best thing to do right now is to take the power "the chevelle" from you,or maybe put a 6cylinder in it till you get some expereince under your belt.