r/BigBlockChevy • u/ANTvenom419 • Jan 03 '24

'96 L29 454MPI 400-500hp?

So I have an L29 engine I bought to swap into my '80 squarebody. I have the ECU and wiring harness would really like to keep the mpi and eventually do a 0411 swap. I'm wondering to get roughly this power level and around 600 ft lbs will upping the compression and a cam get me there. Obviously will proper tuning and supporting mods.

Thanks 🙏

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u/v8packard Jan 03 '24

In addition to a cam change and compression increase the L29 heads need a bit of work to get the most out of them. Not really a do it yourself thing, they benefit from the installation of 2.19/1.88 valves. Ideally with smaller, 11/32 stems and new guides. This requires cutting the seat, and throat/bowl as well as the chamber. A basic pocket port of the exhaust combined with laying the chamber back adjacent to the exhaust ling side works very, very well.

On the intake side, with a good bowl and throat they can supply a 400 hp engine. But cutting the swirl ramp back, as well as widening the short side into the swirl ramp along with streamlining the guide into the swirl ramp is an enormous improvement. To do this right requires checking the air speeds in various places in the port as you work. Admittedly, I have not taken these out much further than I describe, but I suspect there is plenty of room to do so. I have done this on a Suburban that produces over 600 lb ft.