What Is a 454 Big Block?

The 454 is a very powerful Chevrolet engine.

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Vehicle terminology can be complicated, especially when the terms for specific vehicles or parts of vehicles seem to have relatively little to do with the actual item at hand. It is not unusual for individuals who are not familiar with vehicle phrases and terminology to become confused when they hear a term such as 454 Big Block. The description of a vehicle's engine as a 454 Big Block contains specific information about the type of engine, the size of the engine and its manufacturer, without having to expressly say all of that information.

Related Searches: Big Block Engines

A big block engine is exactly what it sounds like, a big engine. The term big block was coined during the 1950s and 1960s for vehicles with large, powerful eight cylinder engines. When an engine is described as a big block, you can rest assured it has at least eight cylinders and is capable of producing a significant amount of speed and torque.

454

The 454 engine gets its name because the displacement of the cylinders within the engine measures 454.2 cubic inches, or 7.4 liters. This engine can get between 350 and 500 horse power directly from the factory, depending on the options selected by the purchaser, such as upgraded intake manifolds.

454 History

The 454 was introduced by and made exclusively by Chevrolet starting in the 1970s. It was using in vehicles such as the Corvette, Chevelle and Nova. The 454 was later used in large pick-up trucks until it was replaced during the 1990s by the upgraded Chevrolet Vortec line engines.

Current Uses

The 454 big block has not been produced by Chevrolet in more than 15 years, but refurbished and rebuilt engines may be available for purchase from a variety of retailers. These engines are primarily used for racing vehicles or vehicles that do a significant amount of heavy towing and pulling. The 454 is a gasoline engine and is not known for getting very good fuel mileage, making it an unlikely choice for a vehicle that is driven as part of a daily commute.

ReferencesSuper Chevy: 454 Big-Block Budget Engine Build - Making Cents; Richard Holdener; 2010Antique Chevy Trucks: Chevy Engines Through Time; Shane Reichardt; 2000Performance Unlimited: 454 Chevy Turn-Key Crate Engine With 475 HPPhoto Credit Brian Cleary/Getty Images Sport/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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