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iluvmy72 · 09-10-2009, 12:40 AM

I have a 1997 Stock 7.4(454)vortec. The skinny: I want 450 HP. And I want to keep it when I'm towing a trailer up a grade while the A/C is blasting and the engine is still cool and not over heating. Is that asking too much? Money is tight so what would be the best route to go with headers/exhaust system and after market air cooler. I've been thinking about water injection and a different cam. But I'm not quite sure which cams would get me significant gains in a stock engine. Would that make a difference? Hell, I had a 454 in a luv back in the day that got 477 on the dyno. I know this engine can do better than 298. It's a 454 for gods sake. I mean when these newer vortec engines hit the market in 96, all GM could do is rave about the 7.4 model being the pinnacle of their truck engine. What about reprogramming the CPU or a Bully Dog setup?

09-10-2009, 12:40 AM	#1
iluvmy72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Springville, UT, USA Posts: 1,010	need more horses....any advice? I have a 1997 Stock 7.4(454)vortec. The skinny: I want 450 HP. And I want to keep it when I'm towing a trailer up a grade while the A/C is blasting and the engine is still cool and not over heating. Is that asking too much? Money is tight so what would be the best route to go with headers/exhaust system and after market air cooler. I've been thinking about water injection and a different cam. But I'm not quite sure which cams would get me significant gains in a stock engine. Would that make a difference? Hell, I had a 454 in a luv back in the day that got 477 on the dyno. I know this engine can do better than 298. It's a 454 for gods sake. I mean when these newer vortec engines hit the market in 96, all GM could do is rave about the 7.4 model being the pinnacle of their truck engine. What about reprogramming the CPU or a Bully Dog setup?