454 best Mod package??

[nathan.zornes]

So ive started on my 1977 chevy c20LB, got it dropped about a 2/4 and now im starting on the engine. so far this is what i know, Accel custom SP wires, Holley 770 Street Avenger, pulled the valve covers and i have the 781 heads on there so i was happy with that. Im wanting a streetable/strip motor that sounds mean, maybe 550HP - 550Tq?? are these numbers acheivable? i plan on pulling the heads and getting 2.19/1.88 valves put in and blending the bowl and a little cast removal. also picking up a Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold and 2 1/4 -3" Long tube headers. i would really like to avoid from cracking into the bottom end but my CR stock is like a 8:1, what cam profile should i run with this combination to reach those numbers? and are those numbers even acheivable without bumping the CR up? this engine is backed by a TH400 tranny which is gonna get rebuilt with a transgo shift kit and later on i will up the Stall depending on the cam you suggest. rear gears are 3.73's as well.  thanks for any input fellas, lets make this thing scream.

[LeftysRodandCustom]

While you've got the heads off you could always have them milled down a bit to bump the ratio up, just dont get too crazy or the intake bolts won't line up. When you pick a cam keep in mind that a stock bottom end 454 doesnt hold up well past 5500 rpm so there's no need to put a cam that has a higher rpm range. Same for the stall converter and gears, 3.73s are awesome for sure, but go any deeper and you're back to twisting up the big block. They are very well known for the low end power and if you go puttin in a huge stall you'll be missing out on half its power band, I'd suggest under 3000rpm. Main thing here is to match it all together so it works how you want it to. Theres always the little bolt on stuff too, roller rockers are cheap power in my book.