FWIW, keep an eye on your spark plug cables. If your engine starts to act up (i.e. going up hills) the plug wires may have gotten burnt and are shorting out. I guess that 454 runs pretty hot.
I had a 67 VW. Trick to those things was to pull the oil cooler out and run a remote one attached to the back side of the shroud over the fan area. Otherwise the stock oil cooler shields number three exhaust valve which is a two part valve. That thing when it gets hot enough will pop apart and take out the engine.
Nice thread, glad to see life is back to having fun for you and your kids.
