454 hp

Don't know what kind of budget you have, but if that engine runs good now, get a good aftermarket low restriction exhaust, get an RV style high torque cam and kit from someone like Jegs or Summit Racing. You probably have a four barrel carburator now, which can be rebuilt if you're a really tight budget. You probably have an HEI distributor, and high performance modules and coils are available as economical upgrades. An aluminum dual plane intake would be nice if you can afford it. Do a compression check to determine if the engine needs a total rebuild. If it does, keep the compression to about 9.5 to 1 or less with today's fuel. It will cost some bucks for a total redo, as big block Chevy stuff costs more than small block stuff. But all that torque makes for a real tire burner!