[mikev65]

In my 65 I have a smogger 454 with peanut port heads, stock cam. I just picked up a set of 820 heads that just need springs. I know these won’t bump my compression up like the closed chambered heads but the chambers are smaller than the peanut ports & they should flow a lot better. I’m a broke 24 year old so I’m gonna go with a flat tappet for now. Any suggestion on what grind & valve springs I should get would be appreciated.
Other info:
Truck Turbo 400 with stock converter(most likely a very low stall)
Stock 8.2 10 bolt (will blow up soon haha)
Probably won’t do much racing just looking to make good power on the street

 

[72SS454Chevelle]

You should be looking limit the duration and get the intake closed early to help build cylinder pressure.

You might want to look at something like SUM-1066 218 @0.50 duration .519 lift to be safe with your entire configuration.
Its an older grind from Elgin Cams.
Should be able to work with the stock springs on oval heads but you will need to check.

There are plenty of other manufactures to look at. Keep in mind you are looking at 7.5 to 8 to 1 compression and smaller cams that may work with stock springs on ovals. The stock stall will also hurt if you go bigger.

What carb and distributor are you using?

 

[68Chevele]

Comp Cams 270 or 282-S works well if you don't mind setting solids otherwise get the 270 280H Magnum grind for hyd. Both work great.

 

[VORTECPRO]

In my 65 I have a smogger 454 with peanut port heads, stock cam. I just picked up a set of 820 heads that just need springs. I know these won’t bump my compression up like the closed chambered heads but the chambers are smaller than the peanut ports & they should flow a lot better. I’m a broke 24 year old so I’m gonna go with a flat tappet for now. Any suggestion on what grind & valve springs I should get would be appreciated.
Other info:
Truck Turbo 400 with stock converter(most likely a very low stall)
Stock 8.2 10 bolt (will blow up soon haha)
Probably won’t do much racing just looking to make good power on the street

The only advantage a 820 head has over a peanut port with .500 lift cam is compression.

 

[mikev65]

Comp Cams 270 or 282-S works well if you don't mind setting solids otherwise get the 270 280H Magnum grind for hyd. Both work great.

okay I’ll take a look at those. Running a 600ish CFM Holley that’s probably a little too small for my application & a stock gm HEI distributor

 

[mikev65]

Comp Cams 270 or 282-S works well if you don't mind setting solids otherwise get the 270 280H Magnum grind for hyd. Both work great.

Will be checking those out thank you for the suggestions

 

[mikev65]

The only advantage a 820 head has over a peanut port with .500 lift cam is compression.

do you think I should go bigger? I know you’ve gotten crazy results out of these peanut heads but as they are in stock form they die on me past 4K RPM. I have a pair of 702s that would up the compression even more but they would have to be gone through. The 820s look ready to rock. With flat tops & the 820s what type of cam would you suggest

 

[68Chevele]

do you think I should go bigger? I know you’ve gotten crazy results out of these peanut heads but as they are in stock form they die on me past 4K RPM. I have a pair of 702s that would up the compression even more but they would have to be gone through. The 820s look ready to rock. With flat tops & the 820s what type of cam would you suggest

Don't think that way, engines that die after 4K are usually from poor valve springs and lack of the right valve events from the camshaft to pull RPM. On a flat top piston BBC engine I will take an open chamber head over a closed chamber any day.

 

[mikev65]

You should be looking limit the duration and get the intake closed early to help build cylinder pressure.

You might want to look at something like SUM-1066 218 @0.50 duration .519 lift to be safe with your entire configuration.
Its an older grind from Elgin Cams.
Should be able to work with the stock springs on oval heads but you will need to check.

There are plenty of other manufactures to look at. Keep in mind you are looking at 7.5 to 8 to 1 compression and smaller cams that may work with stock springs on ovals. The stock stall will also hurt if you go bigger.

What carb and distributor are you using?

okay I’ll take a look at those. Running a 600ish CFM Holley that’s probably a little too small for my application & a stock gm HEI distributor

 

[mikev65]

Don't think that way, engines that die after 4K are usually from poor valve springs and lack of the right valve events from the camshaft to pull RPM. On a flat top piston BBC engine I will take an open chamber head over a closed chamber any day.

