Pros and cons of vortec 454?

[GMC1994K1500SierraSL]

Thinking of buying a 97 2500 with a vortec 454, is there anything to look out for when test driving and trying to find a solid engine/tranny combo? I've only dealt with the 5.7 and 4L60E, also what are the pros and cons of the 454?


Sent from the Sierra Club

 

[thz71]

Pay attention to how it starts a lot of them have hard start problems

 

[volunteerff21]

^^^^This. The Vortec 454's are quite desirable because they use standard style fuel injectors, unlike the small blocks which use the poppet spider. However the factory injectors are known for giving hard warm starts. After you take the truck for a test drive, shut it off, then try and restart it. If the injectors are bad, they will allow fuel to leak down into the cylinder after you shut the engine off. If it cranks and cranks and cranks and cranks before it fires and gives a nice little puff of black smoke out of the tailpipe, time for injectors. It's a bit of a job to change them, but not too bad if you have basic mechanical skills, just a bit of digging to get to them.

 

[someotherguy]

You'll spend $400+ on better injectors and a new regulator, just FYI.

The engines are decently strong and don't give horrible mileage, but it's still a big block, you'll be gassing up all the time.

Same crappy plastic distributor as the Vortec 5.7 and they do wear out and need replacing.

The rockers are non-adjustable so once they wear enough to start ticking, you're replacing them altogether. I suggest upgrading to roller tip, adjustable, which requires replacing the bolts with special conversion studs. The downside here is the pushrod guide plates won't fit larger stock type pushrods, but if you change out to regular style pushrod guide plates, you then discover the locating holes in them are too large for the conversion studs so they won't position correctly. There are some plates out there with the correct smaller hole, just gotta get all your stuff in order before you tear into it.

Richard