ZZ454 Gets More

Cam and Valvetrain Make the Mild ZZ454 a 500+ Horsepower Street Brute

- Steve Dulcich

Chevrolet Performance’s ZZ454 crate engine is a formidable package, aimed right at the mid-range of big-block Chevy performance. With a rated 469 horsepower and 519 lb-ft of torque, it is enough out of the box to put the muscle in your muscle car project. While that power level exceeds that of even the legendary LS6 production 454 of 1970, in today’s world of big-cube strokers and extreme performance parts, the bar is certainly higher than it was all those decades ago. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to raise the ante a few chips when the need might arise?

EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL

You might find big-block Chevy crate engines at similar power levels for a lower price, but let’s dig a little deeper into the ZZ engine package. When you are Chevrolet Performance, you really can’t afford to cut corners or skimp, and this 454 is built with the good stuff. For starters, this isn’t a reclaimed, used production block, it is a bulletproof Chevrolet Performance casting with four-bolt mains. Inside, you find all forged internals: crank, rods, and pistons. Built to take punishment while making horsepower, this isn’t a re-builder’s short-block. Topping the block are a set of aluminum, large oval port cylinder heads featuring compact 110cc chambers, generous 290cc intake ports, and large 2.19/1.88-inch valves. Overall, the package is there to make power and do so reliably.