A properly designed and built 454 will want 34 deg timing,intercooled and on 87 pump crap, at 10+ lbs. boost.For the nitrous questions, go to ***boat the magazine, there was a nitrous article there last summer. Alky/water inj. is for the 20+ lb boost turbo crowd. Get the intercooler. Do it right the first time or pay to do it over. Everybody uses what WORKS, look around. Ya wanna be different, its gonna cost ya in broken stuff and lousy perf., or you might get lucky....... TIMINATOR