Noted. I’m just looking to make 400ish HP and have something with a lot balls down low that can still rev a little. Since the open chambers are damn near ready to rock it seems like a no brainer

 

[-SS454-]

I have a 454 with 820 heads and a 280H cam. It makes peak power at 5100 and is done by 5500. I think I would pick up some decent power from peak to 6000 with a bigger exhaust lobe.

I would recommend something closer to the Lunati Voodoo 227/233 .542/.554 110
Summit 228/238 .540/.540 114 if you trust their cores
Howards 231/235 .544/.553

 

[pbcbob]

need the rear end ratio to make a cam decision, maybe your current cam, lifters, and timing set are just worn out, I agree about using intake closing to make up for lack of compression

 

[68Chevele]

Noted. I’m just looking to make 400ish HP and have something with a lot balls down low that can still rev a little. Since the open chambers are damn near ready to rock it seems like a no brainer

Look through the Super Chevy articles I think that they ran a head test with some stock peanut port heads that made over 400hp and 500lbs. tq. the peanut ports will make the most torque and power down low. Nothing wrong with the 600 Holley on the 454 either.

 

[mikev65]

need the rear end ratio to make a cam decision, maybe your current cam, lifters, and timing set are just worn out, I agree about using intake closing to make up for lack of compression

Its a stock 8.2 10 bolt so I believe it has 308s or 273s. Can’t really crawl under there to confirm right now

 

[Janih]

Look through the Super Chevy articles I think that they ran a head test with some stock peanut port heads that made over 400hp and 500lbs. tq. the peanut ports will make the most torque and power down low. Nothing wrong with the 600 Holley on the 454 either.

I remember one test was 460cid 440hp with comp xe268, peanut port heads with multia angle valve seats, no porting.

 

[pbcbob]

the Summit-Elgin 1066 looks good for your gearing and torque converter, install it advanced to raise the so called DCR in light of your low static compression

 

[72SS454Chevelle]

I am running the 702 heads with TRW L2377-F pistons using a steel shim head gaskets on my 454. It has got me to 9.3 to 9.5. I did the big valve upgrade on them and bowl clean up and gasket matching. I was going to run the SUM - Elgin-1797 which is 228 @.050 and 544 lift. I ended going with Howards roller cam. 238/241 600 lift.

What you can get away with in using the smaller cams is the stock valve train should work. Your tight convert and gearing wont hurt you. If you start to step up the cam and you will have to start changing everything to work correctly.

The 600 CFM carb isn't ideal but it works.

You have the ability to make quite a bit of power but keep in mind the rest of the package needs to match otherwise it won't be as fun.

 

[VORTECPRO]

Don't think that way, engines that die after 4K are usually from poor valve springs and lack of the right valve events from the camshaft to pull RPM. On a flat top piston BBC engine I will take an open chamber head over a closed chamber any day.

YES

 

[68Chevele]

I am running the 702 heads with TRW L2377-F pistons using a steel shim head gaskets on my 454. It has got me to 9.3 to 9.5. I did the big valve upgrade on them and bowl clean up and gasket matching. I was going to run the SUM - Elgin-1797 which is 228 @.050 and 544 lift. I ended going with Howards roller cam. 238/241 600 lift.

What you can get away with in using the smaller cams is the stock valve train should work. Your tight convert and gearing wont hurt you. If you start to step up the cam and you will have to start changing everything to work correctly.

The 600 CFM carb isn't ideal but it works.

You have the ability to make quite a bit of power but keep in mind the rest of the package needs to match otherwise it won't be as fun.

Hope the CC head combo goes better than mine did, I ran the best of an 11.68 with the CC heads. I ran the best of 11.26 with the same work to the 360 PP heads and less compression this year.

 

[VORTECPRO]

YES

do you think I should go bigger? I know you’ve gotten crazy results out of these peanut heads but as they are in stock form they die on me past 4K RPM. I have a pair of 702s that would up the compression even more but they would have to be gone through. The 820s look ready to rock. With flat tops & the 820s what type of cam would you suggest

The 820 will run fine, but heres a story, I built a 427 with a 350 HP 396 cam/390 427 cam, I put 820 heads on it, I ported them extensively and never could get the low lift flow I was looking for, and what pissed me off is I know better than to use a closed or semi closed head if I want flow. Now I have a engine with no cam lift and no low lift flow, never again.